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A review by kayjay34
The In-Between World of Vikram Lall by M.G. Vassanji
2.0
This book was full of examples of colourism (Indians looking down on dark skinned Bengalis/native Africans), worshiping whiteness and classism. And that's all right, if there's context written into the story to justify it. However, there was no contextual background given in this novel, and that makes me begin to question if the author is just writing racist ideals, or if he believes them.
It's obvious that colonization deeply affected the indentured Indians of Kenya, but this idea wasn't challenged in the novel. White people were love interests for the main character, blackness was looked down upon, and native Africans were portrayed as savage much of the time.
Also, having context for why the Mau Mau slaughtered the British was needed. The novel made it seemed like the Mau Mau killed the British because they hated whites, or something that simplistic. The only character who challenged this was Uncle Mahesh (the best character) who actually correctly stated that their land was stolen away from them and they're rebelling against colonizing powers.
I was greatly disappointed by this novel because it was well written and interesting, but I feel that all these examples of colourism and racism were not trying to make a deeper point.
It's obvious that colonization deeply affected the indentured Indians of Kenya, but this idea wasn't challenged in the novel. White people were love interests for the main character, blackness was looked down upon, and native Africans were portrayed as savage much of the time.
Also, having context for why the Mau Mau slaughtered the British was needed. The novel made it seemed like the Mau Mau killed the British because they hated whites, or something that simplistic. The only character who challenged this was Uncle Mahesh (the best character) who actually correctly stated that their land was stolen away from them and they're rebelling against colonizing powers.
I was greatly disappointed by this novel because it was well written and interesting, but I feel that all these examples of colourism and racism were not trying to make a deeper point.