Reviews

Silence of the Chagos: A Novel by Jeffrey Zuckerman, Shenaz Patel

erburnside's review against another edition

4.0

A history I had never heard about; the novel made me want to learn more. Indeed "a past that is not yet past" (166).

The sections set in Chagos, giving a sense of life there prior to expulsion, were my favorite in the novel, and the mix of voices and times wasn't forced.

jetski's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

jaimiable's review against another edition

to-read

jenniferszhu's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

rhodaj's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

lizzillia's review against another edition

3.75

Until I read the winner of last year's Goldsmith's Prize, I had never heard of the Chagos Islands and the forced deportation of the islanders in the 1960s to Mauritius - an incident that made me ashamed of the British government. This sad little novella is a fictionalised account of the removal of this people and the way that the sorrow of exile has affected their lives. The poignant image of Charlesia in her red headscarf standing on the quay waiting for a boat to take her home - a boat that will never come. The contrast between the life on Chagos and life on Mauritius is stark. The afterword in which the author describes the events and how even in present day the struggle is still continuing is worth reading. My only criticism is the dialogue in the Chagossian dialect - I felt that there needed to be some translation. However, a worthwhile read.

lilaceous's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

characters - ⭐️
plot - ⭐️
engaging to read - ⭐️
would recommend - ⭐️
would read again - 

elisecabbage's review

emotional sad

3.75

briannalynn's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed this historical novel, which introduced me to the Chagos islands and the forced expulsion of its people so the US could build one of its most important military bases, but it felt more like a reflection than a story and left me wanting more. I was just attaching to the characters when the story ended. Missed potential as a novel, but a beautiful, literary introduction to the history of the Chagos nonetheless.

morebedsidebooks's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty

Moderate: Vomit, Pregnancy, and Racism