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A review by lizzie_5678
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
“it was easy for me to leave tangled thoughts knotted, their loose ends hanging. I didn't want to explore the treacherous mazes that such thoughts led into. I didn't want to reach the end of those mazes, because there, I knew, I would find myself”
There are so many layers to this book to delve into, all of which make it such a thought-provoking and moving read. Ranging from the wider struggles against colonisation, to struggles within the family, to gendered struggles (especially in regards to the pressure placed on meeting expectations/doing as one should according to their gender), as well as incredibly personal and internal struggle; this book tackles a lot, but with such tact. It is so well written, and Dangarembga’s decision to make the narrative a first person, retrospective account was such a wise one, as it allows us to see how Tambu once viewed the world in her innocence, and how this may have altered in her experience. Such a good book, with some really important insights.
There are so many layers to this book to delve into, all of which make it such a thought-provoking and moving read. Ranging from the wider struggles against colonisation, to struggles within the family, to gendered struggles (especially in regards to the pressure placed on meeting expectations/doing as one should according to their gender), as well as incredibly personal and internal struggle; this book tackles a lot, but with such tact. It is so well written, and Dangarembga’s decision to make the narrative a first person, retrospective account was such a wise one, as it allows us to see how Tambu once viewed the world in her innocence, and how this may have altered in her experience. Such a good book, with some really important insights.