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faithelizabetha's review against another edition
3.0
it was ok. i liked the lonely londoners but i started to dislike moses’ character for most of the book until the very end, even though i thought i liked him from the first book
chloebethx_'s review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
zita_p's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-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
3.5
benjaminbarlow's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
june_englit_phd's review against another edition
5.0
Having studied 'The Lonely Londoners' for one of my Uni modules, (which was a BRILLIANT book!), I eagerly downloaded 'Moses Ascending' onto my Kindle to find out what happens to the hero - narrator, Moses Aloetta, next. Moses is one of a community of black immigrants from the West Indies (The 'Windrush' generation) who emigrated to England after WW2 to help re-build the war ravaged cities. As his name suggests, Moses takes on the leadership of this community within their strange 'Promised Land' of London. 'Moses Ascending' picks up several years after the final scene of 'The Lonely Londoners' - Moses now being a man of property enjoying relatively high social status. But, he gets himself into a few comical scrapes, which leave him in very different circumstances and a 'changed man'.
Love the inter-textual links with DeFoe's 'Robinson Crusoe' in this trilogy (the final one being 'Moses Migrating'), and the comedy really does make you laugh out loud whilst, at the same time, cringe at the stigma and stereotypes that are prevalent towards the racial 'other' in society.
May 2015: Have just re-read this novel in preparation for a Uni essay. Love it even more the second time around, so it goes from three to five stars!
Love the inter-textual links with DeFoe's 'Robinson Crusoe' in this trilogy (the final one being 'Moses Migrating'), and the comedy really does make you laugh out loud whilst, at the same time, cringe at the stigma and stereotypes that are prevalent towards the racial 'other' in society.
May 2015: Have just re-read this novel in preparation for a Uni essay. Love it even more the second time around, so it goes from three to five stars!
a_mo_zing's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
misssophiereads's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Assigned reading for a university course on Representing Black Britain in Literature.
Oh boy. Firstly, I really enjoyed the writing style, the subtle Trinidad dialect flowed really nicely and gave the text character an flavour. The satire element was well done, the story fast-paced, to the point were it felt a bit as though the main character was flip-flopping around from one mood to the other, but I attribute that as part of the satire slap-stick style.
However.
The blatant misoginy was just sickening. Women are only referred to as "pussy", "thing" or, occasionally "bitch". Every woman is only a potential sexual conquest, especially the only two (!) female characters that actually have a name. And of course, as soon as these two female characters meet on the page they are catty and jealous and start sabotaging each other. Not to mention, there is literally an attempted rape scene right at the beginning and the main character's response is "I even get up from the table and stand to get a better view of the proceedings."
Another trend is the "the female is being contrary so lets fill her up with alcohol" which usually magically improves her mood.
And none of this is really addressed or discussed in a way that makes it clear the author is aware of this problematic depiction. Brenda, one of the named women who apparently is supposed to be a satire of Black feminists at the time, does get a few lines of "women should not be treated like this!" but more for comedic effect than anything else. Her involvement in the Black Power movement, organising rallies, speeches and a Black run newspaper is all undercut by her sexualisation by the main character and his white handyman, as well as her "helping around the house" because she is a woman and so that's her job.
I could rant on for longer, but I will wait until the class discussion and maybe add some more later.
Oh boy. Firstly, I really enjoyed the writing style, the subtle Trinidad dialect flowed really nicely and gave the text character an flavour. The satire element was well done, the story fast-paced, to the point were it felt a bit as though the main character was flip-flopping around from one mood to the other, but I attribute that as part of the satire slap-stick style.
However.
The blatant misoginy was just sickening. Women are only referred to as "pussy", "thing" or, occasionally "bitch". Every woman is only a potential sexual conquest, especially the only two (!) female characters that actually have a name. And of course, as soon as these two female characters meet on the page they are catty and jealous and start sabotaging each other. Not to mention, there is literally an attempted rape scene right at the beginning and the main character's response is "I even get up from the table and stand to get a better view of the proceedings."
Another trend is the "the female is being contrary so lets fill her up with alcohol" which usually magically improves her mood.
And none of this is really addressed or discussed in a way that makes it clear the author is aware of this problematic depiction. Brenda, one of the named women who apparently is supposed to be a satire of Black feminists at the time, does get a few lines of "women should not be treated like this!" but more for comedic effect than anything else. Her involvement in the Black Power movement, organising rallies, speeches and a Black run newspaper is all undercut by her sexualisation by the main character and his white handyman, as well as her "helping around the house" because she is a woman and so that's her job.
I could rant on for longer, but I will wait until the class discussion and maybe add some more later.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism
Minor: Islamophobia, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Trafficking
drewsstuff's review against another edition
4.0
Brilliantly evocative of the time and superbly written. Within the stylish writing and lyrical prose there's a bitterness that lingers long after the story ends. I'm not sure if it's a bitterness of disillusionment - the ones that will bring you down the most are your own people, the same people who are as prejudiced against peoples of other colours as white man is prejudiced against black - or a bitterness of the author. Either way, in a strange way it doesn't detract from the story: call it what you will, it certainly adds another flavour to the storyline.
It's a story of the rise and fall of Moses, a man not unaware of the struggle of black people against the establishment in the 1970s, but a man who, having worked (slaved?) all his life now wants some peace and quiet. (Though I'm not sure his fall is as much of a fall as some would argue). I really enjoyed the nuanced and, above all, realistic attitudes that prevailed at the time.
Some parts jar, some characterisations don't succeed totally, but all in all a thoroughly enjoyable read.
It's a story of the rise and fall of Moses, a man not unaware of the struggle of black people against the establishment in the 1970s, but a man who, having worked (slaved?) all his life now wants some peace and quiet. (Though I'm not sure his fall is as much of a fall as some would argue). I really enjoyed the nuanced and, above all, realistic attitudes that prevailed at the time.
Some parts jar, some characterisations don't succeed totally, but all in all a thoroughly enjoyable read.
laura96's review against another edition
2.0
This book was mediocre at best. It was an assigned reading for class and I definitely will not be choosing to read this author again. The lack of chapters is irritating and language is difficult to read. The events that take place are interesting but it is difficult to tell what might be historically accurate. Lastly, the sexism in this book is disgusting, although moderately amusing if you choose not to be offended. All in all a waste of time and the only reason I finished it was because of my class.
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