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A review by melbsreads
Beyond the Door of No Return by David Diop
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Trigger warnings: slavery, death, attempted rape, attempted incest, death of a parent, racism, racial slurs
I...don't quite know how to feel about this book. On the one hand, the look at 18th century Senegal through the eyes of a Frenchman was intriguing, and the diary format worked well. But at the same time, I found that the most authentic and engaging part of the entire book was the epilogue from the perspective of Madeleine, an enslaved girl in the Caribbean. All in all, I think that At Night All Blood Is Black is a stronger work, but I'm not clear whether it's a translation thing or a writing thing or a story thing.
I...don't quite know how to feel about this book. On the one hand, the look at 18th century Senegal through the eyes of a Frenchman was intriguing, and the diary format worked well. But at the same time, I found that the most authentic and engaging part of the entire book was the epilogue from the perspective of Madeleine, an enslaved girl in the Caribbean. All in all, I think that At Night All Blood Is Black is a stronger work, but I'm not clear whether it's a translation thing or a writing thing or a story thing.