sina116's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
1.0
I hesitate to rate this book so low, as I have heard that it’s wonderful and so insightful in its original French. I do not have the privilege of knowing French well enough to read books in the language, and as I read this for an English class full of international but translated books, it fell extremely flat and came off completely miserable. Sorry!
2treads's review
challenging
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
'When one abandons one's own hill, the next hill which one climbs will crumble.' –Djibril
Scarlet Song and looks at interracial love and relationships, it interrogates the choice to love across race, especially within the colonial context where in both these countries, the newness of independence has not removed the class and racial prejudices from society and how that impacts these relationships.
Bâ has written main characters from both worlds who come together in an educational sphere and form a connection that leads to love. The reactions from both sets of parents are understandable if not equal in reactionary tone. Ousmane and Mireille are physically separated for a time.
Bâ writes her female characters with understanding and care, ensuring that the reader can see where culture and manner play into their behaviour and prejudices. She also does really well with expounding on these issues, giving the reader multiple viewpoints from her characters of how they see Ousmane and Mireille's relationship.
Scarlet Song and looks at interracial love and relationships, it interrogates the choice to love across race, especially within the colonial context where in both these countries, the newness of independence has not removed the class and racial prejudices from society and how that impacts these relationships.
Bâ has written main characters from both worlds who come together in an educational sphere and form a connection that leads to love. The reactions from both sets of parents are understandable if not equal in reactionary tone. Ousmane and Mireille are physically separated for a time.
Bâ writes her female characters with understanding and care, ensuring that the reader can see where culture and manner play into their behaviour and prejudices. She also does really well with expounding on these issues, giving the reader multiple viewpoints from her characters of how they see Ousmane and Mireille's relationship.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Child death, Mental illness, Racism, and Violence
blessing_aj's review
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
janlc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Med "En sang i rødt" giver Mariama Bâ et portræt af en verden langt fra min egen. Der er på flere måder langt fra det nordlige København i 2022 til Dakars kvarterer i 1980erne.
Det er på en grad en styrke og en svaghed ved bogen.
En styrke fordi det giver et indblik ind i en anden kultur, en anden verden, der er så markant forskellig - og alligevel til en vis grad genkendelig (mennesker er nu en gang mennesker).
Og en svaghed fordi det indmellem kan virke så fjernt fra mit måde at se verden på, at jeg bliver lidt afkoblet fra historien. Når det er så forskelligt, så er det svært emotionelt at relatere til personerne.
Tempoet er meget langsomt, specielt i starten, og det gjorde bogen lidt tung i første del. Fra 2. del begynder der at komme mere skred i tingene, og det øger tempoet uden at det bliver højt.
Vi følger i historien Ousmane og Mirelle, en senegalesisk mand og en fransk kvinde, og deres kærlighedshistorie. De kommer fra hver deres miljø, og de udfordringer, der følger med det, er drivkraften i historien.
Der er ikke mange helte, at hente i den her fortælling, hvor de dårlige sider ved kultur og samfund bliver udstillet og spidet. Samtidig har jeg svært ved at udpege rigtige skurke. Der er afgjort karakterer, der er usympatiske i størstedelen af deres handlinger, men til en hvis grad kan jeg forstå, hvorfor de gør som de gør: De er fanget i deres kultur, og introduktionen af en person udefra ryster deres verdensbillede.
Jeg skal ikke afsløre om det er "stjernkrydsede" elskende, for at oversætte et Shakespare-udtryk, vi har at gøre med her, eller om det er historien om den store kærlighed, der overvinder alt.
Men man skal ikke læse bogen i håb om en stormende romance. Det er ikke historiens formål.
Det er på en grad en styrke og en svaghed ved bogen.
En styrke fordi det giver et indblik ind i en anden kultur, en anden verden, der er så markant forskellig - og alligevel til en vis grad genkendelig (mennesker er nu en gang mennesker).
Og en svaghed fordi det indmellem kan virke så fjernt fra mit måde at se verden på, at jeg bliver lidt afkoblet fra historien. Når det er så forskelligt, så er det svært emotionelt at relatere til personerne.
Tempoet er meget langsomt, specielt i starten, og det gjorde bogen lidt tung i første del. Fra 2. del begynder der at komme mere skred i tingene, og det øger tempoet uden at det bliver højt.
Vi følger i historien Ousmane og Mirelle, en senegalesisk mand og en fransk kvinde, og deres kærlighedshistorie. De kommer fra hver deres miljø, og de udfordringer, der følger med det, er drivkraften i historien.
Der er ikke mange helte, at hente i den her fortælling, hvor de dårlige sider ved kultur og samfund bliver udstillet og spidet. Samtidig har jeg svært ved at udpege rigtige skurke. Der er afgjort karakterer, der er usympatiske i størstedelen af deres handlinger, men til en hvis grad kan jeg forstå, hvorfor de gør som de gør: De er fanget i deres kultur, og introduktionen af en person udefra ryster deres verdensbillede.
Jeg skal ikke afsløre om det er "stjernkrydsede" elskende, for at oversætte et Shakespare-udtryk, vi har at gøre med her, eller om det er historien om den store kærlighed, der overvinder alt.
Men man skal ikke læse bogen i håb om en stormende romance. Det er ikke historiens formål.
caitloux's review
4.0
Mariama Ba painted a vulnerable picture of interracial and interfaith marriages, and most prominently, the struggles that accompany them.
After reading this book, I have a greater understanding of Islamic marriages and beliefs, and the inherent tension between the white, French colonizers and the black, Senegalese people.
I have no desire to read this book again, but I am glad that I read it once. The story between Mireille and Ousmane will stay with me for awhile, and it will be a lens for me to understand gender stereotypes and interracial relationships in books, movies, and friends' lives in the future.
After reading this book, I have a greater understanding of Islamic marriages and beliefs, and the inherent tension between the white, French colonizers and the black, Senegalese people.
I have no desire to read this book again, but I am glad that I read it once. The story between Mireille and Ousmane will stay with me for awhile, and it will be a lens for me to understand gender stereotypes and interracial relationships in books, movies, and friends' lives in the future.
ujuonyishi's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
corvinus's review
5.0
“Ouleymatou had become his true soulmate, the woman in whom he recognised the extension of himself. She was, as Mabo Dialli so rightly sang, at one and the same time his roots, his stock, his growth, his flowering. They were linked by their childhood, spent in the maze of dusty streets. Most important they were linked by their common ancestors, the same skies. The same soil! The same traditions! Their souls were impregnated with the sap of the same customs. They were ecited by the same causes. Neither Ousmane nor Ouleymatou could disclaim this commom esscence without distorting their very natures. Cultural heritage was taking its pitiless revenge. It was reclaiming its due and revealing to Ousamane the end point of his flight.”-Mariama Ba, Scarlet Song.
The book explores a mixed race marriage and brings to light the cultural differences between an African and a European. What it is to be African is described so richly in Mariama Ba’s words. I wondered whether all the people in mixed marriages go through this; giving up your culture for the sake of love. Is that too big a sacrifice for the sake of life. Is there a compromise? Can there be a compromise? Would I be willing to give up my culture for love?
[I wrote this on my blog ages ago after I read the book http://corvinus.tumblr.com/post/115878844/talking-and-thinking-on-culture]
The book explores a mixed race marriage and brings to light the cultural differences between an African and a European. What it is to be African is described so richly in Mariama Ba’s words. I wondered whether all the people in mixed marriages go through this; giving up your culture for the sake of love. Is that too big a sacrifice for the sake of life. Is there a compromise? Can there be a compromise? Would I be willing to give up my culture for love?
[I wrote this on my blog ages ago after I read the book http://corvinus.tumblr.com/post/115878844/talking-and-thinking-on-culture]
ninachachu's review
3.0
For some reason I took a long time completing this book, and upon reflection I am not sure why. Maybe because I sort of knew that the ending was not going to be a happy one! And I realise that after finishing it, I still quite a few questions, and I wasn't really sure what the author was trying to present to the reader. On whose side was the author? Mireille? Ouleymatou? Ousmane? His parents?
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