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jada's review against another edition
4.0
similarly to wizard of the crow, his writing style has this appeal which I can't really explain much. i liked learning about what was going on in kenya in the 50s, and i saw the inspiration for some things seen in wizard of the crow (some names and stuff said about satan and temptation). also, his realisation about the black+white monolith gave something to think about. surprisingly, I also enjoyes reading about his journey with spirituality.
aqilahreads's review against another edition
2.0
i dont know what to feel about this one, i really adore ngugi's works but this memoir just feels like its missing something......
one of his works that i rlly enjoyed is called the perfect nine ((its one of my top 5 reads in 2020!!!)) which was written in epic poem, generally about feminism and gender equality if you guys would like to check it out
one of his works that i rlly enjoyed is called the perfect nine ((its one of my top 5 reads in 2020!!!)) which was written in epic poem, generally about feminism and gender equality if you guys would like to check it out
letitiaharmon's review against another edition
3.0
While a fairly easy read as auto-bios go, there was just not a compelling enough narrative. The back and forth from village to school which dominates the first 2/3 was not stimulating. Ngugi's thoughts on religion were much more compelling, as was the dynamic of being a beneficiary of the system which his brother fought against and he later opposed. Captured the dualistic nature of colonialism pretty well, but not necessarily in an interesting way.
jaclyn_youngblood's review against another edition
4.0
This was a nice companion to the pre-high school days laid out in Dreams in a Time of War. I enjoyed the interspersing of commentary about how the author came to think a certain way, or hold a certain expectation of the world. The introduction of things familiar from summer camp (lights out, being woken in the morning in your bunk, preparing for performances while also attending classes) also brought this second volume to life for me in a way the first volume didn't necessarily. Throughout both, though, it was illuminating to hear the author's perspective on, and means of coming by the information, world events. A trick of the trade for memoir, I suppose. I'd read more by Ngugi.
p_tremuloides's review
3.0
Well written, but about halfway through I found my attention lagging, as it stayed until the last 15-20 pages.
ninkadp's review
this book was abandoned in the lobby of my old apartment in DC, and i didn't realize it was the second memoir, chronologically, of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o until i spotted the first at a used bookstore in philly yesterday. now that i'm finished with this book, back in time i go...