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renegadecosmos's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jalee66123's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
cainwaogu's review against another edition
4.0
This is probably the most subversive "romance" I have ever read. None of the characters are good people and none of their actions are altruistic. Love does not inspire characters to transcend their situations and prejudices but enables them to make some sad and selfish decisions. This is one of the few works were you get depictions of men and women's rapture and the violence that can accompany it.
Interestingly, the story features the common trope of two wealthy chiefs competing for the love one woman pariah but Head presents it in such an honest way. She shows how both rich suitors use their wealth and access to manipulate and pressure her into submission. Although the narrative was a bit disjointed at times I truly appreciate the ideas the author presents.
Interestingly, the story features the common trope of two wealthy chiefs competing for the love one woman pariah but Head presents it in such an honest way. She shows how both rich suitors use their wealth and access to manipulate and pressure her into submission. Although the narrative was a bit disjointed at times I truly appreciate the ideas the author presents.
raulbime's review against another edition
4.0
I'm always fascinated with small books, by small I mean volume, that contain so much in them and Maru is one such book.
Maru, set in rural Botswana, is the tale of an orphaned girl Margaret, who belonging to the Masarwa tribe, a tribe mistreated, enslaved and considered subhuman, experiences life, love and art even at the face of discrimination.
There's a quote from the book that really struck home:
"How universal was the language of oppression! They had said of the Masarwa what every white man had said of every black man: 'They can't think for themselves. They don't know anything.' The matter never rested there. The stronger man caught hold of the weaker man and made a circus animal out of him, reducing him to a state of misery and subjection and non-humanity."
The capacity for human beings to oppress those they find different from them is limitless as it is stupid. And Bessie Head writes with an elegant hand.
Maru, set in rural Botswana, is the tale of an orphaned girl Margaret, who belonging to the Masarwa tribe, a tribe mistreated, enslaved and considered subhuman, experiences life, love and art even at the face of discrimination.
There's a quote from the book that really struck home:
"How universal was the language of oppression! They had said of the Masarwa what every white man had said of every black man: 'They can't think for themselves. They don't know anything.' The matter never rested there. The stronger man caught hold of the weaker man and made a circus animal out of him, reducing him to a state of misery and subjection and non-humanity."
The capacity for human beings to oppress those they find different from them is limitless as it is stupid. And Bessie Head writes with an elegant hand.
lilaceous's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
characters - .5⭐️
plot - ⭐️
engaging to read - ⭐️
would recommend - ⭐️
would read again - ⭐️
eery in the best way.
one thing that took me out of the story a bit was what i perceived to be a lack of motivation behind the characters’ extreme actions. it almost doesn’t make sense why the characters do what they do. outside of that, beautiful and engaging storytelling.
eery in the best way.
one thing that took me out of the story a bit was what i perceived to be a lack of motivation behind the characters’ extreme actions. it almost doesn’t make sense why the characters do what they do. outside of that, beautiful and engaging storytelling.
fandomsandfiction's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
in conclusion, men are trash.
EDIT: the more we analyse this book in class, the more I grow to dislike it, so much so that I've removed a star. The book itself is not badly written. I've just never hated all the characters in a single book this much before. 😐
EDIT: the more we analyse this book in class, the more I grow to dislike it, so much so that I've removed a star. The book itself is not badly written. I've just never hated all the characters in a single book this much before. 😐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Classism, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
niheed's review
informative
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
apollonium's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
katesleepyteach's review
5.0
My local library had an original hard back cover in storage. I absolutely loved this book and I’m intrigued to learn / read more about Bessie Head.
In this story you have 4 main characters. Throughout the story, racism and sexism are prevalent; however, the females are strong characters.
Reading these topics so openly was pretty affronting. A lot has changed in 51 years but a lot remains the same.
If you can get your hands on this book , please read it.
Read Across Africa Challenge
Prompt complete
Botswana 🇧🇼
Book 9/54
In this story you have 4 main characters. Throughout the story, racism and sexism are prevalent; however, the females are strong characters.
Reading these topics so openly was pretty affronting. A lot has changed in 51 years but a lot remains the same.
If you can get your hands on this book , please read it.
Read Across Africa Challenge
Prompt complete
Botswana 🇧🇼
Book 9/54
alia0ftheknife's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5