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A review by syllareads
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Binti is the first in a series of novellas by Hugo-Award-Winner Nnedi Okorafor and while I can absolutely see the appeal and was mesmerized by the ideas behind this piece of work, it wasn't exactly for me :c
The novella starts with Binti's journey to a prestigious university as the first of her kind, the Himba (which, btw, are the indigenous people of Namibia! I did not know that the name was real but I'm immensely happy it is, and will proceed to find out more about them now). Armed with not much except a jar of otjize, a mixture of her homeland clay and oil and a traditional way of cleaning and adorning their bodies for her people, she boards the ship that will carry her to her new destination - her new life. Except on the way there, the ship gets boarded by creatures who slaughter her future classmates and leave her stranded on a ship filled with the dead and the creatures themselves, patiently on course for the University - for they have stolen something of these people and they want it back.
The overall ideas, as I have already said, were beautiful and intriguing. I was especially glad to see the end play outwhen Binti helps them recover the Stinger of their chief. It was such a pivotal moment and the way the importance Binti's culture was for her was emphasized was very impactful and full of joy. However, the overall pace was still too fast for me. I didn't have time to fully process any emotions apart from a few appreciative nods, and yet it still felt like a lot of time had passed in the novella itself. I was expecting for it to be fast-paced, given that it's barely 90 pages, but I was sadly really not a fan of how it played out in the end.
I would still recommend this novella, given that it's fairly short, because for the ideas it carries, and I might very well pick up book two anyway after this! <3
The novella starts with Binti's journey to a prestigious university as the first of her kind, the Himba (which, btw, are the indigenous people of Namibia! I did not know that the name was real but I'm immensely happy it is, and will proceed to find out more about them now). Armed with not much except a jar of otjize, a mixture of her homeland clay and oil and a traditional way of cleaning and adorning their bodies for her people, she boards the ship that will carry her to her new destination - her new life. Except on the way there, the ship gets boarded by creatures who slaughter her future classmates and leave her stranded on a ship filled with the dead and the creatures themselves, patiently on course for the University - for they have stolen something of these people and they want it back.
The overall ideas, as I have already said, were beautiful and intriguing. I was especially glad to see the end play out
I would still recommend this novella, given that it's fairly short, because for the ideas it carries, and I might very well pick up book two anyway after this! <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Death
Minor: Racism