liesbethvv's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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? No
3.75
A group of teenage girls in an elite catholic lyceum installed by the Belgian colonial regime in Rwanda try to juggle their aim to become Rwandese elite, just being teenage girls and the complicated racial and tribal tensions some 15 years before the height of the Rwanda genocide.
I enjoyed the narrative trick of each of the girls and their teachers representing a different fraction of the historically built conflict and learning about Rwandan history without it taking the center stage. The characters could have some more depth though, I would have loved a longer book or less characters.
I enjoyed the narrative trick of each of the girls and their teachers representing a different fraction of the historically built conflict and learning about Rwandan history without it taking the center stage. The characters could have some more depth though, I would have loved a longer book or less characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Racism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Violence and Sexism
Minor: Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Miscarriage, and Xenophobia
curatoriallyyours's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Our Lady of the Nile is an elite Catholic boarding school for girls in Rwanda. In this story, set 15 years prior to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the tension between Hutu and Tutsi students is palpable and reflects the general state of things in the country. What I really liked about this book was the social commentary that the author quietly inserted via the opinions of characters. She shows the conditions that led to the genocide, including Belgian involvement in Rwanda, as a slow buildup to the final events of the book. The numerous narrators and some of the odd storylines didn’t work for me. My edition of the book also had some muddled up pages towards the end, which didn’t help! Over all, I’m glad I read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Rape, Toxic friendship, Genocide, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Bullying, Drug use, Fatphobia, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, and Mental illness
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