andrewspink's review against another edition
4.0
When I started reading this book I thought it was going to be a rather preachy book about the iniquities of slavery and prepared myself to struggle through it. But I was soon proved wrong. The book is written in a very creative way spanning continents and generations and from an unusual perspective.
In a couple of weeks the author is giving a lecture here in Wageningen and I'm already looking forward to that...
Update; the 'lecture' was an informal group in a local café and very interesting. We heard about how the personal experiences of the author and his family had influenced the book and as a result had a much better understanding of it.
In a couple of weeks the author is giving a lecture here in Wageningen and I'm already looking forward to that...
Update; the 'lecture' was an informal group in a local café and very interesting. We heard about how the personal experiences of the author and his family had influenced the book and as a result had a much better understanding of it.
sannereadstheworld's review against another edition
2.0
This review is on the Dutch edition of this book. From the other reviews I gather that the English edition has some changes to the structure of the novel, and perhaps also the contents, as the Dutch edition doesn't start with Edward's story.
I really enjoyed the first part of the novel, which was set in the 19th century. Sherif paints a wonderful picture of the lives of free African-Americans making their way to Liberia and village life in a small Bembé community. I thought Halay's section was particularly strong.
The second part, however, I did not like. It was set in the late 20th century, but it lacked the focus of the first part. The author was juggling a lot of characters whose role in the story wasn't always clear to me, and the point he was trying to make fell flat.
Considering that this was his debut novel, I'm interested to read a more recent work of his to see how Sherif developed his skills.
I really enjoyed the first part of the novel, which was set in the 19th century. Sherif paints a wonderful picture of the lives of free African-Americans making their way to Liberia and village life in a small Bembé community. I thought Halay's section was particularly strong.
The second part, however, I did not like. It was set in the late 20th century, but it lacked the focus of the first part. The author was juggling a lot of characters whose role in the story wasn't always clear to me, and the point he was trying to make fell flat.
Considering that this was his debut novel, I'm interested to read a more recent work of his to see how Sherif developed his skills.
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