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p_sabi's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gracekugrena's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.75
I really enjoyed reading this as it rang true to my own culture being Congolese myself- so many references I caught on to. But the end for me was the best part of all, so sad.
jellyfishes's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lindyloureads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
colormecaro's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Loved the tone and appreciated the humour in this book. Especially in the first half or so, there are a lot of descriptions of colonisation and corruption which from the POV of a teenage orphan who has never known any different are spot on.
To me, this book at its heart is about how an African boy experiences the world that he is tossed into with all the traumas and moral dilemmas this involves. However, as many others have pointed out, the low page number doesn’t afford much depth to these traumas. You get glimpses of the complexities going on inside his head but it just doesn’t feel like enough.
Some readers don’t seem to care for the somewhat sudden and slightly untethered ending. But to me, there is something to be appreciated about his descent into syphilitic insanity and the thoughts it reveals to bring the book full circle.
To me, this book at its heart is about how an African boy experiences the world that he is tossed into with all the traumas and moral dilemmas this involves. However, as many others have pointed out, the low page number doesn’t afford much depth to these traumas. You get glimpses of the complexities going on inside his head but it just doesn’t feel like enough.
Some readers don’t seem to care for the somewhat sudden and slightly untethered ending. But to me, there is something to be appreciated about his descent into syphilitic insanity and the thoughts it reveals to bring the book full circle.
ritaralha's review against another edition
2.0
Moisés Negro acompanha a jornada de Tokumisa Nzambe po Mose yamoyindo abotami namboka ya Bakoko, um nome bastante longo que significa “Graças a Deus, o Moisés negro nasce na terra de nossos ancestrais”.
É o retrato da República do Congo nos anos 70, com a revolução Marxista a tomar conta do país e a impor o seu regime autoritário.
Moisés é uma criança órfã, abandonada num orfanato que também funciona como colégio interno. Tenta, diariamente, sobreviver aos excessos de um director abusivo e corrupto.
Moisés consegue fugir e passa a viver na cidade de Pointe-Noire, no meio de criminosos de toda a espécie.
Gostava de ter gostado mais desta leitura, mas não gostei das personagens (e os nomes gigantes e que não nos dizem nada complicou um pouco a leitura), e embora alguns dos temas abordados sejam interessantes não consegui retirar grande prazer desta história.
47/198 - República do Congo
É o retrato da República do Congo nos anos 70, com a revolução Marxista a tomar conta do país e a impor o seu regime autoritário.
Moisés é uma criança órfã, abandonada num orfanato que também funciona como colégio interno. Tenta, diariamente, sobreviver aos excessos de um director abusivo e corrupto.
Moisés consegue fugir e passa a viver na cidade de Pointe-Noire, no meio de criminosos de toda a espécie.
Gostava de ter gostado mais desta leitura, mas não gostei das personagens (e os nomes gigantes e que não nos dizem nada complicou um pouco a leitura), e embora alguns dos temas abordados sejam interessantes não consegui retirar grande prazer desta história.
47/198 - República do Congo
sparkin's review against another edition
4.0
I was mostly with this from the beginning - it's written in a convivial tone that draws you in and pulls you along at a surprisingly fast pace. Still, at least early on the main characters feel sparsely drawn and simplistic. I didn't feel like the novel was particularly special until about 2/3 in, when we start to see the narrator's sanity in decline and question everything they've told us so far as well as piecing together what is happening to them in the present. That's when it starts to come together as something more interesting and unique. It's a quick read and well worth your time.
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
3.0
There are many books for which if I was editor, I would have told their author's to give the work another year. It is that kind of book. Great promise but it loses its way in second half. Plus, it should probably have been much bigger
iantilnic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25