lorenadh27's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book ended up being a pretty quick read. Everything is told from the perspective of a boy/teenager who is committed to the current state of things of Angola during the Marxist-Leninist period. He is naive but endearing and it is definitely a book where you see everything from the protagonist's lens, although in his conversations and wondering you have the opportunity to see what he is not aware of or what others may be thinking.
mairimav's review against another edition
4.0
4,5/ le petit nicholas thrown in a serious situation during civil war in Angola. I was blown away
esther_habs's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sarapt's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
sathurnina's review against another edition
3.0
Esse livrinho surpreende por ser leve, engraçado e bonito mesmo tratando de uma época delicada da história de Angola saindo do imperialismo de Portugal e de ainda em relações com a a União Soviética. Achei um livro despretensioso mas que entrega uma experiência gostosa de leitura.
stacialithub's review against another edition
4.0
Simple & charming child’s-eye view of life in Angola during revolutionary changes & civil war in the 1990s.
The Afterword provides a lot of good historical context about Angola's history, as well as the various changes that were going on in the 1990s. Even though the book is fiction, the author has said that it is semi-autobiographical, based on his own childhood in 1990s Angola.
Recommended, especially for those who enjoy books from around the world.
The Afterword provides a lot of good historical context about Angola's history, as well as the various changes that were going on in the 1990s. Even though the book is fiction, the author has said that it is semi-autobiographical, based on his own childhood in 1990s Angola.
Recommended, especially for those who enjoy books from around the world.
blueyorkie's review against another edition
3.0
I found this novel curious.
Through the child author's eyes, I discovered Angola, liberated from colonialism by an authoritarian political regime led by a Comrade President not close to the people.
The story told from the perspective of relatively privileged and wealthy people, children of ambassadors or important men, having no worries about money and benefiting from a cook and driver.
The hero tells about his schooling and the nonsense with his friends, his aunt's arrival from Portugal, and the astonishment to discover that the rationing and military surveillance do not exist as at home in his country.
There is a fear of violence and the rumour about the Empty Coffin and its terrorist attacks in schools. There is cooperation with Cuban teachers whose political regime and living conditions are much more precarious than those they teach.
It made me think the fear of "Small country" at times...
Through the child author's eyes, I discovered Angola, liberated from colonialism by an authoritarian political regime led by a Comrade President not close to the people.
The story told from the perspective of relatively privileged and wealthy people, children of ambassadors or important men, having no worries about money and benefiting from a cook and driver.
The hero tells about his schooling and the nonsense with his friends, his aunt's arrival from Portugal, and the astonishment to discover that the rationing and military surveillance do not exist as at home in his country.
There is a fear of violence and the rumour about the Empty Coffin and its terrorist attacks in schools. There is cooperation with Cuban teachers whose political regime and living conditions are much more precarious than those they teach.
It made me think the fear of "Small country" at times...