Barren land + crazy family
Can we talk about the family for a bit?
Like Canada, I found myself wondering why the parents would choose to live in such remote and dangerous locations. There were several times in the book when they could have stayed in more fertile land, but each time they chose to move to the most drought-ridden, barren locations. Why? I can't relate.
And also, how does racism fit into these decisions?
And ALSO, it nearly killed me to see that photo of Bobo and Vanessa heading off to school. I was like, "Oh, that's a sweet picture," and then I was like, "Oh. Nice. Bobo's holding an Uzi."
And Nicola: What a character. Again, I can't relate.
posted by Clementine @ 12:41 PM
4 Comments:
What I liked about the way the book was written regarding Nicola - her bipolar diagnosis didn't happen until later, and wasn't mentioned until the end. Maybe to give the reader a sense of how things were regarding Nicola, without the pity and the "ahhh. . . that can be explained by. . . "?
Yeah, I liked that, too. It seemed more realistic from Bobo's POV.
You know what's weird? I didn't feel sympathy for any of the people in this book, not even Bobo, and not even after Olivia died. Usually, I'm all teary and internalizing everything, but I just couldn't get into these folks' lives the way I usually do when I read memoirs. I think some of that is my ignorance about Rhodesian/Zimbabwean history, some of it is being so offput about the racism in the book, some of it is the distance Hashbrown mentioned between the family members, and some of it is my lack of personal connection to Bobo's upbringing.
I had compassion for Bobo and her family members but did not feel wrapped up in her life either. The family was so disconnected and it spills over to the reader. I never had a moment in the book of wondering what was going to happen yet with the anticipation you have when emotionally involved with the characters.
This is sort of interesting, to me at least: I didn't particularly *like* the Fullers, but I felt that I sort of understood them--I think I sort of identified them with my ex-in-laws, who are totally messed up but don't realize it.
Also, don't forget that Bobo's mom was raised (and I think born) in Kenya. She'd lived more time in Africa than anywhere else. I think as far as Bobo and her mother are concerned, at least, they are as much African as anything, which makes the racism even worse, really. But look at the tribal fighting that happens in Africa--it isn't just based on skin color. It's more complicated than that, although that doesn't excuse the white settler's attitude either.
I think you can also see a parallel between the family's movements and that of Western settlers. It isn't so much anything as much as not wanting anyone else to tell you what to do, but also not seeing that you're in that position to the people who've lived on the land longer. That whole "Heart of Darkness" crap.
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