logbook's review against another edition
5.0
Slave Old Man not only blends languages and incorporates multilingual elements to illustrate colonialization, but to demonstrate the power of semantic shifts and creolization. Through these semasiological and etymological tools, Chamoiseau rejects linguistic terrorism and creates a masterpiece. However, my rating does not consider any of this; rather, Slave Old Man has the most arresting prose in a fictional piece I have read in years. For this reason alone, it was nearly impossible to put the book down. [And, now, I am in the search for the English edition of Ecrire en pays dominé (Writing in a dominated land), which sets out the theory to Chamoiseau's praxis in this book.]
Note: I received an ARC of the English edition, and would recommend buying a physical copy of this book, rather than a Kindle eBook. There are a lot of footnotes for the translations, which do not have hyperlinks, so it was a clusterf*ck to flip back and forth electronically.
Note: I received an ARC of the English edition, and would recommend buying a physical copy of this book, rather than a Kindle eBook. There are a lot of footnotes for the translations, which do not have hyperlinks, so it was a clusterf*ck to flip back and forth electronically.
jhaydel's review against another edition
This was one of the more challenging books I’ve read in years, largely because it was my first encounter with Creolite literature. I’m going to read Glissant and learn more about Creolite literature and political theory and then re-read this book so that I can appreciate it more fully. If you are new to this as well, it’s worth reading the translator’s afterword before starting the novel. I didn’t do so, but wish I had, as I started to understand more when I read the afterword.
caroparr's review against another edition
I'm not rating this because I don't think I did it justice (reading while waiting at the DMV for three hours is not conducive to appreciating lyrical prose). It would be interesting to listen to this, and if I were a better person I'd reread it.
anneke_b's review against another edition
3.0
The translator of this book deserves an award. I am not sure if anyone would have done a better job translating the Creole and French in a similar way, which made reading it like a full immersion into the world of Slave Old Man. Did I love it? Nahh, not really, but I enjoyed reading it. The language. The atmosphere!
jacobbou's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
raethereviewer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
I read this for my Master's thesis. My focus is Caribbean Literature and one of my professors recommended Patrick Chamoiseau's work. This book had a bit of a slow start but once I got through the first section, I was intrigued. The plot kept me invested but I wasn't a fan of the translator's choice to include the Creole words alongside direct translations. As someone who speaks Creole (though Haitian Creole has some differences from Martinique Creole) many of the translations felt repetitive because I felt like I was reading the same word twice. I would've preferred the Creole words in the text, untranslated, but that is my personal preference when it comes to including other languages in texts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Violence, and Colonisation
jaclyn_sixminutesforme's review against another edition
4.0
Slave Old Man by Patrick Chamoiseau, translated from French and Creole by Linda Coverdale, is a novel rich in sublime language, highly evocative imagery, and a heart-in-mouth narrative. It is set in Martinique in self described 'slavery times,' and follows a 'slave old man' fleeing a sugar plantation on which he has spent his life. The plot itself is quick paced and immediately draws the reader in, but what bowled me over was the use of language. I would recommend reading the translator's note prior to starting the novel - not only is it fascinating but it also explains the use throughout the novel of Creole language particularly. So much of Chamoiseau's writing is an homage to the language itself, and at times I felt I was wading through its literary density, much as our title character was making his way through the unforgiving landscape on his run to freedom.
I cannot speak about this book and not mention the other main perspective we 'hear' from - in pursuit of the man is a mastiff led by the plantation master. The mastiff is feverish and maniacal, and haunts the slaves on the plantation both with his presence watching over them each day but particularly in their stories of escape attempts. The mental interplay between the man and mastiff is responsible for as much of the tempo in this as the literal pursuit.
I have not seen anything about this wonderful novel in my corner of the book community, and want to shout from the rooftops for people to pick it up! Thanks to NetGalley and The New Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I cannot speak about this book and not mention the other main perspective we 'hear' from - in pursuit of the man is a mastiff led by the plantation master. The mastiff is feverish and maniacal, and haunts the slaves on the plantation both with his presence watching over them each day but particularly in their stories of escape attempts. The mental interplay between the man and mastiff is responsible for as much of the tempo in this as the literal pursuit.
I have not seen anything about this wonderful novel in my corner of the book community, and want to shout from the rooftops for people to pick it up! Thanks to NetGalley and The New Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
vanlyn87's review against another edition
3.0
The book is beautifully written, at times it's like reading poetry. That does make it a bit hard to read narratively though.
robforteath's review against another edition
5.0
Somehow the author manages to distil the human condition into this short whirlwind of hallucinatory action. Every feeling the runaway old slave has as he plunges through the jungle is connected to the entire miserable history of Africans brought to Martinique.
I can't think of much to say about this, except to encourage everyone to read it.
I can't think of much to say about this, except to encourage everyone to read it.