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Summary: Naipaul is an indispensable part of human civilization
Review: My title basically states my review of this book. Do yourself a favor and read it now.
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Summary: Engaging story
Review: Engaging story about an Indian merchant in Africa. Provides important insights into the effects of colonialization and modernization, daily life for Africans, and the mind of a unique individual.
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Summary: An amazing panorama
Review: I started this book at a fairly busy time in my life. I found myself only able to devote short periods of time to read it. It was amazing how much I was able to get out of even two or three pages read at a time. The author, through his main character covers so much about so many things in such a short number of pages (278). There is a plot and there is an overall message but there are so many things that weave themselves in and out of the story that I am sure that this book will mean different things to different people. The main character is an individual of Asian background whose family has lived elsewhere in the African continent. He moves to a remoter part of Central Africa after purchasing a store in a community of modest size. The country is in a time of political strife. The political perspective of the book is certainly an interesting one. There is a relationship with a woman that becomes the focus for awhile until it ends in a most deplorable way. Ultimately our narrator must leave. I came away from this book with an appreciation for the perspective of an outsider living in a different culture. It was, perhaps, that perspective that give the narrator such a detached view of the world. He interacts with all but seems to truly care about no one. Others may disagree, but I felt the detachment more than any other aspect of the book. Based on this introduction to V S Naipaul, I am anxious to read more by this recent Nobel winner.
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Summary: Timeless writing, universal commentary on the nature of man
Review: Explores the humanity behind the failure of so many post colonial societies to transcend their legacies. A wonderful allegory for Bastiat's arguments of 100 years prior. Naipaul's writing has opened the eyes and hearts of many a recovering romantic. Many of his books are great, but this might be the best of the lot.
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Summary: Historical fiction....
Review: Naipaul sets the mood well, capturing both the tensions of a dynamic African environment and the history of a spiritually shattered people. More specifically, many tribesman are able to maintain their strong ancestral beliefs in an environment that rarely has the chance to heal, yet the need to find right for centuries of injustice seems to cripple the temperament of many. Taken from a historical vantage point, my heart opened up to the plight of the people of Africa, so much diluted hope, faith lost in yet another political uprising. The words captured me, spotlighting my own value system and how it's weaved into modern day America, looking for justice through the eyes of a morally narrow minded government. On the other hand, the book is filled with long narratives and very little conversation between the characters. It may be more appropriate to say that the conversations between the characters tended to be long pontificated narratives filled with rich insight but perhaps not for those who are looking to read a standard book of fiction. Overall, I enjoyed the book. I found it to be a hearty historical account of issues that I am normally blind to seeing or hearing. I recommend this to everyone who's interested in learning more about the political and human evolution of the African people. On that note, it's a wonderful book.
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