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clemmiem's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Eating disorder and Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Vomit
Minor: Child death
torihope98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Physical abuse
Minor: Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
hi_saac's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Colonisation
Minor: Miscarriage and Vomit
ihamster's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racism, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and Classism
fromlindenmere's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
melli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
ladymirtazapine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
Minor: Racial slurs
translove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Eating disorder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, and Colonisation
Minor: Vomit
whatjaimereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a short novel, but every word is placed with intent, there’s no question that this is a modern classic which will stand up to the test of time. Nervous Conditions is a semi-autobiographical novel that chronicles an important moment in Zimbabwean history, the turn of independence, through the eyes of a teenage Tambudzai and her extended family. The discussions of gender, (post)colonialism, race, and mental illness are incisive and deeply impacting. Tambu’s character was designed to be relatable to the masses within Zimbabwe, and the realisations of the dominance of poverty, particularly through the eyes of an increasingly-educated protagonist, will be unforgettable.
Dangarembga treats each of her characters with kindness and generosity, despite the hardship with which they are faced. This is deeply reminiscent of the recent article written by Simukai Chigudu for The Guardian which I bang on about all the time; so if you read and enjoyed that, I definitely recommend moving onto this. Actually, I recommend this to everyone, there’s no way that you can go into this book without benefitting from its richness and the knowledge that it imparts. Undeniably accomplished, outstandingly realised, and a true privilege to have read.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Excrement, and Grief
Moderate: Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit