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Memory of Departure
Memory of Departure | Abdulrazak Gurnah
2 posts | 2 read | 1 to read
Vehement, comic and shrewd, Abdulrazak Gurnah's first novel is an unwavering contemplation of East African coastal life Poverty and depravity wreak havoc on Hassan Omar's family. Amid great hardship he decides to escape. The arrival of Independence brings new upheavals as well as the betrayal of the promise of freedom. The new government, fearful of an exodus of its most able men, discourages young people from travelling abroad and refuses to release examination results. Deprived of a scholarship, Hassan travels to Nairobi to stay with a wealthy uncle, in the hope that he will release his mother's rightful share of the family inheritance. The collision of past secrets and future hopes, the compound of fear and frustration, beauty and brutality, create a fierce tale of undeniable power.
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review
Evita
Memory of Departure | Abdulrazak Gurnah
Mehso-so

3 out of 5

review
Hooked_on_books
Memory of Departure | Abdulrazak Gurnah
post image
Pickpick

Hassan grows up in poverty and abuse, hoping wealthy relations will help him as he grows older. This book starts with a chapter that is wall to wall abuse, but that doesn‘t continue, thankfully. It does set the stage to juxtapose the realities of Hassan‘s life with those of his wealthy uncle, to whom he travels in hopes of opportunity. A good, short read.

#Zanzibar #ReadingAfrica2022

BarbaraBB I‘m going to read a book by him too, another one though 2y
Librarybelle I somehow missed this won the Nobel Prize! Awesome! 2y
Hooked_on_books @Librarybelle I think the prize was more for his body of work generally, but it was a big deal! Apparently his publisher has always championed him but he hasn‘t found a wide readership and I‘m sure the prize helped. I would read him again for sure. 2y
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