jonbrammer's review
4.0
God's Bits of Wood paints a complex picture of a society in upheaval. The French colonists in West Africa try to hang on to their power and crush the railroad strike of 1948. The young men and women of Senegal rebel against both the French and the traditional ways of their elders.
My one complaint is that the French seem to be nothing more than caricatures, and Isnard's wife's Lady Macbeth moment at the end of the novel is needlessly melodramatic.
My one complaint is that the French seem to be nothing more than caricatures, and Isnard's wife's Lady Macbeth moment at the end of the novel is needlessly melodramatic.
aliciaprettybrowneyereader's review against another edition
The font was too small. Caused eye fatigue. Entire book club DNF'd
bloujeans's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
loxonstag's review
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Happy is the man who does battle without hatred."
I'm mainly familiar with Sembène's work as a filmmaker, so it was cool to discover he was an accomplished novelist before ever picking up the camera. This felt kind of like reading one of his movies: darkly funny, stridently anticolonialist, a story about collective action that's populated with vividly defined characters who have their own individual circumstances and struggles to overcome, yet come together in the spirit of solidarity.
In the hands of a lesser writer the huge cast and sweeping story of a strike spanning several cities might become muddled, but Sembène once again proves he's a superior writer who can handle this stuff with a good deal of finesse.
I'm mainly familiar with Sembène's work as a filmmaker, so it was cool to discover he was an accomplished novelist before ever picking up the camera. This felt kind of like reading one of his movies: darkly funny, stridently anticolonialist, a story about collective action that's populated with vividly defined characters who have their own individual circumstances and struggles to overcome, yet come together in the spirit of solidarity.
In the hands of a lesser writer the huge cast and sweeping story of a strike spanning several cities might become muddled, but Sembène once again proves he's a superior writer who can handle this stuff with a good deal of finesse.
kfreedman's review
Same as Petals of Blood, felt good reading an “African classic”. Liked this one better than Petals of Blood. It had to do with a railroad strike and obviously colonialism / the independence movement.
robforteath's review
4.0
Very much like Steinbeck, in both style and theme. It is at its best when depicting the breakdown of ordinary life during the struggle. The reader is never in any doubt as to whether or not the strike will succeed (just as viewers of "Titanic" never wonder if the ship will make it to New York); the real story is in how different characters deal with it.
The novel does a very good job of showing life under colonialism, without ever idealising or demonising either side. Even the best and worst characters are written as humans.
The novel does a very good job of showing life under colonialism, without ever idealising or demonising either side. Even the best and worst characters are written as humans.
msjoanna's review
5.0
Incredibly engrossing tale of a strike by the African workers against the colonialist railroad owners in French Senegal in 1947. In just 250 pages, the book manages to track more characters than I care to name and give intimate details of their lives and stories without bogging down a powerful narrative. This book is not only an indictment of colonialism, but also an examination of gender roles and the role that women played in supporting this strike. I'm amazed that this book hasn't gotten more recognition as an important and highly readable account of labor politics, colonialism, racism, and feminism. I'm very glad I somehow came to own a copy of this book. I'll be looking to pass this along to more readers.