"A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground. Then it is finished, no matter how brave its warriors or how strong their weapons."
Pros:
- Memorable Characters - especially, as indicated by the above quote, the women.
- Part One is solid historical fiction from the Native American perspective
- Tommy Orange writes very readable historical fiction.
Cons:
- Part Two (set in 2018), the aftermath of the tragedy that ended Orange's There There, makes for tedious reading well before it is over.
- The novel offers little that hasn't already been said just as well in numerous other similar novels written by Native Americans.
"The trick time plays is to lull us into the belief that everything lasts forever, and, although nothing does, we continue to live in that dream."
Pros:
- Well developed, complex characters
- Seamlessly ties together Libyan history from the 1980s through the aftermath of the Arab Spring of 2011
- Excellent prose style
- Vividly captures the paranoia that Libyan exiles lived with for decades
- Satisfying and somewhat hopeful ending
Cons: None that are worth even mentioning
These are the seventh and eighth 2024 Booker Prize nominees that I've read. My Friends is one of my favorites so far, Wandering Stars one of my least favorites - with five still to go.
These are good reviews with useful pros and cons. My Friends sounds like a good way for me to learn about Libya, although I am not sure I will ever get around to finding a copy.
ReplyDeleteEven with missing most of the annual book sale this year due to Covid, I still have way too many books in my house to read, and will probably aim at not buying many books in 2025.
It will be interesting to see how the Booker Prize turns out.
My Friends really gets into the heads of the young Libyans who had to make the decision as to which side of the revolt against their dictator they were going to be on. The author is a Libyan who has spent most of his life in Britain, and I found him really insightful about that kind of thing. Sort of reminded me of how young men felt in this country during the Vietnam War draft.
DeleteI will be really surprised if James doesn't win the Booker, but I don't think it's the best one of the bunch at all.
I admire your intention not to buy any new books next year. I don't buy nearly as many as I used to (and most of the ones I do buy are digital copies nowadays) but at least 15 or 20 news one will probably make it home with me.
I like this format! Wandering Stars isn't even on my tbr list since I haven't read There, There. But I may give My Friends a look. It sounds pretty interesting.
ReplyDeleteI hope the format gives at least a feel for my reaction to a book. I'm still tinkering with the format, but I need to do something brief like this to lock the book into my memory. I hate when I know I've read a book in the past but can't remember a single thing about it other than whether I liked it or not.
DeleteI wouldn't mind reading the Hisham Matar one. I really enjoyed his previous book Anatomy of a Disappearance. I like the way he writes. And I like your pros/cons lists. Fun idea. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lark, if that format is at least a little bit helpful, that's probably what I'll turn to for at least a while. Hisham Matar, I agree with you, is a really good writer. I have another of his on hold with my library right now.
DeleteNice reviews and I agree with the pros of My Friends. I didn't know what to expect when I began the book but I thought it was a very worthy Booker nominee and Hisham Matar is an excellent wtiter.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy. Hisham Matar was a big surprise to me. Discovering new-to-me writers of that quality is my favorite thing about reading the Book Prize listed novels, I think.
DeleteGlad you liked My Friends and I think I will return to it. I tried to read it on the beach in Calif which didn't work lol but another time will likely work. I read There There but didn't like the ending so I don't think I will try book 2 ... especially since you say it gets tedious.
ReplyDeleteI recently finished Hisham Matar's The Return, his memoir about the arrest of his father in Libya, and found how much My Friends is based on his own real life story. I was surprised.
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