Rating: 10/10
Ok, so this book is brilliant. Like, just straight up brilliant. The way it explores the tensions of class and race, the way it inspects colonialism, adding magical realism to expose/emphasize the role of language and extraction of resources (including people) was amazing. This book kind of broke me. The way the narrating character is in this position of privilege versus some of the other main characters, and the way this allows him to cling to a false view of the world, is so impactful. I honestly think everyone should read this. The world of this book is rich and complex. The characters are incredibly. multi-faceted, and the conflict is both historical and very relevant today. The book is wonderfully written, and its exploration of academia and language is beautiful, but these only enhance the socioeconomic and political implications of the book. It addresses questions of privilege, of when violence is acceptable, of complicity, of the role of academia in politics, and so much more. I think this book should be added to school curriculums. It is one of the best books I have ever read.
Bookworm's Haven 