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thereadershut's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fantasynovel's review against another edition
4.0
Takes place in Cameroon under French rule. Having some colonial and post-colonial literature this year, some of the elements of this book were familiar. The tension between the white colonists and the indigenous Black population playing out on a household level, especially between the white mistress of the house and her Black servants, for example. I'm very familiar now with the image of the white woman upholding and perpetuating colonialist practices, and the "Madame" in this book is part of a strong literary tradition of just that. Of course, literary tradition stems from reality, but it's still important to me to see what from life has become reified into intertextual motifs.
I loved Toundi's voice, which was both sharp and humorous. I was absorbed the entire time, taking only one or two five minute breaks throughout the course of the novel (though of course it is only 122 pages, and the font is moderately sized). To me, this book is a masterful examination of the evils of colonialism—though saying "the evils of colonialism" feels like a way to let the colonists off easy, as though they are subsumed by inhumanity and therefore not really personally responsible. It feels like a way to let myself off easily, too, as I consider how I've been part of and enacted damaging societal structures. It's too pat to write off any human misconduct as "the evils of x". Even if it is evil, calling it evil without focusing on who committed the evil redirects the focus from the human action to the inhuman force. So this book is a masterful examination of a certain aspect of settler-colonialism, including the evil actions of the white settlers.
Anyway. This is a masterfully-written book, with layers of meaning. The characters are not the most fleshed-out, but they're drawn in sparse strokes that give you enough of an outline to understand what you're reading, and honestly it works for the book. Oyono's prose is filled with sensory details that invigorate the writing, and the book's overall message of anti-colonialism is carefully embedded into the tightly-wound plot. It was also an enjoyable read, despite its beginning and ending. The prose is entertaining yet thoughtful and biting. One of my better finds from Book Culture's used books.
I loved Toundi's voice, which was both sharp and humorous. I was absorbed the entire time, taking only one or two five minute breaks throughout the course of the novel (though of course it is only 122 pages, and the font is moderately sized). To me, this book is a masterful examination of the evils of colonialism—though saying "the evils of colonialism" feels like a way to let the colonists off easy, as though they are subsumed by inhumanity and therefore not really personally responsible. It feels like a way to let myself off easily, too, as I consider how I've been part of and enacted damaging societal structures. It's too pat to write off any human misconduct as "the evils of x". Even if it is evil, calling it evil without focusing on who committed the evil redirects the focus from the human action to the inhuman force. So this book is a masterful examination of a certain aspect of settler-colonialism, including the evil actions of the white settlers.
Anyway. This is a masterfully-written book, with layers of meaning. The characters are not the most fleshed-out, but they're drawn in sparse strokes that give you enough of an outline to understand what you're reading, and honestly it works for the book. Oyono's prose is filled with sensory details that invigorate the writing, and the book's overall message of anti-colonialism is carefully embedded into the tightly-wound plot. It was also an enjoyable read, despite its beginning and ending. The prose is entertaining yet thoughtful and biting. One of my better finds from Book Culture's used books.
africanbookaddict's review against another edition
5.0
!! full review - https://africanbookaddict.com/2019/01/31/mini-reviews-houseboy-tropical-fish/
the_f_reader's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
leslielu67's review against another edition
3.0
Decent read, recommended by Powell's employees. Camaroon setting, white overlords, despicable behavior.
yellowbeard's review against another edition
4.0
Delivered through the eyes of a young houseboy in 1950s Cameroon under French rule, Houseboy engages social and cultural struggles under colonisation, inner conflict and brutal colonial violence. The main protagonist (Toundi) appears to struggle with his social and cultural identity. Initially intrigued by the colonials he finds himself in the hands of a Catholic missionary (Father Gilbert) until a fatal accident after which he is subsequently hired by the local Commandant. Toundi becomes intrinsically involved in the Commandant's wife's affair with the local prison-director when she uses him as her messenger, and his situation thereafter takes a significant turn for the worse.
The novel is a thought-provoking novel addressing the disparity which existed between the blacks and the whites in that colonialist setting.
The novel is a thought-provoking novel addressing the disparity which existed between the blacks and the whites in that colonialist setting.
zcarver's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
_sila_'s review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rozeyh's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0