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thesawyerbean's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Huh? I am so confused about what I just read. That has to be some of the most verbose and constipated writing I have ever read. I could barely understand what the point of the book was. If it wasn’t so short, I would’ve DNFed it very fast.
I can give it credit for its historical importance, as one of the first writings by a white author to bring attention to the deplorable horrors, genocide and violence of colonialism in Africa. However, this doesn’t mean it was good. In fact, I would hazard to say it was more dehumanising to the people it was attempting to uplift. What was even more perplexing was that the very man who had committed atrocities, that the whole plot line was apparently centred around, was then heralded as some kind of god, hero or virtuous man after his death, instead of the despot he was.
I don’t know, maybe I was simply not paying enough attention because I was severely bored, but I do not get it.
I can give it credit for its historical importance, as one of the first writings by a white author to bring attention to the deplorable horrors, genocide and violence of colonialism in Africa. However, this doesn’t mean it was good. In fact, I would hazard to say it was more dehumanising to the people it was attempting to uplift. What was even more perplexing was that the very man who had committed atrocities, that the whole plot line was apparently centred around, was then heralded as some kind of god, hero or virtuous man after his death, instead of the despot he was.
I don’t know, maybe I was simply not paying enough attention because I was severely bored, but I do not get it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Murder, and Colonisation
mushrooms23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and War
dustycedar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
- Had high hopes for this book initially given its (at the time) progressive views on imperialism & colonialism
- It was overall still SUPER racist & the author really put a lot of effort into trying to sound profound
- I think it’s probably a good book to read in terms of literary analysis, but can be difficult to get through because of its harsh themes & general structure
- TONS OF QUEER UNDERTONES
- Tons of blatant racism & sometimes graphic descriptions
- Probably wouldn’t read again for pleasure
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Murder, and Colonisation
ambdocksey22's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism