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A review by spyralnode
Coconut by Kopano Matlwa
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
'Coconut' depicts episodes in the experiences of two South African black girls as they navigate life among white people. From skin colour to hair texture to bullying, it is a coming of age novel that reads a bit like a journal.
The book doesn't have continuity per say. There are fragments of events and thoughts that these girls have, and they are narrated without much thought or reflection. In that, this was a disappointment. I felt like I couldn't connect with them as I saw them responding to the external factors around them, but not really considering what this says about their own identity and what learning this may represent for the future. The bittiness is also structural, with some texts in italics, and I never got the sense that the author found their footing. It was all over the place.
The book doesn't have continuity per say. There are fragments of events and thoughts that these girls have, and they are narrated without much thought or reflection. In that, this was a disappointment. I felt like I couldn't connect with them as I saw them responding to the external factors around them, but not really considering what this says about their own identity and what learning this may represent for the future. The bittiness is also structural, with some texts in italics, and I never got the sense that the author found their footing. It was all over the place.