{"id":1156,"date":"2016-02-15T22:50:44","date_gmt":"2016-02-15T17:20:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fableandi.com\/?p=1156"},"modified":"2020-02-23T18:46:34","modified_gmt":"2020-02-23T13:16:34","slug":"book-review-we-need-new-names-by-noviolet-bulawayo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebooksatchel.com\/book-review-we-need-new-names-by-noviolet-bulawayo\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo"},"content":{"rendered":"
Darling and her friends live in a fictional place called Paradise in Africa, which is poverty stricken unlike its name. The children enjoy a life of adventure and mischief and all of them dream of \u00a0staying in an actual paradise of a developed country. As much as the political turmoil makes life hell for them (for their parents atleast), life becomes more amusing with the antics they have to perform to win the goodwill of the NGOs. Darling has hopes to go to America and live a ‘good’ life and in the bargain loses some things.<\/p>\n
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The story is narrated by Darling, a ten year old girl living in a fictional place called Paradise with her mother and grandmother. Her father has left for South Africa for work and has not returned. Darling spends her days roaming around Budapest (where wealthy whites and Africans reside) with her friends – \u00a0Chipo (eleven years old and pregnant on being raped by her grandfather), Bastard, GodKnows, Sbho and Stina. They live inventing games like \u201cFind Bin Laden\u201d and stealing guavas from Budapest.<\/p>\n
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The choice of a young narrator on the verge of adolescence is a commendable effort on the part of Bulawayo. \u00a0Darling\u2019s observations on her life and surroundings, her country\u2019s political situation and American culture are insightful and often very funny.\u00a0The plight of the white Africans who are subjected to an immigrant-like life in their own land is very amusing (and horrifying). Darling also remarks about the NGOs that come offering help that they like the African children better when poorly dressed.<\/p>\n
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