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Maxwell's Reviews > We Need New Names
We Need New Names
by
by
2.5 stars
I'm really sad because this book started off with so much promise, but it completely lost me in the second half. My main issue with this book is that Bulawayo didn't leave the reader with any ideas to develop on their own. She uses her characters as mouthpieces for her ideologies--not that I disagree with any of her statements--which makes for a rather pedantic piece of fiction. If I had wanted these themes & messages delivered in the way she delivers them, I would've read some non-fiction essays about immigration, diaspora, disappointment, etc.
Aside from the those elements, the writing is absolutely beautiful. There's no doubt Bulawayo knows how to craft a sentence. She has a magnificent turn of phrase and uses similes in an endearing and remarkable way without being overbearing. Though the story is less of a novel than vignettes into a girl's life as she grows up in Zimbabwe and moves to the U.S. There's no through-line for the plot at all. I expected a lot more from this, and unfortunately, it just didn't deliver.
I'm really sad because this book started off with so much promise, but it completely lost me in the second half. My main issue with this book is that Bulawayo didn't leave the reader with any ideas to develop on their own. She uses her characters as mouthpieces for her ideologies--not that I disagree with any of her statements--which makes for a rather pedantic piece of fiction. If I had wanted these themes & messages delivered in the way she delivers them, I would've read some non-fiction essays about immigration, diaspora, disappointment, etc.
Aside from the those elements, the writing is absolutely beautiful. There's no doubt Bulawayo knows how to craft a sentence. She has a magnificent turn of phrase and uses similes in an endearing and remarkable way without being overbearing. Though the story is less of a novel than vignettes into a girl's life as she grows up in Zimbabwe and moves to the U.S. There's no through-line for the plot at all. I expected a lot more from this, and unfortunately, it just didn't deliver.
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Reading Progress
April 10, 2015
– Shelved
April 10, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
January 9, 2016
–
Started Reading
January 9, 2016
– Shelved as:
owned
January 11, 2016
–
79.06%
"Unfortunately, I don't like this second half as much as the first."
page
253
January 11, 2016
–
Finished Reading
June 18, 2020
– Shelved as:
black-authors
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Amerie
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Jan 11, 2016 08:59PM
Aw, sorry you didn't like it. I want to read this, too, but I did see a few reviews where people weren't liking it so much.
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Ameriie wrote: "Aw, sorry you didn't like it. I want to read this, too, but I did see a few reviews where people weren't liking it so much."Yeah it completely nosedives after the midway point. I'm sure there is better fiction out there working with the same themes, and I hope to find it.
Have you read any Rushdie? Not really the same, but on the themes of "immigration, diaspora, disappointment, etc."...
Ah, pity! The book looked so promising… And: maybe try Teju Cole, Open City?
Personally I thought that Americanah tackled the same topic but in a more in depth way. What I did liked about We Need New Names was it's playful writing style .
Robert wrote: "Personally I thought that Americanah tackled the same topic but in a more in depth way. What I did liked about We Need New Names was it's playful writing style ."I agree. I think Americanah definitely excels in that area. I did like the writing style in We Need New Names but it wasn't enough to win me over, sadly.
Britta wrote: "Ah, pity! The book looked so promising… And: maybe try Teju Cole, Open City?"I've heard good things about the Cole novel. Will look into it! THanks!
Thank you for the review. It was on my TBR, but I have removed it.
