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ok7a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, and Colonisation
Minor: Chronic illness, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Abortion, and Abandonment
annemaries_shelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Kintu follows the extended Kintu clan and their misfortunes due to a family curse from a Ppookino (governor-type) ancestor back when the region was still the Buganda kingdom. We open with a shocking murder in present-day 2004, and jump back to 1750 to follow the ancestor Kintu. The next few sections are a serious character deep dive into several different family members in 2004. While the present-day is 2004, we jump back multiple decades as we follow different family members. The final section has the whole family coming together for a reunion to break the curse. I loved the prologue and first historical section, and appreciated the in-depth character explorations. However, the final section could've been longer and more effectively tied together the disparate threads, in my opinion.
The themes of family, intergenerational attitudes/beliefs/trauma/histories, identity, knowledge and knowing, role of religion vs. traditional beliefs, among others were well done and nicely woven in. There were some really lovely passages about identity and family (and colonization - which was a lesser theme in comparison) throughout the text. I think it also had a lot to say about family trauma and bad luck and how people reconcile that with their belief systems - a family curse is a lot easier to pin the blame on then big forces out of your control (colonialism, genetics, mental illness, poverty, etc.). That said... I was kind of left wondering whether the curse was real. And if it was, whether they were truly successful in breaking it. Nansubuga Makumbi was very smart in adding the element of "breaking the curse comes with its own negatives" - leaving you wondering if the continued bad luck was the lingering after effects of a broken curse... or the curse still working its way through the family. Really, the story works with multiple interpretations.
Per the Introduction, which I really recommend reading before the novel, this is a Ugandan novel for Ugandans, so there's little explanations or hand-holding for readers unfamiliar with the history and culture of Uganda (specifically the Ganda people and culture). It's absolutely worth the effort if, like me, you're unfamiliar. The writing is compelling and the chapters are relatively short, which propels the reader forward.
Finally, I'd absolutely read another book by this author.
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Incest
jayisreading's review
4.0
The story begins with Kintu Kidda and the curse placed on him that affects not only him, but also his descendants. The story then branches out to follow said descendants and how they are reckoning with this curse in their own lives. Makumbi approaches this by dividing her book into six interconnected sections, presenting different perspectives on the curse and how each character understands it. And I love how this is done in the fashion of oral history, recognizing that there will always be slight differences in one’s understanding of something carried down from the past. There was also a lot of interesting commentary woven into this family epic that related distinctly to Ugandan culture and society, the most interesting I thought was the lasting impact of colonialism, especially Christianity.
The book dragged in certain places for me, but overall, I found Makumbi’s storytelling effective and compelling.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Incest, Rape, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation and War
originalmelodie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Incest and Violence
sonea_moon's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
georgiarybanks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The novel covers a period from 1750 to around 2004 and follows the cursed bloodline of the Kintu family, who were once a powerful clan in the kingdom of Buganda.
Some sections made me laugh. Other sections were just bleak. I learned a lot about Uganda - but suspect that some things might have gone over my head because I don’t have all the context.
I listened to an audiobook version from Audible. The narrator was fantastic. I think if I was reading the physical book I might have found it a bit easier to keep track of which part of history I was in. I did get things mixed up sometimes.
Really enjoyed this overall.
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Incest, Rape, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
2treads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
🇺🇬
Makumbi weaves stories. Her prose is clear yet intimate, making it very easy for her reader to become immersed. The weaving of folktales and proverbs/idioms throughout the narrative serves to enrapture the reader and the manner in which they are used to impart a lesson or the values of a family is very familiar from a cultural standpoint.
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This is more than an multi-generational saga, this is a story that explores community, relationships, social mentality, and selfhood.
Each descendant's life circumstances and struggles is laid out for the reader to glimpse certain facets that make up a life, to piece together the scattered people of this family, to move the chips on the board and hopefully uncover what is contained within and what can blossom.
🇺🇬
While we get to know these characters, the changing face of Buganda and Uganda is also explored, with tidbits of history being weaved throughout from tribal times through colonialism and to independence. Makumbi also intersperses certain details that add an elevatory element to the tale she tells.
🇺🇬
Seeing how clearly Makumbi leads up to the culmination of this family's path, how she shows the threads that bind, that no matter how far we go, who we disown, what we deny, family remains. This is as much a story of approaching healing as it is one that tracks the thread of one family through generations. We are taken on a journey through broken minds, relationships, responses, and individuals, coming full circle with acknowledgement and acceptance.
🇺🇬
Minor: Incest
heatherinjapan's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Incest, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Religious bigotry
tina94's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Incest