Reviews

Let's Tell This Story Properly by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

onepageleft's review

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

psantic's review

challenging funny informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

nerdybookies's review

funny informative inspiring relaxing sad tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

stellshm's review

funny informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ije's review against another edition

4.0

Jennifer Makumbi is a phenom. Favorite story: Let’s tell this story properly.

samsam123's review

4.0

First, let's just give love to this amazing cover! This book is divided into three sections: prologue, departing, and returning. The story contained in the prologue is one of my favourite and is told from a child's perspective and is filled with anxiety and anticipation. The second section, contains six stories of Ugandans in Manchester. The third section, returning, are stories about Ugandans returning from Manchester to Uganda.

These stories are vivid in description and character. She fully immerses you in the lives of the characters. Her third person narration often feels like a first person narrative. The second section of the book contains the most stories and is stronger than the last half. But read all of them. These stories of migration are not clichéd stories about longing for home. You get well rounded characters and multiple experiences that are riddled with the contradictions and complexities of life.

My favourite stories: Christmas is Coming, Our Allies, Something Inside, Memoirs of Namasso, She is Our Stupid, and Let's Telk This Story Properly.

raben_76325's review

adventurous emotional funny informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

anahammack's review

3.0

Some of these were really strong, especially in the first half, but many ran together, weren't as impactful or enjoyable for me. A mixed bag, but overall a unique perspective and glad to have read it.

ingridm's review

reflective medium-paced

4.0

megtristao's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

This collection of short stories has two parts: the first ("Departing") focuses on the lives of Ugandan immigrants in the U.K., and the second half ("Returning") features Ugandans who have returned to Uganda. Normally I love a good immigrant story, but I found myself much more drawn to the second half of this book. The most memorable stories for me included "She is Our Stupid," "My Brother, Bwemage," "The Aftertaste of Success" and "Love Made in Manchester" (all from the second part). There was also one story in the first part from the perspective of a dog ("Memoirs of a Namaaso"), which I thought was quite fun.

*Also published as MANCHESTER HAPPENED.*