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jenmat1197's review against another edition
3.0
This short novel about a young man named Jean-Marie Medza. He has just returned home after failing his baccalaureat exam. He is sure his town would be upset, but instead, they greet him as basically a hero. They send him on a trip to Kala to find a woman who has deserted her husband. When Jean-Maria arrives in Kala, he is greated like royalty. He stays with an uncle who lives there while he waits this woman to return to town. While he is there, he spends time with his cousin, finds a woman that he likes (and then becomes unexpecedtly married to), and is showered with gifts and attention. He does complete his mission and returns home.
This was a pretty good book. It is well written and entertaining. I found it amusing how a failed scholar was treated in a small village where no one could read or write. He was their hero for just going to school and getting an education - even though he wasn't extemely successful. The ending did get a little confusing and I felt the author was trying to tie up the story too quickly. But overall - a good read about this African country.
This was a pretty good book. It is well written and entertaining. I found it amusing how a failed scholar was treated in a small village where no one could read or write. He was their hero for just going to school and getting an education - even though he wasn't extemely successful. The ending did get a little confusing and I felt the author was trying to tie up the story too quickly. But overall - a good read about this African country.
shanaetheflyest's review against another edition
5.0
By far one of the best works I've ever read in my life. Reading Mongo Beti's novel taught me a lot about myself. From the interpersonal relationships between men and women I learned a completely different view of Africa from Beti as well. The novel takes place in Cameroon and is nothing like the traditional Nigerian literature you might have already read or are familiar with. I recommend this novel to everyone - it's funny, thought provoking and completely entertaining. I'm certain it will have as great a didactic affect on you as it has on me.
clarereadstheworld's review against another edition
3.75
This is the story of a young boy who is failing his education at the colonial school, and is sent off on a mission to the village of Kala to retrieve his cousins wife who has run off home.
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Throughout his time in Kala waiting for hia cousins wife to return so he can take her home Jean-Marie spends time getting to know his cousin, learning about village life, and growing as a person.
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I really enjoyed the insight this books gives into life in Cameroon, and especially the split between city and village life. Having received an education in the city Jean Marie is instantly welcomed as a very important person by the very villagers he looks down upon as simple and uneducated. Though he does gradually come to understand and respect the villagers, the dangers and harms to colonialism are very much laid bare in this book.
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Sadly the female characters had very little to say of do in this story, even the wife of the main character, and the original wife whoes running away started the whole story have very little to say, and hardly featured in the narrative, which was a little disappointing, but reflective of Cameroon culture.
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Overall a very interesting read.
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Throughout his time in Kala waiting for hia cousins wife to return so he can take her home Jean-Marie spends time getting to know his cousin, learning about village life, and growing as a person.
.
I really enjoyed the insight this books gives into life in Cameroon, and especially the split between city and village life. Having received an education in the city Jean Marie is instantly welcomed as a very important person by the very villagers he looks down upon as simple and uneducated. Though he does gradually come to understand and respect the villagers, the dangers and harms to colonialism are very much laid bare in this book.
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Sadly the female characters had very little to say of do in this story, even the wife of the main character, and the original wife whoes running away started the whole story have very little to say, and hardly featured in the narrative, which was a little disappointing, but reflective of Cameroon culture.
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Overall a very interesting read.
rhodaj's review against another edition
4.0
This was my read the world selection for Cameroon.
Jean-Marie is a young man who returns home from the city after failing his exams. On his return, some of his family members decide that he must undertake a mission (to Kala
Jean-Marie is a young man who returns home from the city after failing his exams. On his return, some of his family members decide that he must undertake a mission (to Kala
blessing_aj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Satirical. The MC had quite the adventure! Its a very funny book and I enjoyed the bulk of the story even f sometimes I didn’t know whether to cringe or laugh. But it’s fiction, so sometimes I did both.
The writing isn’t the easiest to follow, probably a translation issue but the MC also tended to ramble a lot.
The writing isn’t the easiest to follow, probably a translation issue but the MC also tended to ramble a lot.
archytas's review against another edition
4.0
A very funny coming of age novel, Beti's novel is chock full of memorable characters, silly situations and that kind of humour where the reader can see so much more than the overconfident and naïve first-person narrator. Set in 1950s Cameroon, the book does critique Westernisation, but the satire is roundly distributed to all players.
I hadn't expected to find the book as funny as I did - there is a kind of slapstick humour of the era which really holds up well. It reminded me of
Iraj Pezeshkzad's My Uncle Napolean (which I realise on checking dates twenty years' later, but there you go), a very different classic from Iran, in the style of humour set in a Westernising world. It's not without cringe moments - it is worth warning readers that the protagonist rapes someone, an act which the book does not condone, but which is treated uncomfortably lightly.
In addition to the humour, the books provide a sharp portrait of a country in which cities nestle next to subsistence agriculture villages, and a bicycle is a marker of a chief. Beti does this for a Western audience, but never in a way which patronises or disrespects the cultures at play, while still managing to poke fun at all of them.
I hadn't expected to find the book as funny as I did - there is a kind of slapstick humour of the era which really holds up well. It reminded me of
Iraj Pezeshkzad's My Uncle Napolean (which I realise on checking dates twenty years' later, but there you go), a very different classic from Iran, in the style of humour set in a Westernising world. It's not without cringe moments - it is worth warning readers that the protagonist rapes someone, an act which the book does not condone, but which is treated uncomfortably lightly.
In addition to the humour, the books provide a sharp portrait of a country in which cities nestle next to subsistence agriculture villages, and a bicycle is a marker of a chief. Beti does this for a Western audience, but never in a way which patronises or disrespects the cultures at play, while still managing to poke fun at all of them.
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