randybo5's review against another edition
3.0
Mankell has created a compelling character in Daniel, the boy uprooted from his home in the Kalahari and taken to Sweden. The story weaves his perception of the strange new land he finds himself in, the arrogance of his "guardian", and the misconceptions of even the well meaning people he enounters.
whittyreads's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful book. I love how the author has crafted the book. Took me some time to get into but I am glad I did. This book makes you take a look at how majorities help minorities. This book will stick with you for a bit.
ohsoreads's review against another edition
4.0
“Everyone who sees you will remember you,” Bengler said. “They will tell their families tonight about what they saw. You’re already famous. Merely by walking down the street, you’ve become a well-known person. You will be the object of curiosity, suspicion and, unfortunately, also some ill will. People are afraid of what’s foreign to them. And you are foreign, Daniel.”
My name is Daniel and I believe in God – or so? Born Molo to his parents Be and Kiko, Molo was met with unfortunate events at a young age. He was saved by Hans Bengler, an entomologist who was on a search for all kinds of bugs around the world. Bengler took Molo in and named him Daniel, a new identity for survival. He had taught Daniel survival skills for living in the city; to only enter when a knock on the door is accepted and to wear shoes because that’s what humans do. Daniel goes further and further away from home as he and Bengler runs from danger. At aged 10, Bengler left on a trip and was assumed to never return. At that point, Daniel had felt abandoned once again. He tried to return to his true home but was never close. But it seemed that he was never alone, always talking to Be and Kiko in his head. This is Daniel’s book, his story told for all to read.
“What makes you so restless?” Said Alma. “How can we make sure that you won’t kill yourself with longing? How can a child carry around so much sorrow?”
In summary, this book entails homesickness & longing – truly a powerful and heart-wrenching novel.
Other excerpts:
1. Human beings are made in different forms. But they’re all the same inside.
2. His tears began to flow. It was the secret river that broke through all the dams; the river of pain that everyone carried inside, the one Be had told him about.
My name is Daniel and I believe in God – or so? Born Molo to his parents Be and Kiko, Molo was met with unfortunate events at a young age. He was saved by Hans Bengler, an entomologist who was on a search for all kinds of bugs around the world. Bengler took Molo in and named him Daniel, a new identity for survival. He had taught Daniel survival skills for living in the city; to only enter when a knock on the door is accepted and to wear shoes because that’s what humans do. Daniel goes further and further away from home as he and Bengler runs from danger. At aged 10, Bengler left on a trip and was assumed to never return. At that point, Daniel had felt abandoned once again. He tried to return to his true home but was never close. But it seemed that he was never alone, always talking to Be and Kiko in his head. This is Daniel’s book, his story told for all to read.
“What makes you so restless?” Said Alma. “How can we make sure that you won’t kill yourself with longing? How can a child carry around so much sorrow?”
In summary, this book entails homesickness & longing – truly a powerful and heart-wrenching novel.
Other excerpts:
1. Human beings are made in different forms. But they’re all the same inside.
2. His tears began to flow. It was the secret river that broke through all the dams; the river of pain that everyone carried inside, the one Be had told him about.
asuph's review against another edition
3.0
Has its poignant moments. But also drags a lot. Seems to play too much with stereotypes.
ranaelizabeth's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this so much. Like I knew that I should, intellectually. But my heart wouldn't let me. It just felt so surface-y, like there was nothing of substance to the writing. I just couldn't feel any emotions for the characters or story.
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