laraamaee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
ilonare's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
koirasaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Took a long time from me to finish the book, because sometimes it felt like nothing new happened. Text could have been edited a bit more so that the changes in time and place would’ve made more sense.
Even though it wasn’t so easy and light to read, it was a lovely and great book. I would recommend.
Even though it wasn’t so easy and light to read, it was a lovely and great book. I would recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, Abortion, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Alcoholism and Mass/school shootings
sarah_dietrich's review against another edition
4.0
NoViolet Bulawayo's We Need New Names is a jarring, challenging look at one girl's life in Mugabe's Zimbabwe, followed by her relocation to America. The protagonist's voice is strong & unique, some of the other characters are fascinating. The transition between the two halves of the book - the first in Zimbabwe, the second in America, is very jarring. In hindsight, I think that is intentional, to give us a notion of how the protagonist felt when trying to reconcile her old & new lives.
vidyareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
What a terrific book. After reading Glory by the author and putting it on my top 10 reads of 2022, I knew I would read her debut book. I becoming a fan of the author ! I loved the book !
teffin's review against another edition
4.0
pros: this book made me feel lots of things, made me nostalgic and homesick and feel desperately sorry for lots of the characters, writing was great, I felt like I was really feeling what Darling was feeling
cons: there were no characters I really loved, the chapters often felt a little disjointed and the change in time didn't always feel like it made sense, felt like it could have done with a bit more editing, the end felt a bit abrupt and random
cons: there were no characters I really loved, the chapters often felt a little disjointed and the change in time didn't always feel like it made sense, felt like it could have done with a bit more editing, the end felt a bit abrupt and random
marielaiko99's review against another edition
4.0
NoViolet Bulawayo does a great job of portraying Darling's character as it changes. At the beginning, she is a child who plays games and innocently goes about her life trying to forget her traumatic memories. When she moves to America, she starts trying to assimilate herself, meticulously perfecting her American accent. She neglects her old friends. Her innocence is ripped from her by her new friends. At the end, she is stuck between two identities: the child who is used to suffering and laughs at those who pamper themselves and a teenager who skips school for the mall and has lost all naïveté through the internet. This novel is a powerful reminder of the suffering of others and that perspective can change everything.
emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this one and absolutely could not put it down. I read We Need New Names on my flights to Nairobi from DFW, and it was a brilliant read.
Bulawayo speaks from understanding and experience. She's had the eyes of the little kid running around in Africa, dealing with NGOs. She knows the fear and adjustment of being an immigrant - and in this book's case, an illegal immigrant. She knows what it means to belong in multiple countries at once, and the choruses throughout the chapters echo that.
Everyone working with international groups should read this one.
Bulawayo speaks from understanding and experience. She's had the eyes of the little kid running around in Africa, dealing with NGOs. She knows the fear and adjustment of being an immigrant - and in this book's case, an illegal immigrant. She knows what it means to belong in multiple countries at once, and the choruses throughout the chapters echo that.
Everyone working with international groups should read this one.