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A review by theoreticalsiren
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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? No
4.75
This book was infuriating at times, hilarious at times, emotional, and representative of issues that have plagued my own family — and presumably many African families — for generations. The initial chapters move a little slow, but what really carried me through to the end was engaging with Nyasha and Tambudzai’s differing responses to issues that impact both of them in very similar ways. I found myself loving the fact that they were made to represent this line between “traditional” familial expectations within African households and a natural tendency to push back against identities that were imposed on us by the many colonial forces we have been exposed to for generations.
Moderate: Eating disorder and Violence