carlaaaaa's review
1.0
i didn‘t get it, i was confused the whole time
my review reflects only my personal reading experience (how i felt while reading it; how easy or hard it was to get through; whether or not i was in the right headspace for it; etc.) of this book and not necessarily the content
my review reflects only my personal reading experience (how i felt while reading it; how easy or hard it was to get through; whether or not i was in the right headspace for it; etc.) of this book and not necessarily the content
marleyabbott's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
cathdm's review
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Interestingly written, lovely lyrical style.
acannaeread's review
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
mariapasch's review against another edition
4.0
“this is her life, the watered-down dream of a woman who never understood what it meant to take flight, that two lives can collide without their soil being on either side.”
Excerpt From
Losing the Plot
Derek Owusu
Excerpt From
Losing the Plot
Derek Owusu
sharonleavy's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
"Losing the Plot" by Derek Owusu caught my eye on Borrowbox last month. It's a short read, coming in at 123 pages, but boy does it make you work.
I have three pages full of notes and quotes for this one - if you tear through it, you won't take much from it (I tried to, and ended up utterly confused) - I restarted, took my time with it, and ended up really liking this tale of a son reimagining his immigrant mother's life.
His mother is loathe to tell him anything - so he's piecing her story together from snippets he has picked up over the years, be it during cooking, phone calls to relatives, or with fellow immigrants. The text is peppered with Twi words and phrases, none of which I understood (nor did I have much luck in researching) but the author's footnotes prove to be invaluable, lending a context that renders the language easy to understand in whatever particular scene is taking place. I think he did an incredible job with the language in the book.
His mother has worked incredibly hard, and like many immigrants at times was working 2-3 minimum wage, maximum labour jobs at any time in order to provide for her family. The ways in which she showed her love were beautifully described - from making a special dish for her (unenthusiastic) children to learning about celebrities so that she could try to relate to the world her children were now growing up in.
What was supposed to be the basis for this book is included at the end - it's an interview with the author's mother, who is giving him NOTHING - it's both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. That he was able to still bring her to life through this book was a testament to both his talent and his love for his mother.
This was lovely. But don't rush it!
I have three pages full of notes and quotes for this one - if you tear through it, you won't take much from it (I tried to, and ended up utterly confused) - I restarted, took my time with it, and ended up really liking this tale of a son reimagining his immigrant mother's life.
His mother is loathe to tell him anything - so he's piecing her story together from snippets he has picked up over the years, be it during cooking, phone calls to relatives, or with fellow immigrants. The text is peppered with Twi words and phrases, none of which I understood (nor did I have much luck in researching) but the author's footnotes prove to be invaluable, lending a context that renders the language easy to understand in whatever particular scene is taking place. I think he did an incredible job with the language in the book.
His mother has worked incredibly hard, and like many immigrants at times was working 2-3 minimum wage, maximum labour jobs at any time in order to provide for her family. The ways in which she showed her love were beautifully described - from making a special dish for her (unenthusiastic) children to learning about celebrities so that she could try to relate to the world her children were now growing up in.
What was supposed to be the basis for this book is included at the end - it's an interview with the author's mother, who is giving him NOTHING - it's both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. That he was able to still bring her to life through this book was a testament to both his talent and his love for his mother.
This was lovely. But don't rush it!
"He prefers "son" to any other calling, loves the drop of tone through those three letters, sounding stretched but comfortable in their balance, a name he's proud of, a lustrous designation so small but brilliant, a reaction of love touching his entire body when his mother summons him with such a small word capable of palpitating all the air around him."
juliacallan's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
preethijoseph's review against another edition
4.0
They say not to judge a book by its cover but sadly I do it a lot many times and just sometimes they turn out to be beautiful inside out like this one here !!