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 | Nervous Conditions: A Novel
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 2008-08-17 - Clash of civilizations
Tambu, as the storyteller in this book was able to tell the story in a way that made the reader realize what is good and bad about colonization of third world countries and the lasting effect it can have on the country and the people that are colonized. I know because I am from a country that was a British colony.
2008-04-07 - A beautifully written and constructed novel; should be required reading
I find myself frustrated with some of the more negative reviews here. I understand the argument that the novel is more into telling instead of showing, but I tend to disagree a bit. The novel hinges on the pretext that the central characters are cerebral, and that their intellectual complexity is misunderstood by colonial doctors. For me, the action that was taking place in the mind, whether we saw it or were told about it from an outsider perspective (that of the narrator, who is often an outsider and an observer), was very powerful.
Generally, it has taken me a little while to adjust to African novels, which I read intermittently throughout high school and college, but this one is a wonderful place to start for people who do take time to adjust to the more traditional style. Since the narrator has a Western education, the novel reads more like a Western novel...in a way, this makes the story much more heartbreakingly real, but it also makes it accessible to Western audiences. I highly, highly recommend it.
 2007-10-22 - Rich, intimate, and engaging... but lacking a full-bodied plot
The voice of the narrator, plantive and engaging, retrospective and sensitive, is the jewel of the story. Although her lovely spirit and shrewd perspective on people/relationships propelled me through the book at a rapid pace, I found the plot quite empty. The story line, mostly founded on mundane details of her challenging daily life, feels dull and predictable. However, in spite of the lack of plot, the most important aspect of the book-- its main value to many readers-- is its thematically rich stew of commentary on gender roles/relations, sexuality, race, class, poverty, family dynamics, love, education, etc.
I gave book 3 stars because, although i fell in love with the narrator, the plot was too meandering and vacant to really make a good story. I also felt the ending, like the plot, was sort of half an ending and very lacking. In the end though, the story, themes, and the characters were so rich that they will stick with me for quite a while.
Read this book if you fulfill at least one of the following:
1) You want to read a tale that tackles intimate yet universal themes
2) You want to hear the too rarely heard voice of an african woman
3) You want a book that is poetic and academic at the same time
4) You are looking for an emotionally intricate read of personal dynamics
5) You need a speedy read for an airplane ride, book report, etc
6) You love books with insightful, shrewd observations of very real characters and family dynamics
2007-10-11 - Culture Clash in the Book Nervous Conditions
Frank T. Scruggs, M.A.
Book Review
October 11, 2007
Nervous Conditions
I really enjoyed reading this book and of the details she wrote about this family reminds me of my own. As an African-American growing up roughly in the same time period I could see how both
Nyasha and Tambu just becoming into a political awareness would begin to see the world take on a new shape.
The strength of the African family is that the extended family is viewed as a unit within the larger society with legitimate head. As in the book as in my own family, problems were mediated by the
Elders of the family and each person functions as a part of the unit demonstrates a commitment to the group as opposed to the individual.
The plan to educate the children in order to help provide for the future benefit of the family shows the adherence to perpetuating the family group (first through Nhamo then Tambu after Nhamo's death. As I
said before as an African American, I don't think we're as far removed from African culture. I think that the author also wanted to demonstrate that the characters Maiguru and Babamukuru benefited a great deal living in England and learning about British culture. The author also show that Babamukuru and Maiguru were already rooted and grounded in the African culture and education, the experience and contact with the distant British culture therefore one could say to be a growth experience and an expansion of their knowledge.
Upon return to Africa, Babamukuru wanted and expected Nyasha to act as an African girl which she was incapable of doing because she was socialized into a British girl. The character Nyasha was in her early formative years and lost her African culture after assimilating into the British culture. The fight between Nyasha (when it became physical) is also representative of the clash between distant cultures where one culture tries to subject the other culture. The fight broke out when Babamukuru began to beat Nyasha but she decided to fight back (she rebelled against his authority). It also shows that in Nyasha it is a defense of which she is and on the part of Babamukuru, it is to subject her to his will. In culture clashes, the dominant culture uses power and authority to maintain its hegemonic relationship with different cultures (e.g., Britain and her colonies, America and her protectorates) quite often through economics and or violence and military force. From my perspective, I' think that the clash between Nyasha and Babamukuru serves as a metaphor of the clash between the British and African cultures.
The character Tambu grew up as an African girl and remains grounded in African culture therefore when she makes contact with the European culture she grows and remained African unlike her cousin Nyasha. Nyasha is not really part of the British culture and not quite African either. What she does have however is an awareness of the social ills brought about by colonialism. This awareness, I think, brings about sadness caused by the isolation from both worlds while living among those steeped in the African culture. It is this very isolation and sadness that causes her to rebel against her assimilation and mourn the loss of her African culture, which was her birthright.
Overall, I think this is an excellent novel. I found the book quite riveting and dynamic. I also think that anyone interested in cross-cultural communication, anthropology, sociology and family would enjoy this book and benefit from the ideas that the author seeks to convey.
2006-08-28 - Two very intelligent Shona girls lapse into cynicism and disappointment upon realizing that an elite education is not a panacea
This novel is loosely autobiographical and takes place in the 60's and 70's in colonial Zimbabwe, then called Rhodesia. Tambu is a young girl from a very poor rural family. She is forced to live in the shadow of her favored older brother. Tambu begs her lazy sexist father to be able to attend school like her older brother but he feels she should stay home and learn to cook. Tambu is determined and goes to great lengths to earn the money to pay her school fees. She hits pay dirt when her jerk brother, who has taunted her and rubbed his privilege position in her face, suddenly dies. Tambu gets to attend the mission school in his place. There she teems up with her cousin Nyasha. Nyasha's father is head of the mission school, is the most well educated villager, and real tyrant. Nyasha's family has recently returned from England where her father completed his master's degree. Nyasha is seen as a snob by the locals because she has forgotten the Shona language and dresses like a Brit.
Tambu is very aware of just how "privileged" she is to be her uncle's charity case. As she witnesses her cousin Nyasha's rebelliousness Tambu's feistiness dissipates. Unlike Nyasha Tambu's position is precarious and she decides to survive by keeping quiet and trying her best not to cause any discord. Tambu has a rude awakening as she learns that her elite education sets her apart from her compatriots, but she really doesn't fit into colonial set either. She also must confront the realization that education is not a cure for sexism and racism.
The issues of colonialism, sexism, racism, hypocrisy, and the pros and cons of education are subtly and skillfully examined through the eyes of two teenage Zimbabwean girls. I did a graduate class project on this book. There are a lot of critical commentaries regarding this novel on the Internet. Dangarembga has also written several plays and films. There is another novel by a Zimbabwean author about girls and education called Zenzele by Moraire. Zimbabwe is also having a lot of problems right now, mostly thanks to a lunatic dictator. There are many organizations trying to help. If you want to help do an Internet search for "Zimbabwe, women, and education."
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