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A review by midnightbookgirl
A Long Way from Douala by Max Lobe
informative
reflective
fast-paced
2.75
Spoilerish... proceed with caution
I thought this was going to be a coming of age story... but it never quite gets there. Jean learns more- about himself, about his family, on his journey to bring his brother Roger home, but it doesn't equal any growth and you. Or at least, the reader doesn't get to see it.
It made for a good book club discussion, although we were all questioning if the slurs and attitude toward the trans character were meant to represent Jean's feelings (as he continuously has unkind thoughts towards most women in the story, especially if he saw them as competition for Simon's attention) or if they reflect the author's opinions, or the general regard in Cameroon.
While I didn't love this book, and will never reread it, I did enjoy the glimpse of life in Cameroon, as previously the only thing I knew of the country was based on soccer. Jean and Simon's travels from Douala across the country brought Cameroon to life- the sights, the noise, the food, the beauty and the danger.
I thought this was going to be a coming of age story... but it never quite gets there. Jean learns more- about himself, about his family, on his journey to bring his brother Roger home, but it doesn't equal any growth and you. Or at least, the reader doesn't get to see it.
It made for a good book club discussion, although we were all questioning if the slurs and attitude toward the trans character were meant to represent Jean's feelings (as he continuously has unkind thoughts towards most women in the story, especially if he saw them as competition for Simon's attention) or if they reflect the author's opinions, or the general regard in Cameroon.
While I didn't love this book, and will never reread it, I did enjoy the glimpse of life in Cameroon, as previously the only thing I knew of the country was based on soccer. Jean and Simon's travels from Douala across the country brought Cameroon to life- the sights, the noise, the food, the beauty and the danger.