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The Hangman's Replacement #1
The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption
SYNOPSIS
Zimbabwe’s last hangman retired in 2004. As the nation drifted towards abolition, no determined effort was made to find a replacement. However, the discovery of carnivorous flame lilies at the Great Zimbabwe monument triggered a spirited search for a new executioner. Those who know why this discovery energized the recruitment effort refused to talk.
The frantic attempts to find a new hangman were impeded by the lack of suitable candidates. Well-placed sources confirmed that the fear of ‘ngozi’ was a deterrent. According to this traditional belief, the spirit of a murdered person torments the killer and his family for generations. However, this is only half the story. Several promising applicants did come forward. None met the minimum requirements for the job. The selection criteria were designed to exclude the mentally ill, the vindictive, and the sadistic. However, they did not rule out the desperate.
The Sprout of Disruption (Book 1) is told through the shifting perspectives of characters whose lives have been set alight by the plant which sparked the recruitment effort. The parallel threads of the story converge around the aspiring hangman who was obsessed with securing the job, the sympathizers who fought to protect him from his prize, and the anxious men who believed that emptying death row would end their horror before the carnivorous plants constricted around their necks.
KIRKUS REVIEW EXTRACT
"At nearly 500 pages, this intricately woven novel is a disconcerting parable exploded to epic proportions. The author renders its many characters, from the mad genius responsible for the impending botanical apocalypse, to the prostitute/undercover operative who falls in love with Abel, to the seemingly simple Abel himself, with frightening subtlety and detail.... A thought-provoking, singularly strange and absorbing novel."
Link to full review: http://bit.ly/12ibxdU
INDIEREADER REVIEW EXTRACTS
“This is a work of completely bizarre genius. The author has an almost Wodehousian gift with words, decorating his pages with phrases that can make the reader laugh out loud, question long-held assumptions about reality, or send a chill up the spine with just a few deft descriptive touches. Some of the characters, and the situations they find themselves in, can be completely off-the-wall, but the author’s writing ability carefully makes them almost plausible, even natural."
“This is a delightful book for those who enjoy having their perspectives stretched, who take delight in the weird and idiosyncratic, and who love watching a master author do breathtaking juggling acts with the English language."
Link to full review: http://bit.ly/11Jdbd5
SELF-PUBLISHING REVIEW EXTRACTS
“Yet more than once as I laughed my way through this novel, I was reminded of a quotation by Nikolai Gogol that I came across recently: “The longer and more carefully we look at a funny story, the sadder it becomes.” The humor in The Hangman’s Replacement makes us laugh perhaps to keep us from crying. Again like Saramago, Chiveneko uses bizarre situations and sometimes subtle humor to deliver very deep and often disturbing social and political commentary. I think I would have appreciated the book more if I knew more about Zimbabwe’s history, but even lacking specific knowledge that might have turned story into allegory, I couldn’t help but feel the occasional chill as tragically universal themes emerged.”
“Chiveneko is a talented writer. Beautiful metaphors and delightful descriptions, while sometimes a little overdone, are some of the best parts of the book.”
“The Hangman’s Replacement is a long, complex, and challenging novel. But it rewards the reader’s efforts with delightful characters and plenty of laughter, even in the midst of some very disturbing themes.”
Link to full review: http://bit.ly/1bWQcwQ
Zimbabwe’s last hangman retired in 2004. As the nation drifted towards abolition, no determined effort was made to find a replacement. However, the discovery of carnivorous flame lilies at the Great Zimbabwe monument triggered a spirited search for a new executioner. Those who know why this discovery energized the recruitment effort refused to talk.
The frantic attempts to find a new hangman were impeded by the lack of suitable candidates. Well-placed sources confirmed that the fear of ‘ngozi’ was a deterrent. According to this traditional belief, the spirit of a murdered person torments the killer and his family for generations. However, this is only half the story. Several promising applicants did come forward. None met the minimum requirements for the job. The selection criteria were designed to exclude the mentally ill, the vindictive, and the sadistic. However, they did not rule out the desperate.
The Sprout of Disruption (Book 1) is told through the shifting perspectives of characters whose lives have been set alight by the plant which sparked the recruitment effort. The parallel threads of the story converge around the aspiring hangman who was obsessed with securing the job, the sympathizers who fought to protect him from his prize, and the anxious men who believed that emptying death row would end their horror before the carnivorous plants constricted around their necks.
KIRKUS REVIEW EXTRACT
"At nearly 500 pages, this intricately woven novel is a disconcerting parable exploded to epic proportions. The author renders its many characters, from the mad genius responsible for the impending botanical apocalypse, to the prostitute/undercover operative who falls in love with Abel, to the seemingly simple Abel himself, with frightening subtlety and detail.... A thought-provoking, singularly strange and absorbing novel."
Link to full review: http://bit.ly/12ibxdU
INDIEREADER REVIEW EXTRACTS
“This is a work of completely bizarre genius. The author has an almost Wodehousian gift with words, decorating his pages with phrases that can make the reader laugh out loud, question long-held assumptions about reality, or send a chill up the spine with just a few deft descriptive touches. Some of the characters, and the situations they find themselves in, can be completely off-the-wall, but the author’s writing ability carefully makes them almost plausible, even natural."
“This is a delightful book for those who enjoy having their perspectives stretched, who take delight in the weird and idiosyncratic, and who love watching a master author do breathtaking juggling acts with the English language."
Link to full review: http://bit.ly/11Jdbd5
SELF-PUBLISHING REVIEW EXTRACTS
“Yet more than once as I laughed my way through this novel, I was reminded of a quotation by Nikolai Gogol that I came across recently: “The longer and more carefully we look at a funny story, the sadder it becomes.” The humor in The Hangman’s Replacement makes us laugh perhaps to keep us from crying. Again like Saramago, Chiveneko uses bizarre situations and sometimes subtle humor to deliver very deep and often disturbing social and political commentary. I think I would have appreciated the book more if I knew more about Zimbabwe’s history, but even lacking specific knowledge that might have turned story into allegory, I couldn’t help but feel the occasional chill as tragically universal themes emerged.”
“Chiveneko is a talented writer. Beautiful metaphors and delightful descriptions, while sometimes a little overdone, are some of the best parts of the book.”
“The Hangman’s Replacement is a long, complex, and challenging novel. But it rewards the reader’s efforts with delightful characters and plenty of laughter, even in the midst of some very disturbing themes.”
Link to full review: http://bit.ly/1bWQcwQ
492 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2013
11 people are currently reading
1658 people want to read
About the author
Taona Dumisani Chiveneko
3 books34 followersTaona Dumisani Chiveneko is the author of ‘The Hangman’s Replacement’ series. The Zimbabwean citizen was born either between the Zambezi and the Limpopo rivers, or along the road which runs from Mutare to Hwange. Mr. Chiveneko has refused to confirm which option is true. He is also equally circumspect about his age, which he has pegged at: ‘More than ten, but less than a hundred-years-old.’
Mr. Chiveneko is widely regarded as the most anti-social African author. He is rumoured to have based the Luxon Hurudza character on himself. Even as a child, Mr. Chiveneko was not personable. The boy ignored anyone who tried to start a conversation with him. This behaviour won him the nickname, ‘Hombarume’, the Shona word for ‘hunter’. According to the village elder who gave him the name, the young Taona was destined to spend his entire life hunting for a sense of social etiquette. The elder’s prediction turned out to be wrong. The boy never embarked on the quest at all. As a recluse, he spent his life hunting for something else: solitude.
Mr. Chiveneko is rumoured to live in a remote location with a hypertensive pangolin, three shrews, and a termite colony (enclosed in a large glass tank). He is also the half-proud owner of two cats. Apparently, he only loves one of them, but is compelled to keep them both. The creatures are inseparable companions.
In fact, when Mr. Chiveneko sold the cat he did not like, the remaining one went on a three day hunger strike. Eventually, Mr. Chiveneko was forced to buy back the tubby feline for thrice the price he had sold it. As a miser, this incident was highly traumatic for him. This unusual sacrifice for another living creature reflects a tender side of this enigmatic writer. Nevertheless, that part of the man is very small indeed.
During the only interview he has ever granted, Mr. Chiveneko confessed that his childhood dream was to become a taxidermist. However, this ambition was shattered when he realized that taxidermy had nothing to do with replacing the bodywork of taxi cabs. In grief, he bought a diary and vented his sorrow on its pages with a feather quill. The experience was refreshing. Through tragedy, he found his calling. The rest is history. To this day, he still writes with feather quills that he picks up along a popular flight path of migrating geese.
There are only two pictures of Mr. Chiveneko in existence. Neither image portrays his features clearly. In the first, he wears a thick scarf to hide a recurring case of mumps. He is also wearing an ill-fitting hat that he bought at a second-hand store thirty-two years ago.
The second image is a drawing of the author’s alter-ego. The picture depicts the mournful face of an unnamed man with thick dreadlocks. When asked whether this face was a self-portrait, Mr. Chiveneko said it was not. The face came to him during a dream in his youth. For reasons he cannot explain, he felt a strong and instinctive bond with it. ‘I felt like it was an alternative expression of me.
Mr. Chiveneko only communicates with the wider world through his long suffering lawyer. Any demonstration of courtesy expressed in his novels, (including the acknowledgements), are the work of his tireless legal representative.
Mr. Chiveneko is widely regarded as the most anti-social African author. He is rumoured to have based the Luxon Hurudza character on himself. Even as a child, Mr. Chiveneko was not personable. The boy ignored anyone who tried to start a conversation with him. This behaviour won him the nickname, ‘Hombarume’, the Shona word for ‘hunter’. According to the village elder who gave him the name, the young Taona was destined to spend his entire life hunting for a sense of social etiquette. The elder’s prediction turned out to be wrong. The boy never embarked on the quest at all. As a recluse, he spent his life hunting for something else: solitude.
Mr. Chiveneko is rumoured to live in a remote location with a hypertensive pangolin, three shrews, and a termite colony (enclosed in a large glass tank). He is also the half-proud owner of two cats. Apparently, he only loves one of them, but is compelled to keep them both. The creatures are inseparable companions.
In fact, when Mr. Chiveneko sold the cat he did not like, the remaining one went on a three day hunger strike. Eventually, Mr. Chiveneko was forced to buy back the tubby feline for thrice the price he had sold it. As a miser, this incident was highly traumatic for him. This unusual sacrifice for another living creature reflects a tender side of this enigmatic writer. Nevertheless, that part of the man is very small indeed.
During the only interview he has ever granted, Mr. Chiveneko confessed that his childhood dream was to become a taxidermist. However, this ambition was shattered when he realized that taxidermy had nothing to do with replacing the bodywork of taxi cabs. In grief, he bought a diary and vented his sorrow on its pages with a feather quill. The experience was refreshing. Through tragedy, he found his calling. The rest is history. To this day, he still writes with feather quills that he picks up along a popular flight path of migrating geese.
There are only two pictures of Mr. Chiveneko in existence. Neither image portrays his features clearly. In the first, he wears a thick scarf to hide a recurring case of mumps. He is also wearing an ill-fitting hat that he bought at a second-hand store thirty-two years ago.
The second image is a drawing of the author’s alter-ego. The picture depicts the mournful face of an unnamed man with thick dreadlocks. When asked whether this face was a self-portrait, Mr. Chiveneko said it was not. The face came to him during a dream in his youth. For reasons he cannot explain, he felt a strong and instinctive bond with it. ‘I felt like it was an alternative expression of me.
Mr. Chiveneko only communicates with the wider world through his long suffering lawyer. Any demonstration of courtesy expressed in his novels, (including the acknowledgements), are the work of his tireless legal representative.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
June 2, 2023
I wasn't sure if this was really going to be my 'thing', but I have to say that I became completely engrossed in this novel. The less said about this one the better! Let author Taona Chiveneko take you on your own unique journey, but I must say, what a clever story he has crafted.
The idea behind it is quite different, and I like the way we are introduced to each character with such vivid descriptions that the author just breathes life into them. At times disturbing, at others amusing, it was a great insight into the human psyche. Who would have thought that such an interesting tale would evolve from the search for a new hangman! Can't wait to see what comes next. Brilliant, just brilliant!
The idea behind it is quite different, and I like the way we are introduced to each character with such vivid descriptions that the author just breathes life into them. At times disturbing, at others amusing, it was a great insight into the human psyche. Who would have thought that such an interesting tale would evolve from the search for a new hangman! Can't wait to see what comes next. Brilliant, just brilliant!
July 6, 2013
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. What attracted me the most to this book was the fact that it was set in Zimbabwe ; I'd never read a book written by a Zimbabwean author before, a part of the world that I am very familiar with.
The content of the book probably isn't what one would characteristically associate with Africa , which adds to its appeal. At first we meet Abel Muranda, a man from rural Zimbabwe, who walks from his village (three weeks of travel) to the Zimbabwean capital of Harare in order to interview for the country's hangman (!!!) position. Abel is a simple, likeable man who somehow gets trapped in a web of intrigue. People who meet Abel also note that he “...is quite intelligent for an uneducated peasant. Articulate, even. He speaks in the Shona of five generations ago. Wise, reflective, prone to using the most unexpected words. His outdated version of the language reflects values that may be misplaced in modern times, but still, the man himself is interesting.”
Abel is the first of many fascinating idiosyncratic characters we meet. For me one of the best things about this book were all the kooky characters. There were several of them and all were great and funny in their own way. The storyline is also pretty fascinating, dealing with carnivorous plants, genetic engineering, organ trafficking among other topics.
Chiveneko is a great storyteller and so many parts of this book made me laugh out loud.The tone is very witty and the writing is erudite. Additionally, the book contains some home truths that made me ponder. For example, regarding journalism and the media: “Journalists wrote for the mass market. However, they tended to suffer from a critical flaw. Readers wanted the world explained in simplistic terms. Villains and heroes had to be clearly defined.”
And also, “The media had the potential to become the frontline in the battle against ignorance. Unfortunately, most readers devoted too much of their intellectual capacity to frivolity.”
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a unique, witty and entertaining read.
The content of the book probably isn't what one would characteristically associate with Africa , which adds to its appeal. At first we meet Abel Muranda, a man from rural Zimbabwe, who walks from his village (three weeks of travel) to the Zimbabwean capital of Harare in order to interview for the country's hangman (!!!) position. Abel is a simple, likeable man who somehow gets trapped in a web of intrigue. People who meet Abel also note that he “...is quite intelligent for an uneducated peasant. Articulate, even. He speaks in the Shona of five generations ago. Wise, reflective, prone to using the most unexpected words. His outdated version of the language reflects values that may be misplaced in modern times, but still, the man himself is interesting.”
Abel is the first of many fascinating idiosyncratic characters we meet. For me one of the best things about this book were all the kooky characters. There were several of them and all were great and funny in their own way. The storyline is also pretty fascinating, dealing with carnivorous plants, genetic engineering, organ trafficking among other topics.
Chiveneko is a great storyteller and so many parts of this book made me laugh out loud.The tone is very witty and the writing is erudite. Additionally, the book contains some home truths that made me ponder. For example, regarding journalism and the media: “Journalists wrote for the mass market. However, they tended to suffer from a critical flaw. Readers wanted the world explained in simplistic terms. Villains and heroes had to be clearly defined.”
And also, “The media had the potential to become the frontline in the battle against ignorance. Unfortunately, most readers devoted too much of their intellectual capacity to frivolity.”
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a unique, witty and entertaining read.
April 14, 2015
Disclaimer 1: I DID NOT receive this book from a goodreads giveaway.
Disclaimer 2: I DID prevail upon the sympathies of the author, without lying, and he sent me a copy of his book anyway, asking only for an honest review.
I still cannot wrap my mind around the contorted panorama you painted around many characters I know. Each line connected persons and events I did not even know were related. Quite simply, I am in awe..."
This line from the letter that concludes The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption sums up my reaction to this wonderfully convoluted and complex first novel by reclusive African author Taona Dumisani Chiveneko.
In 2004, Zimbabwe's official hangman retired; but with no suitable candidates, the position has remained unfilled for 8 years. Suddenly, the race is on to find a replacement. But, why now? Who are the shadowy figures behind the push to find a replacement executioner? What is the relationship between the bizarre events reported in Zuva Redu, Zimbabwe's popular tabloid? Why are there lawyers involved? And what do frozen warthog steaks have to do with anything?
The beer with the 18.5% alcohol content I can understand.
I'm not sure where to begin. This is essentially a chronicle of meetings, speeches, phone calls, news arcticles, and letters. It starts off with a man being interviewed for a job that will give his family a better life. Then we get nearly 300 pages of events so disparate that, as deliciously entertaining as they are, they threaten to collapse the whole under it's own weight. What keeps them from doing so is author Chiveneko's distinctly African voice, his gift for lyrical and witty narration, and his ability to tease his readers with connections that are within sight, but enticingly out of reach.
What we end up with is a poetically epic whirlwind of a suspense/mystery/romantic/sci-fi/horror/thriller novel that is absolutely mesmerizing. What is to come can only be guessed at, but I can't wait for the second installment of this series (target date: December 2013).
Discovery of books such as this is why I joined Goodreads.
Highly recommended.
Disclaimer 2: I DID prevail upon the sympathies of the author, without lying, and he sent me a copy of his book anyway, asking only for an honest review.
I still cannot wrap my mind around the contorted panorama you painted around many characters I know. Each line connected persons and events I did not even know were related. Quite simply, I am in awe..."
This line from the letter that concludes The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption sums up my reaction to this wonderfully convoluted and complex first novel by reclusive African author Taona Dumisani Chiveneko.
In 2004, Zimbabwe's official hangman retired; but with no suitable candidates, the position has remained unfilled for 8 years. Suddenly, the race is on to find a replacement. But, why now? Who are the shadowy figures behind the push to find a replacement executioner? What is the relationship between the bizarre events reported in Zuva Redu, Zimbabwe's popular tabloid? Why are there lawyers involved? And what do frozen warthog steaks have to do with anything?
The beer with the 18.5% alcohol content I can understand.
I'm not sure where to begin. This is essentially a chronicle of meetings, speeches, phone calls, news arcticles, and letters. It starts off with a man being interviewed for a job that will give his family a better life. Then we get nearly 300 pages of events so disparate that, as deliciously entertaining as they are, they threaten to collapse the whole under it's own weight. What keeps them from doing so is author Chiveneko's distinctly African voice, his gift for lyrical and witty narration, and his ability to tease his readers with connections that are within sight, but enticingly out of reach.
What we end up with is a poetically epic whirlwind of a suspense/mystery/romantic/sci-fi/horror/thriller novel that is absolutely mesmerizing. What is to come can only be guessed at, but I can't wait for the second installment of this series (target date: December 2013).
Discovery of books such as this is why I joined Goodreads.
Highly recommended.
May 29, 2014
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys brilliant writing, complex and interesting characters and suspense.
What I love about this book is how the author is able to tie all of these separate, complex plots into one. Throughout the book, I continued to wonder why their was a sudden urgency to fill this hangman position when it had been vacant for 8 years. I also wondered why someone would want to produce this disastrous plant and why this secret client wants to hire a botanist to create it first. I still have many questions and can't wait for the second book!
My one critique is that the book drags on a bit and I was disappointed that such a fantastic protagonist was only ever mentioned again near the end of the novel.
I was pleasantly surprised and haven't read a book this great since "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."
What I love about this book is how the author is able to tie all of these separate, complex plots into one. Throughout the book, I continued to wonder why their was a sudden urgency to fill this hangman position when it had been vacant for 8 years. I also wondered why someone would want to produce this disastrous plant and why this secret client wants to hire a botanist to create it first. I still have many questions and can't wait for the second book!
My one critique is that the book drags on a bit and I was disappointed that such a fantastic protagonist was only ever mentioned again near the end of the novel.
I was pleasantly surprised and haven't read a book this great since "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."
January 13, 2014
Going into this book, I had a very different idea of what it was about then what I actually read. After reading the back of the book, I was under the impression that this would be a more serious take on the political climate of Africa. What it was a political thriller that had a sort of satiric edge that focused on murder and conspiracy in a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy kind of way that just happened to take place in Africa. (I apologize to the reviewer who also compared this book to Hitchhiker's Guide, for I don't remember who it was, having read it before I read this book, but in any case a pretty accurate comparison, so much so, that I must mention it here as well.) Whichever the plot may adhere more closely to, I still enjoyed it. It took on a gruesome and sarcastic view of death that was reminiscent of Hitchhiker's Guide in the way that leaves are reminiscent of trees.
That being said, it was well written and I was drawn into the story easily. The protagonist was a likable fellow, and easy to root for, and the antagonists were many and fun to love and hate both. Character development went fairly well, although there were so many characters, it was hard to always remember who was being talked about until the author gave some clue in the text as to who it was. It wasn't until the end that I realized there was a glossary of characters with pronunciations in the back of the book. It was probably just me, the characters having African names and more difficult for me to remember. It also touches upon the whole gambit of society, from the poor to the rich, from the noble-hearted to the crooked. It doesn't really talk to any kind of social structure, but that could be because Chiveneko was more focused on the internal violence that is ever present in Africa. But that doesn't mean the author doesn't love Africa, in fact, Chiveneko dedicates the novel to the continent. There were also realistic aspects to the novel which I found intriguing, such as the Mhondi beer being the official brew of death row, and the fantastical top 10 most notorious prisoners. These seem like true facts when discussed in the Appendices, but Chivenko uses such flavorful language and such a sarcastic tone when writing, it's hard to tell if they really are. I suppose I could look it up to satisfy my curiosity, but in the end, I decided against it, the mystery being more fun and adding to the seasoning of the novel.
Overall, I had a very difficult time deciding how to write this review. Chiveneko has a beautiful and unique style of writing, using wit and humor as defense against taking the obscene too seriously. The novel flows well, the characters are fun and engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. At times I felt the author wasn't quite sure where the story was taking him, and so some instability in plot seems present, but I can't really put my finger on it. The book was long, but I didn't want it to end. Or rather, I wanted to know what happened next, is probably the better way to put it. This is a great beginner novel for a series and I look forward to the other bewitching books that are sure to follow with this author.
ClassicsDefined.com
That being said, it was well written and I was drawn into the story easily. The protagonist was a likable fellow, and easy to root for, and the antagonists were many and fun to love and hate both. Character development went fairly well, although there were so many characters, it was hard to always remember who was being talked about until the author gave some clue in the text as to who it was. It wasn't until the end that I realized there was a glossary of characters with pronunciations in the back of the book. It was probably just me, the characters having African names and more difficult for me to remember. It also touches upon the whole gambit of society, from the poor to the rich, from the noble-hearted to the crooked. It doesn't really talk to any kind of social structure, but that could be because Chiveneko was more focused on the internal violence that is ever present in Africa. But that doesn't mean the author doesn't love Africa, in fact, Chiveneko dedicates the novel to the continent. There were also realistic aspects to the novel which I found intriguing, such as the Mhondi beer being the official brew of death row, and the fantastical top 10 most notorious prisoners. These seem like true facts when discussed in the Appendices, but Chivenko uses such flavorful language and such a sarcastic tone when writing, it's hard to tell if they really are. I suppose I could look it up to satisfy my curiosity, but in the end, I decided against it, the mystery being more fun and adding to the seasoning of the novel.
Overall, I had a very difficult time deciding how to write this review. Chiveneko has a beautiful and unique style of writing, using wit and humor as defense against taking the obscene too seriously. The novel flows well, the characters are fun and engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. At times I felt the author wasn't quite sure where the story was taking him, and so some instability in plot seems present, but I can't really put my finger on it. The book was long, but I didn't want it to end. Or rather, I wanted to know what happened next, is probably the better way to put it. This is a great beginner novel for a series and I look forward to the other bewitching books that are sure to follow with this author.
ClassicsDefined.com
April 13, 2013
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
First of all, thank you so much to the author who gave me a free copy of this book in turn for an honest review. I would have never actually found this book without him and I'm so glad that I did read it. It was a unique and unpredictable novel. I didn't really know what to expect since the summary didn't actually give much insight as to what the book was going to be about. It did give me a rough idea of what the story revolved around but not much. The Hangman's Replacement was definitely a page-turner. I recommend this book to people who want to try something new. It is without a doubt not the usual kind of book I would normally read but it was an exciting book which kept me awake and I had to try my best to squeeze in reading time just for this. My only regret is that I could not write a better review for this book due to lack of time. I will definitely re-write this when the holidays come up and try to express my feelings and also give all of you a better idea of what The Hangman's Replacement is about.
First of all, thank you so much to the author who gave me a free copy of this book in turn for an honest review. I would have never actually found this book without him and I'm so glad that I did read it. It was a unique and unpredictable novel. I didn't really know what to expect since the summary didn't actually give much insight as to what the book was going to be about. It did give me a rough idea of what the story revolved around but not much. The Hangman's Replacement was definitely a page-turner. I recommend this book to people who want to try something new. It is without a doubt not the usual kind of book I would normally read but it was an exciting book which kept me awake and I had to try my best to squeeze in reading time just for this. My only regret is that I could not write a better review for this book due to lack of time. I will definitely re-write this when the holidays come up and try to express my feelings and also give all of you a better idea of what The Hangman's Replacement is about.
November 8, 2013
I am no African. I admit, not without some guilt, being ignorant about much of the culture outside North America. This makes me feel like some kind of bigot, though I assure you I am not. At least I try not to be one. Despite their regionally unique names, I keep imagining these characters as being white. It’s due to the Chiveneko’s sparse references to skin colour, in which he, as he should, assumes it to be a given; I believe it is more to the fact that the conversations therein are very cultured, deferential yet full of sparkling wit and humour.
In fact, this book is comprised of nearly nothing but lengthy conversations which brings to mind an old Jim Jarmusch movie. Now, this is the bit that makes me feel like a bigot and I feel I am adding insult to injury by marveling that such a book came out of the Dark Continent. It also seems like some kind of a joke, because Americans are largely more illiterate than we would like to admit, and for an American to be surprised at articulate ideas coming from what are, to our skewed viewpoint, underdeveloped countries.
Verbal self-flagellation and accidental bigotry aside, this book is wonderful. As I mentioned earlier, it is a book of conversations. These are multi-layered talks, in which meanings are inferred while a more plain language is spoken. There is deep conspiracy that revolves around a certain flowering lily and the hiring of a new hangman. The reader wanders through the conversations of a huge cast of characters; it is quite like climbing a tower. I picture a cylindrical tower with oriel windows lining the spiral staircase to reveal the horizon as it currently lies. Each chapter is a single floor that you enter as you go higher. From the first floor, the landscape is straightforward within the range of your limited vision. The higher you go, the scope expands. Each floor you enter extends the big picture by a fraction. And what do you know, you’re surging forward through the narrative at a breakneck pace, desperate to discover that final bit that will snap the separate constituents into pure focus, which consolidate already in your mind as a hazy form as disturbing and annoying as a word at the tip of your tongue.
And Chiveneko does all this with simple, clear sentences which, you’ll find during many occasions, come together with a non-strenuous playfulness that exercises one’s tolerance for puns and metaphors. His strengths lie in plotting and inventive dialogue and dry humor. Although long, The Hangman’s Replacement is interesting enough to keep you engaged. Out of all the marvelous people with which Chiveneko has populated his world, I really like Earnest Chokwadi, who is responsible for the more outrageous stories coming from the sensationalist newspaper Zuva Redu Daily. Inquisitive, comedic, and always hard hitting, Earnest's articles often elicit quiet chucklefests.
Let's set aside all glowing praise and let us sally forth into spoiler territory. That being said, Taona Dumisani Chiveneko is a real bastard. Say you have a book in your hands. Things are coming to a head, escalating quite nicely. There’s a good eighth of the book left, that portion weighting nice and light in your hand, a sheaf of which has since been shrinking in inverse proportion to your level of anticipation. You turn the page to find the book has abruptly ended.
Talk about biblio interruptus!
Then Taona Dumisani Chiveneko turns the book’s end matter as long as a short story. It begins with a humorous recap of the prisoners languishing on death row, goes on to list the more important characters (which gets quite useful because I got the names a bit mixed up myself), and finishes with a shockingly indulgent series of appreciations. I guess that’s what happens when you self-publish. It also introduces a meta- element to the equation; I wouldn't too be surprised if the Chiveneko moniker turned out to be a pseudonym.
Nevertheless, I was entertained, and enjoyed how Chiveneko compared himself to the inimitable bastard Huruzda, although I suspect his now evident narcissistic nature feels more at home with comparisons to the Professor Titus Clementine Guyo. And in these end matters he also claims that this very long book is only the opening gambit of a lucrative writing career in which he plans to outline his diabolical genius by prolonging this narrative across four or five books. All of which I have to read.
See, I told you he was a real bastard.
In fact, this book is comprised of nearly nothing but lengthy conversations which brings to mind an old Jim Jarmusch movie. Now, this is the bit that makes me feel like a bigot and I feel I am adding insult to injury by marveling that such a book came out of the Dark Continent. It also seems like some kind of a joke, because Americans are largely more illiterate than we would like to admit, and for an American to be surprised at articulate ideas coming from what are, to our skewed viewpoint, underdeveloped countries.
Verbal self-flagellation and accidental bigotry aside, this book is wonderful. As I mentioned earlier, it is a book of conversations. These are multi-layered talks, in which meanings are inferred while a more plain language is spoken. There is deep conspiracy that revolves around a certain flowering lily and the hiring of a new hangman. The reader wanders through the conversations of a huge cast of characters; it is quite like climbing a tower. I picture a cylindrical tower with oriel windows lining the spiral staircase to reveal the horizon as it currently lies. Each chapter is a single floor that you enter as you go higher. From the first floor, the landscape is straightforward within the range of your limited vision. The higher you go, the scope expands. Each floor you enter extends the big picture by a fraction. And what do you know, you’re surging forward through the narrative at a breakneck pace, desperate to discover that final bit that will snap the separate constituents into pure focus, which consolidate already in your mind as a hazy form as disturbing and annoying as a word at the tip of your tongue.
And Chiveneko does all this with simple, clear sentences which, you’ll find during many occasions, come together with a non-strenuous playfulness that exercises one’s tolerance for puns and metaphors. His strengths lie in plotting and inventive dialogue and dry humor. Although long, The Hangman’s Replacement is interesting enough to keep you engaged. Out of all the marvelous people with which Chiveneko has populated his world, I really like Earnest Chokwadi, who is responsible for the more outrageous stories coming from the sensationalist newspaper Zuva Redu Daily. Inquisitive, comedic, and always hard hitting, Earnest's articles often elicit quiet chucklefests.
Let's set aside all glowing praise and let us sally forth into spoiler territory. That being said, Taona Dumisani Chiveneko is a real bastard. Say you have a book in your hands. Things are coming to a head, escalating quite nicely. There’s a good eighth of the book left, that portion weighting nice and light in your hand, a sheaf of which has since been shrinking in inverse proportion to your level of anticipation. You turn the page to find the book has abruptly ended.
Talk about biblio interruptus!
Then Taona Dumisani Chiveneko turns the book’s end matter as long as a short story. It begins with a humorous recap of the prisoners languishing on death row, goes on to list the more important characters (which gets quite useful because I got the names a bit mixed up myself), and finishes with a shockingly indulgent series of appreciations. I guess that’s what happens when you self-publish. It also introduces a meta- element to the equation; I wouldn't too be surprised if the Chiveneko moniker turned out to be a pseudonym.
Nevertheless, I was entertained, and enjoyed how Chiveneko compared himself to the inimitable bastard Huruzda, although I suspect his now evident narcissistic nature feels more at home with comparisons to the Professor Titus Clementine Guyo. And in these end matters he also claims that this very long book is only the opening gambit of a lucrative writing career in which he plans to outline his diabolical genius by prolonging this narrative across four or five books. All of which I have to read.
See, I told you he was a real bastard.
June 23, 2013
This is a very well written and insightful novel. Chiveneko’s style of storytelling gives you many outlooks on the same situation, each important and interesting in their own right. The author’s writing draws you in and makes it easy to relate to the characters, regardless of how difficult each character’s situation in life happens to be. She shows society and individuals at their best and worst in a very clear and captivating way.
This novel is horribly frightening in its possibilities. I really like how the author smoothly works newspaper articles and letters into the story. It gives readers information that they may not readily have. It also adds a great deal of realism and clarity to the story.
Chiveneko uses short sentences that flow well with and highlight the personality and plight of the main character. It really helps with both character and plot development while giving an added sense of urgency to the novel. The vast array of culturally correct characters is also very well developed beyond this. You get to know the characters as they get to know one another. An underlying theme of family above all else, regardless of personal consequence or sacrifice emerges through this.
By the end of this novel I felt like I’d been immersed in a completely new and vividly difficult world. You visit many different realities throughout this novel, each true for the person living it. They meld together into 1 unforgettable story that leaves you with the question ‘what would you do?’
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is horribly frightening in its possibilities. I really like how the author smoothly works newspaper articles and letters into the story. It gives readers information that they may not readily have. It also adds a great deal of realism and clarity to the story.
Chiveneko uses short sentences that flow well with and highlight the personality and plight of the main character. It really helps with both character and plot development while giving an added sense of urgency to the novel. The vast array of culturally correct characters is also very well developed beyond this. You get to know the characters as they get to know one another. An underlying theme of family above all else, regardless of personal consequence or sacrifice emerges through this.
By the end of this novel I felt like I’d been immersed in a completely new and vividly difficult world. You visit many different realities throughout this novel, each true for the person living it. They meld together into 1 unforgettable story that leaves you with the question ‘what would you do?’
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2014
I have no idea where to start with this book, it is definitely a book where you just have to read along and let the story take you for the ride. I really had no idea where it was going to very near the end. Somehow, Taona D. Chiveneko has woven a beautiful tapestry of a story that manages to combine the death penalty and botany like they were always meant to be together. The writing is humorous and satirical with many great lines such as (my favorite): "Vengeance must never be rash. If you approach it like diarrhea, you will soil yourself before you strike your enemy."
The Hangman's Replacement will lead you on a wild adventure of connect-the-dots. The first character we meet, Abel Muranda, our aspiring hangman, is a character I instantly liked. Determined to do good for his family (and have access to free health care!), he walks for three weeks from his small village to the big city of Harare in order to interview for the Hangman position. After his interview a very complicated web of politics and plant genetics emerges (too much to explain here).
Also, if you do read this check out all the stuff at the very end of the book.
The Hangman's Replacement was received for free in return for an honest review.
The Hangman's Replacement will lead you on a wild adventure of connect-the-dots. The first character we meet, Abel Muranda, our aspiring hangman, is a character I instantly liked. Determined to do good for his family (and have access to free health care!), he walks for three weeks from his small village to the big city of Harare in order to interview for the Hangman position. After his interview a very complicated web of politics and plant genetics emerges (too much to explain here).
Also, if you do read this check out all the stuff at the very end of the book.
The Hangman's Replacement was received for free in return for an honest review.
September 1, 2013
Odd book ... but like staring into a snake's eyes, compelling.
August 12, 2013
Full review/Пълно ревю - Click, click :)
Free health care. A rural man. Death row. Soul disease. Organ traffic. Gallows. Lion attack. A mercenary lawyer. Stray lightning bolts and falling stalactites. People who also move things. Murdered beer and naturally flavoured beef. Allergies for certain plants. A baking recepe. And more. What on earth could possibly bring all these together?Vines. The vines of a plant that seeks flesh and can develop a certain taste for a meal. With roots that dig into the soul and burn it in the flames of its blossom.
This book... is a weird book. I don't know what to call it. A horror story? Thriller? Mystery novel? Science fiction? No idea. But amazing would fit anyway.
Not so long ago, while browsing wiki, I came along a drawing style they called "fantasy hyper realism". I think this would fit as well, even perfectly so. Because you read, and it is so queer, and weird, and absurd and yet so undeniably real.
The story starts with Abel Muranda, a rural man who would do anything to save his family from starvation and disease. He is led in the city with the ambition of becoming the replacement of the hangman who retired few years ago - without noticing the strange line of events that brought him to it or the almost disturbing haste of the Zimbabwe's elite. Because if it's for his family, it is all worth it.
Next to him many other characters show up and unwind their own storylines. I thing I've never read a book with so many side notes. For maybe the first third of the story I was thinking that if all of them weren't so nice and easy to read, and so entertaining by themselves, they would bother and confuse me. But as I halved the book, I realized something.
There are no minor characters.
There are no subplots.
These are not side notes.
These are hints.
From this moment, I started hunting them down. Hey, you've ever watched Midsomer Murders? You've noticed how sometimes they just forget to solve the death of one of the dozens dead bodies? Frankly, here I doubt that even one word was placed without being carefully weighted. Everything tangles and entwines, just like the vines of the terrifying plant that holds everyone prisoner of their own guilt and fears. And yet it all forms the perfect pattern.
The reader goes on and collects pieces - Abel. The natural, illiterate, still very inteligent Abel, who is wrapped in simplicity and mystery in the same time. The man in the center of everything. This would be the center piece of the puzzle, I have little doubt about it. But what goes around it to make the full picture? How would fit the inventor, fascinated with the means of death, and the genious, whose brain never sleeps? The woman who offers herself, searching for love and the one who seeks revenge after finding and loosing the love she had? The lawyer who communicates with the world via paper packages and the shadowy characters who seek to sacrifice in order to save their souls.
And I still am not sute how they fit together.
In the annotation, the author says that this first book is a collage. I'd say that the whole series is a puzzle and the first part gives us a good handful of the most important pieces, and yet we are still unable to perceive the whole picture. So here I will give you and advice - from the very beginnig, gather every little piece of information, every hint, every image, every note. You don't know when you will need it.
I can't even begin to expain you how it felt when some pieces of the corners started coming together. Nor the shock and desperation that overcame me when the terrible words The End showed up when I thought I had at least 20 more pages! Now, that was cruel.
I can't descibe the evil -and bored- genius who in this book sets in motion at least half a dozen carefully navigated chain reactions that self amplificated with every page. Nor I can figure who and how ill be able to stand against him - and this excites and scares me to no end.
In the end, I can't say "If you liked .... read this" simply because I can't think of anything like it. But read it, please do. I don't know if anything got clear from this mixed up review, but one thing I hope got through: I can't recommend this book highly enough. Read it. Your mind will thank you just like your taste buds would if you treat them with naturally flavoured beef.
Free health care. A rural man. Death row. Soul disease. Organ traffic. Gallows. Lion attack. A mercenary lawyer. Stray lightning bolts and falling stalactites. People who also move things. Murdered beer and naturally flavoured beef. Allergies for certain plants. A baking recepe. And more. What on earth could possibly bring all these together?Vines. The vines of a plant that seeks flesh and can develop a certain taste for a meal. With roots that dig into the soul and burn it in the flames of its blossom.
This book... is a weird book. I don't know what to call it. A horror story? Thriller? Mystery novel? Science fiction? No idea. But amazing would fit anyway.
Not so long ago, while browsing wiki, I came along a drawing style they called "fantasy hyper realism". I think this would fit as well, even perfectly so. Because you read, and it is so queer, and weird, and absurd and yet so undeniably real.
The story starts with Abel Muranda, a rural man who would do anything to save his family from starvation and disease. He is led in the city with the ambition of becoming the replacement of the hangman who retired few years ago - without noticing the strange line of events that brought him to it or the almost disturbing haste of the Zimbabwe's elite. Because if it's for his family, it is all worth it.
Next to him many other characters show up and unwind their own storylines. I thing I've never read a book with so many side notes. For maybe the first third of the story I was thinking that if all of them weren't so nice and easy to read, and so entertaining by themselves, they would bother and confuse me. But as I halved the book, I realized something.
There are no minor characters.
There are no subplots.
These are not side notes.
These are hints.
From this moment, I started hunting them down. Hey, you've ever watched Midsomer Murders? You've noticed how sometimes they just forget to solve the death of one of the dozens dead bodies? Frankly, here I doubt that even one word was placed without being carefully weighted. Everything tangles and entwines, just like the vines of the terrifying plant that holds everyone prisoner of their own guilt and fears. And yet it all forms the perfect pattern.
The reader goes on and collects pieces - Abel. The natural, illiterate, still very inteligent Abel, who is wrapped in simplicity and mystery in the same time. The man in the center of everything. This would be the center piece of the puzzle, I have little doubt about it. But what goes around it to make the full picture? How would fit the inventor, fascinated with the means of death, and the genious, whose brain never sleeps? The woman who offers herself, searching for love and the one who seeks revenge after finding and loosing the love she had? The lawyer who communicates with the world via paper packages and the shadowy characters who seek to sacrifice in order to save their souls.
And I still am not sute how they fit together.
In the annotation, the author says that this first book is a collage. I'd say that the whole series is a puzzle and the first part gives us a good handful of the most important pieces, and yet we are still unable to perceive the whole picture. So here I will give you and advice - from the very beginnig, gather every little piece of information, every hint, every image, every note. You don't know when you will need it.
I can't even begin to expain you how it felt when some pieces of the corners started coming together. Nor the shock and desperation that overcame me when the terrible words The End showed up when I thought I had at least 20 more pages! Now, that was cruel.
I can't descibe the evil -and bored- genius who in this book sets in motion at least half a dozen carefully navigated chain reactions that self amplificated with every page. Nor I can figure who and how ill be able to stand against him - and this excites and scares me to no end.
In the end, I can't say "If you liked .... read this" simply because I can't think of anything like it. But read it, please do. I don't know if anything got clear from this mixed up review, but one thing I hope got through: I can't recommend this book highly enough. Read it. Your mind will thank you just like your taste buds would if you treat them with naturally flavoured beef.
April 1, 2013
As is my usual and by now familiar preamble, I received this book by the good grace of a GoodReads giveaway. Despite that perpetually kind consideration, I give my candid and unfettered opinions below.
The Hangman's Replacement is a 500-page monster of a book that, unsurprisingly, tells the story of an open position that involves the operation of a single lever. Surprisingly, this tale of a simple vacancy with a simple function is as tangled and complex as the roots of a carnivorous plant seeking out the blood of a hapless victim. If you think this reference rather a surprising non sequitur, I assure you that it is not a non sequitur. Though admittedly it is rather surprising.
On the positive side, the author has a wonderful flare for description. I found myself hooked upon reading this passage from page 16.
<<
To the chairman's right was the largest man that Abel Muranda had ever seen. He had the muscular definition of a man who had spent his life restraining elephants in heat. Each of his sleeves looked like a python that had swallowed prey larger than the snake was elastic. The garment was losing the fight. The man's size was not his only striking feature. He also had a massive mustache that looked like a scruffy kitten had nestled above his lips and fallen asleep.
>>
It is more or less in this rather charming tone that the entire book carries on at great length. Chiveneko constructs for us a very sympathetic and admirable protagonist...
... but then proceeds to more or less forget about him for 300 pages and instead constructs an at times befuddling story line involving carnivorous plant life, raging disembodied spirits of the dead and a pantheon of other bizarre circumstances that make it very hard to properly categorize the book or even have any hope whatsoever of keeping up.
In summary, this novel is wonderfully and whimsically written and boils happily between the extremes of giddily entertaining and impenetrably perplexing but it is NOT a novel for the faint of heart. Those who would plumb its murky depths must be willing to commit themselves whole-heartedly and without reservation. The rewards are many but they are not easily earned. Readers are also advised that there is a glossary of character names at the back to help keep the pantheon straight.
The Hangman's Replacement is a 500-page monster of a book that, unsurprisingly, tells the story of an open position that involves the operation of a single lever. Surprisingly, this tale of a simple vacancy with a simple function is as tangled and complex as the roots of a carnivorous plant seeking out the blood of a hapless victim. If you think this reference rather a surprising non sequitur, I assure you that it is not a non sequitur. Though admittedly it is rather surprising.
On the positive side, the author has a wonderful flare for description. I found myself hooked upon reading this passage from page 16.
<<
To the chairman's right was the largest man that Abel Muranda had ever seen. He had the muscular definition of a man who had spent his life restraining elephants in heat. Each of his sleeves looked like a python that had swallowed prey larger than the snake was elastic. The garment was losing the fight. The man's size was not his only striking feature. He also had a massive mustache that looked like a scruffy kitten had nestled above his lips and fallen asleep.
>>
It is more or less in this rather charming tone that the entire book carries on at great length. Chiveneko constructs for us a very sympathetic and admirable protagonist...
... but then proceeds to more or less forget about him for 300 pages and instead constructs an at times befuddling story line involving carnivorous plant life, raging disembodied spirits of the dead and a pantheon of other bizarre circumstances that make it very hard to properly categorize the book or even have any hope whatsoever of keeping up.
In summary, this novel is wonderfully and whimsically written and boils happily between the extremes of giddily entertaining and impenetrably perplexing but it is NOT a novel for the faint of heart. Those who would plumb its murky depths must be willing to commit themselves whole-heartedly and without reservation. The rewards are many but they are not easily earned. Readers are also advised that there is a glossary of character names at the back to help keep the pantheon straight.
June 2, 2013
Title : THE HANGMAN'S REPLACEMENT Sprout of Disruption
by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko
Format : kindle Edition
Rating : 5 stars
Reading level : adult
Source : the Author for honest review
Book blurb
If you had to interview the candidates for a country's new hangman, what questions would you ask them? If your family was on the verge of starvation, and becoming a hangman was the only job available, would you apply? If you were hired, what would you do if the prisoners looked like your loved ones? If you knew that another good man was taking the job out of desperation, would you do anything to prevent him from getting it? What if that man's recruitment would somehow guarantee your own survival, would you encourage his candidacy? All these questions were asked of people who never thought they would find themselves in such a position, until they became mired in the chaos surrounding the hangman's replacement.
My thought
The book contained humor, impeccable word choice and a great insight of the human psyche.
The structure of the book was very interesting. It was written with a mixture of individual stories (that didn't seem to fit together at first), newspaper articles, and letters. The plot wanders from person to person, place to place, adding more dimensions to the story, without ever becoming dull or slow. The mystery unfolds itself elegantly, revealing itself through different perspectives, until the whole tapestry is unveiled in all its color and depth. Subtle details are not neglected, and every one of them reveals or reflects something vital. The result leaves the reader fascinated, turning page after page just to see what could possibly happen next, until the book is finished and the reader looks up, startled, to find that hours have gone by without being noticed.
About two-thirds of the way into the book, all the pieces started to fit and every bit of understanding I thought I had about the book was wrong and I was intrigued even more. Every little detail, that in most books would be considered a "filler", has a place in this story. The smallest details seem, at times, to play the biggest role in the outcome of the story.
As a reader, I gained a lot of knowledge about what was going on in the characters minds and why they acted the way they did.
by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko
Format : kindle Edition
Rating : 5 stars
Reading level : adult
Source : the Author for honest review
Book blurb
If you had to interview the candidates for a country's new hangman, what questions would you ask them? If your family was on the verge of starvation, and becoming a hangman was the only job available, would you apply? If you were hired, what would you do if the prisoners looked like your loved ones? If you knew that another good man was taking the job out of desperation, would you do anything to prevent him from getting it? What if that man's recruitment would somehow guarantee your own survival, would you encourage his candidacy? All these questions were asked of people who never thought they would find themselves in such a position, until they became mired in the chaos surrounding the hangman's replacement.
My thought
The book contained humor, impeccable word choice and a great insight of the human psyche.
The structure of the book was very interesting. It was written with a mixture of individual stories (that didn't seem to fit together at first), newspaper articles, and letters. The plot wanders from person to person, place to place, adding more dimensions to the story, without ever becoming dull or slow. The mystery unfolds itself elegantly, revealing itself through different perspectives, until the whole tapestry is unveiled in all its color and depth. Subtle details are not neglected, and every one of them reveals or reflects something vital. The result leaves the reader fascinated, turning page after page just to see what could possibly happen next, until the book is finished and the reader looks up, startled, to find that hours have gone by without being noticed.
About two-thirds of the way into the book, all the pieces started to fit and every bit of understanding I thought I had about the book was wrong and I was intrigued even more. Every little detail, that in most books would be considered a "filler", has a place in this story. The smallest details seem, at times, to play the biggest role in the outcome of the story.
As a reader, I gained a lot of knowledge about what was going on in the characters minds and why they acted the way they did.
January 2, 2014
This book begins brilliantly. If Kurt Vonnegut had an African twin, Mr. Chiveneko would be it.
We meet Abel Muranda in Harare/Zimbabwe who - since he couldn't pay for the bus - has walked here all the way from rural Gwenzi in order to apply for a job. Somehow a goat was involved in all this. The job description is rather simple. Pull the lever. Be the Hangman's Replacement.
What follows is the description of a job interview that is so funny and absurd and smart that the book had me wrapped around its finger in no time. In the character Abel Muranda, the interview and his motivations for coming to the capital alone lies the potential for the plot of a novel, but Chivenko doesn't stop there. In fact at some point I wondered whether he’d ever stop. With every turned page there was another twist to the plot, another strand to the story, another character, another answer that in fact just turned out to be a new question.
It's as if the story was exponentiating (is this even a verb?! If not: think maths!) with every chapter, and the story's hunger for expansion nicely mirrored the hunger of main character N°2: the flame lily aka the carnivorous plant. I'll leave it at that.
Now what's astonishing about this novel is also the problem at times. It is too much. Too many strands to the plot, too many characters that are all great individually but start to blur and lose their contour or are not given enough time to grow. The latter I thought was a shame in particular since it is one of Chivenko's many strength's: to create vital, absurd characters with sharp outlines and dialogue so poignant, witty and smart, other writers would kill for the ability.
Nevertheless: I'd recommend it highly to anyone with an intact sense of humour (including the pitch black kind), a love for the absurd, original and bizarre and an amount of frustration tolerance in case of drowning in plot on occasion. It is worth it.
We meet Abel Muranda in Harare/Zimbabwe who - since he couldn't pay for the bus - has walked here all the way from rural Gwenzi in order to apply for a job. Somehow a goat was involved in all this. The job description is rather simple. Pull the lever. Be the Hangman's Replacement.
What follows is the description of a job interview that is so funny and absurd and smart that the book had me wrapped around its finger in no time. In the character Abel Muranda, the interview and his motivations for coming to the capital alone lies the potential for the plot of a novel, but Chivenko doesn't stop there. In fact at some point I wondered whether he’d ever stop. With every turned page there was another twist to the plot, another strand to the story, another character, another answer that in fact just turned out to be a new question.
It's as if the story was exponentiating (is this even a verb?! If not: think maths!) with every chapter, and the story's hunger for expansion nicely mirrored the hunger of main character N°2: the flame lily aka the carnivorous plant. I'll leave it at that.
Now what's astonishing about this novel is also the problem at times. It is too much. Too many strands to the plot, too many characters that are all great individually but start to blur and lose their contour or are not given enough time to grow. The latter I thought was a shame in particular since it is one of Chivenko's many strength's: to create vital, absurd characters with sharp outlines and dialogue so poignant, witty and smart, other writers would kill for the ability.
Nevertheless: I'd recommend it highly to anyone with an intact sense of humour (including the pitch black kind), a love for the absurd, original and bizarre and an amount of frustration tolerance in case of drowning in plot on occasion. It is worth it.
January 27, 2016
I won this book from the Goodreads Giveaways.
I will start with this: This book is hilarious! Educative! Suspense!and again, hilarious!
This book is about a plant, that was genetically made to eat meat. The purpose of this, according to the maker was to expose murderers in high positions and act as a vengence for the innocent deceased people. Seeing this as a threat, the people in the high positions decided to make plans to destroy the plant and its creator which was futile in this Book One. Part of the plans was the search for a new hangman to empty the prison's death row. They found the right guy for the post: Abel Muranda. Unknown to them that the gene used in making the plant was gotten from the same Abel and also, the creator led Abel to the job. The creator had planned everything from the start making the their plans futile. Since it's just book one, the outcome of it all is yet unknown.
The book is interesting. It's a book you can't just put down to eat or drink. The suspense is the bomb! For people that like suspense, I recommend this book but there are little bad sides such as errors in grammatical spellings, unnecessary stories, too many flash backs and too many faces and characters; I got lost trying to remember characters previously mentioned but I like the funny names given to some characters in the book like "doll eyes" etc. And I love Zuva Redu newspaper! The columist is a good reporter! Very hilarious too.
Above all, the author is good and intelligient. I love the brief introduction of him and the interview with his lawyer. Both are funny and it shows how funny and talented the author is, with words. I hope to read more of his work. A big thank you to him for giving a free copy!
I will start with this: This book is hilarious! Educative! Suspense!and again, hilarious!
This book is about a plant, that was genetically made to eat meat. The purpose of this, according to the maker was to expose murderers in high positions and act as a vengence for the innocent deceased people. Seeing this as a threat, the people in the high positions decided to make plans to destroy the plant and its creator which was futile in this Book One. Part of the plans was the search for a new hangman to empty the prison's death row. They found the right guy for the post: Abel Muranda. Unknown to them that the gene used in making the plant was gotten from the same Abel and also, the creator led Abel to the job. The creator had planned everything from the start making the their plans futile. Since it's just book one, the outcome of it all is yet unknown.
The book is interesting. It's a book you can't just put down to eat or drink. The suspense is the bomb! For people that like suspense, I recommend this book but there are little bad sides such as errors in grammatical spellings, unnecessary stories, too many flash backs and too many faces and characters; I got lost trying to remember characters previously mentioned but I like the funny names given to some characters in the book like "doll eyes" etc. And I love Zuva Redu newspaper! The columist is a good reporter! Very hilarious too.
Above all, the author is good and intelligient. I love the brief introduction of him and the interview with his lawyer. Both are funny and it shows how funny and talented the author is, with words. I hope to read more of his work. A big thank you to him for giving a free copy!
November 8, 2014
Simply put, this book is extraordinary.
When I finally started reading (I didn’t have enough time to read the way I like), it was difficult to leave this book aside. The plot is more than just interesting; it’s devouring (pun not intended). I could hear flame lilies grow.
The thing that really makes this book different is writing style. Taona Chiveneko created mystical, intense and (to some extent) dark atmosphere, with carefully chosen words and detailed descriptions in short sentences. Chiveneko creates images and that made this twisted and entwined novel even more absorbing.
Characters are so well developed and fleshed out, as well as the whole story, and insightful about human nature. I like the way the author combines sarcasm, seriousness and profoundness and plays with them.
This book should also come with a warning – don’t even try to mark every great sentence in this book if you have paperback. There are so many that it’s quite possible that you will ruin the book.
“Always start by understanding the tastes of the beast you want to court, subdue, or destroy. (…) Though I am a vegetarian, I never allow my apathy for meat to derail my mission.”
“This was a rhetorical question. – No rhetoric…just answers.”
“Mr. Kuripa, I may be uneducated, but my desperation has sharpened my survival instincts.”
“As a man with a hungry family, I can’t afford neither pride nor decorum, Mr.Kuripa, even though I deserve both."
(For some reason I kept imagining Mr. Gweta like the lawyer from Seinfeld, only less benign. If this book will ever be filmed, I would suggest Phil Morris to portray him.)
I won this book on Goodreads Giveaway. And it does feel like a reward.
December 26, 2014
After entering and losing a Goodreads giveaway for this book, the author contacted me directly and offered me a free ebook version in exchange for a review.
This novel is set in a version of contemporary Zimbabwe and is clever in its use of expected themes and images in unexpected ways; nothing is ever quite as it seems. There is the man who leaves his desolate village, desperately hoping to obtain work in the city. This would be par for the course, but the job he seeks is that of state executioner. Likewise, there are government officials and lawyers concerned that past misdeeds remain hidden. But their concern arises from the discovery of a plant with human DNA that may be able to find buried corpses.
There are numerous concepts and threads of stories, many of which provide intelligent comments on present-day Zimbabwe, Africa, and the world, and nearly all of which are humorous. Some of the characters I had an easy time visualizing and being interested in, while others I found less compelling. The book requires a reader ready to follow no matter where it leads. When I was reading, I really only felt like I wanted to follow certain threads and characters.
At the conclusion, I felt much like one of those characters, who writes, "I . . . cannot wrap my mind around the contorted panorama you painted around many characters . . . Each line connected persons and events I did not even know were related."
This novel is set in a version of contemporary Zimbabwe and is clever in its use of expected themes and images in unexpected ways; nothing is ever quite as it seems. There is the man who leaves his desolate village, desperately hoping to obtain work in the city. This would be par for the course, but the job he seeks is that of state executioner. Likewise, there are government officials and lawyers concerned that past misdeeds remain hidden. But their concern arises from the discovery of a plant with human DNA that may be able to find buried corpses.
There are numerous concepts and threads of stories, many of which provide intelligent comments on present-day Zimbabwe, Africa, and the world, and nearly all of which are humorous. Some of the characters I had an easy time visualizing and being interested in, while others I found less compelling. The book requires a reader ready to follow no matter where it leads. When I was reading, I really only felt like I wanted to follow certain threads and characters.
At the conclusion, I felt much like one of those characters, who writes, "I . . . cannot wrap my mind around the contorted panorama you painted around many characters . . . Each line connected persons and events I did not even know were related."
February 20, 2013
Abel Muranda can not pay the bus fare to get from Gwenzi to Harare. So he makes his way on foot the long fifteen hours. Abel is applying for the new hangman position. Yep, you heard me right...hangman, executor, grim ripper, death dealer, etc. I never gave much thought into how someone got hired for his position until now. I can imagine the interview process would be awkward. For example, what do you ask a potential candidate? It is not as if you can really make small talk and ask about the weather. Or “Hey, so how many people have you killed?” Or maybe “I hear that hanging is more your style.”
I quickly grew attached to Abel. He had a kind and gentle soul. Everything that he did, he did for his family. I got way more then I bargained for with this book. I was expecting to read just about a hangman but got more. This book then quickly took a curve into some sci-fi like thriller stuff. I was hooked. As the story progressed I got more drawn into this book. There were only a time of two at the beginning that I did have to rush the story along to make it read faster but otherwise a good book. Readers will enjoy this book and the many more that comes after book one. The Hangman’s Replacement is worth your time and money!
I quickly grew attached to Abel. He had a kind and gentle soul. Everything that he did, he did for his family. I got way more then I bargained for with this book. I was expecting to read just about a hangman but got more. This book then quickly took a curve into some sci-fi like thriller stuff. I was hooked. As the story progressed I got more drawn into this book. There were only a time of two at the beginning that I did have to rush the story along to make it read faster but otherwise a good book. Readers will enjoy this book and the many more that comes after book one. The Hangman’s Replacement is worth your time and money!
August 12, 2016
Just read the NetGalley version -- How come I never heard of this book before now? This wonderfully odd, intriguing epic reminds me of Cloud Atlas — sometimes kind of complicated & difficult, but definitely some form of genius. Is this really the first book in a series? Part 2 was being projected for June 2013, Part 3 in November... I guess I wouldn’t be surprised if these additional titles ended up being part of an unfortunate hoax, but I sure would be disappointed.
June 10, 2013
I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.
What a great read. I really enjoyed this book, especially how the writer introduces new characters and eventually how they are all interconnected.
The writing style shows great cleverness and it makes for a fascinating read. Well worth reading and looking forward to the release of Book 2.
What a great read. I really enjoyed this book, especially how the writer introduces new characters and eventually how they are all interconnected.
The writing style shows great cleverness and it makes for a fascinating read. Well worth reading and looking forward to the release of Book 2.
June 25, 2013
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really didn't what to expect. It's really suprising how good was this novel.Unique story with great characters and well discribed places. I enjoyed reading this awesome book and I recommend to everyone who want to read something unique and new.
I can't wait for the next book from Taona Dumisani Chiveneko.
I really didn't what to expect. It's really suprising how good was this novel.Unique story with great characters and well discribed places. I enjoyed reading this awesome book and I recommend to everyone who want to read something unique and new.
I can't wait for the next book from Taona Dumisani Chiveneko.
June 28, 2013
Excellent story filled with local superstition and worry, I loved how belief in these superstitions determined how the characters moved and reacted in the story. Looking forward to the next book.
September 10, 2017
It’s been a while since the last hangman retired and, with the abolition of the capital penalty inspiring heated discussions, no great effort has been made to replace him. But now, a strange carnivorous plant is spreading across Zimbabwe and many minds conspire to a mysterious outcome. A promising and desperate candidate named Abel Muranda seems to be the most obvious choice. But, though he doesn’t know what he is getting into, there are many conflicting forces involved in this choice. Some want to protect them from such fate. Others need him to be the new executioner. And, as the plant spreads and, with her, a web of mysterious phenomena, lives are taken, plans collapse… and a mastermind’s plan starts to unveil.
Based in a complex mystery and evolving through a series of even more complex plans and counter-plans, this is a book that takes its time to absorb. There is a vast set of characters, an even vaster set of colliding intrigues, and an enormous set of possibilities to which all explanations bring yet another mystery. So it takes time to assimilate all of this. And yet, there’s something strangely addictive in the course of these many events. Following different characters, seeing their partial knowledge fit in the much bigger panorama and recognize them as what they are – pieces of a much more complex puzzle – makes every new chapter a revelation. And thus, the need to know more intensifies.
Also very intriguing is the fact that, though there is a vast context to absorb, with all the plans and forces in conflict gaining form around a couple of main elements, there’s also space for emotion. And this is especially memorable for two reasons: first, the cold rationality that seems to move many of the characters creates a quite impressive contrast with the undeniable evidence of fear; and, second, there is innocence hidden among this intricate conspiracy, and that innocence (mostly Abel’s) creates strong feelings of empathy.
And then there’s the structure. By adding newspaper articles and letters from (and about) different characters to the narrative, the author allows the story to assume its peculiar identity. It is a strange story and following it from different perspectives, narrating different events in different forms, reinforces its inherent complexity. This and the many questions that leave the need to know what happens next are also part of what makes this book memorable.
In the end, it all sums up in a most intriguing book and a very, very promising start to what seems to be an even more complex intrigue. Intense, addictive and full of surprises, a most impressive start and a series to follow.
Based in a complex mystery and evolving through a series of even more complex plans and counter-plans, this is a book that takes its time to absorb. There is a vast set of characters, an even vaster set of colliding intrigues, and an enormous set of possibilities to which all explanations bring yet another mystery. So it takes time to assimilate all of this. And yet, there’s something strangely addictive in the course of these many events. Following different characters, seeing their partial knowledge fit in the much bigger panorama and recognize them as what they are – pieces of a much more complex puzzle – makes every new chapter a revelation. And thus, the need to know more intensifies.
Also very intriguing is the fact that, though there is a vast context to absorb, with all the plans and forces in conflict gaining form around a couple of main elements, there’s also space for emotion. And this is especially memorable for two reasons: first, the cold rationality that seems to move many of the characters creates a quite impressive contrast with the undeniable evidence of fear; and, second, there is innocence hidden among this intricate conspiracy, and that innocence (mostly Abel’s) creates strong feelings of empathy.
And then there’s the structure. By adding newspaper articles and letters from (and about) different characters to the narrative, the author allows the story to assume its peculiar identity. It is a strange story and following it from different perspectives, narrating different events in different forms, reinforces its inherent complexity. This and the many questions that leave the need to know what happens next are also part of what makes this book memorable.
In the end, it all sums up in a most intriguing book and a very, very promising start to what seems to be an even more complex intrigue. Intense, addictive and full of surprises, a most impressive start and a series to follow.
October 15, 2013
Pros: fascinating characters, philosophical slant, subtle humour, set in Zimbabwe
Cons: slow to reveal pertinent information, pronunciation guide at the end difficult to refer to in ebook format
There's no protagonist in this book. The story is told in stages from various character's points of view. Each character's story - and subsequent conversation(s) - is directly or indirectly essential to piecing together the plot. And there's a lot of piecing to do. Characters and stories from the beginning of the novel that don't seem important show up later as important elements to the whole. You learn a lot about each character, their background and the choice they have to make with regards to the novel's plot. There's a LOT of backstory, but it's engagingly told and quick to read.
I loved the setting. I know very little about Zimbabwe so that alone made this a fun read. I loved that there were several strong female characters and characters from different walks of life. There's a bordello mistress, a peasant farmer, a carpenter who creates gallows as a hobby, a professor of botany, some lawyers, lots of unsavoury characters, a genius etc. I really liked the interview chapter (chapter 2) and the acknowledgement that a lack of education does not equal a lack of intelligence.
While the book has a meat eating plant, there's little else for the SF lover here, and the plant doesn't show up until the 100 page mark. Once it does show up, it's mainly the impetus for the other events in the story, rather than a large element on its own. SF aside, if you like mysteries, psychopaths and brilliant storytelling, there's plenty here to hold your interest.
I was particularly fond of the occasional bits of philosophical wisdom scattered throughout the book as well as the author's subtle sense of humour. Take for example, these lines, "The man had a chocolate charisma. Its low nutritional value did not stop people from eating it up." It's not humour that will make you laugh out loud, but it will make you smile. Another favourite is this passage:
"Imagine how wonderful this world would be if potential criminals asked the police for permission? 'Please, may I kill my boss?' 'No!' 'Please may I steal a cow?' 'No!' 'Please may I burn my neighbour's house? He is so annoying.' 'No!'
"We could slash the law enforcement budget by ninety-nine percent. We would only need a single police officer and a desk. The officer's only job would be to say 'No!'
For the most part I didn't mind how slowly the book revealed the plot, as the story and characters were so interesting. But around the 250 page mark I started to wonder when the plot was going to show up, only to discover I was already knee deep in it. This is very much a novel designed to make you think.
My other 'complaint' is format related. I started reading this on a Kobo, which isn't the best reader if you want to jump to the back of the book to look at the pronunciation guide. It wasn't until I switched to the iPad that I was able to check how characters names were pronounced. While it's standard to have this at the back of the book, in the ebook age, a short list at the beginning, next to the map, would have been fantastic.
There's a 16+ rating on the book that probably isn't necessary. While violence is mentioned there's little on the page. And while there are some bizarre sexual scenarios described there's nothing graphic or obscene.
This is the start of a series and I assume the flesh eating flame lilies will be more prominent in the later books. This one was mostly set-up, but it was incredibly interesting set-up and I'm looking forward to the next book.
Cons: slow to reveal pertinent information, pronunciation guide at the end difficult to refer to in ebook format
There's no protagonist in this book. The story is told in stages from various character's points of view. Each character's story - and subsequent conversation(s) - is directly or indirectly essential to piecing together the plot. And there's a lot of piecing to do. Characters and stories from the beginning of the novel that don't seem important show up later as important elements to the whole. You learn a lot about each character, their background and the choice they have to make with regards to the novel's plot. There's a LOT of backstory, but it's engagingly told and quick to read.
I loved the setting. I know very little about Zimbabwe so that alone made this a fun read. I loved that there were several strong female characters and characters from different walks of life. There's a bordello mistress, a peasant farmer, a carpenter who creates gallows as a hobby, a professor of botany, some lawyers, lots of unsavoury characters, a genius etc. I really liked the interview chapter (chapter 2) and the acknowledgement that a lack of education does not equal a lack of intelligence.
While the book has a meat eating plant, there's little else for the SF lover here, and the plant doesn't show up until the 100 page mark. Once it does show up, it's mainly the impetus for the other events in the story, rather than a large element on its own. SF aside, if you like mysteries, psychopaths and brilliant storytelling, there's plenty here to hold your interest.
I was particularly fond of the occasional bits of philosophical wisdom scattered throughout the book as well as the author's subtle sense of humour. Take for example, these lines, "The man had a chocolate charisma. Its low nutritional value did not stop people from eating it up." It's not humour that will make you laugh out loud, but it will make you smile. Another favourite is this passage:
"Imagine how wonderful this world would be if potential criminals asked the police for permission? 'Please, may I kill my boss?' 'No!' 'Please may I steal a cow?' 'No!' 'Please may I burn my neighbour's house? He is so annoying.' 'No!'
"We could slash the law enforcement budget by ninety-nine percent. We would only need a single police officer and a desk. The officer's only job would be to say 'No!'
For the most part I didn't mind how slowly the book revealed the plot, as the story and characters were so interesting. But around the 250 page mark I started to wonder when the plot was going to show up, only to discover I was already knee deep in it. This is very much a novel designed to make you think.
My other 'complaint' is format related. I started reading this on a Kobo, which isn't the best reader if you want to jump to the back of the book to look at the pronunciation guide. It wasn't until I switched to the iPad that I was able to check how characters names were pronounced. While it's standard to have this at the back of the book, in the ebook age, a short list at the beginning, next to the map, would have been fantastic.
There's a 16+ rating on the book that probably isn't necessary. While violence is mentioned there's little on the page. And while there are some bizarre sexual scenarios described there's nothing graphic or obscene.
This is the start of a series and I assume the flesh eating flame lilies will be more prominent in the later books. This one was mostly set-up, but it was incredibly interesting set-up and I'm looking forward to the next book.
November 9, 2014
I am finding it hard to express how magnificent The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption is. When I was younger, I loved the Nancy Drew books. I could disappear into one of her adventures for hours, shutting out everything around me. It has been a long time since a book enthralled me like that. While I was reading the last 10% or so of Sprout of Disruption this afternoon, I became so engrossed that I didn't hear the oven timer going off; it was hard to explain to my daughter why the pizza remnants sitting on the kitchen counter were burned to a crisp.
There is no easy way to describe the plot of this book; the Goodreads synopsis is as close as one can get. Chiveneko's prose shines on every page; I still keep a handwritten reading journal, and I'm sure I'll have a cramp in my hand after I finish transcribing all of the lyrical observations, pithy remarks, and humorous dialogue I highlighted on my Kindle. From almost the first page, I was reading passages aloud to my husband over Sunday breakfast at the bagel shop; he was reading Investors Business Daily, which says something about his interests, but Chiveneko's writing was simply too wonderful not to share with someone immediately.
Before beginning this review, I looked back at the book's Goodreads page and noticed for the first time that Kirkus had reviewed it; the Kirkus review states that the printed version runs to almost 500 pages, which shocked me because I felt like I was on a rollercoaster of discovery. Chiveneko's beautiful writing makes this a wonderful recommendation for fans of literary fiction.
However, there is so much more to Sprout of Disruption. There are layers upon layers to the story of Abel Muranda's quest to become Zimbabwe's next executioner, with shifting alliances, hidden connections, multiple motives, and mysteries galore. Accordingly, this book should appeal to readers of mysteries and thrillers. There are also hints of the supernatural, as it appears that the obvious horrors of the carnivorous flame lilies may be connected to the ngozi, Shona avenging spirits who return to smite their killers (and their killers' families). The role of the ngozi is not fully developed in Sprout of Disruption, but Chiveneko is expected to release at least two more books in the Hangman's Replacement series; in anticipation, I have already done some preliminary research into Shona religion so that I can better appreciate the nuances of Chiveneko's storytelling. The ngozi and the logic-defying abilities of the person who created the flame lilies make Sprout of Disruption a fine choice for readers of horror and dark fiction.
When I write lesson plans for my law-related education program, I am most excited about those which resemble a spider web, with one connection leading to another, often in unexpected ways. The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption is like one of those spider webs, with each disclosure leading this reader, at least, to reevaluate things I thought I already understood. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and I anxiously await the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There is no easy way to describe the plot of this book; the Goodreads synopsis is as close as one can get. Chiveneko's prose shines on every page; I still keep a handwritten reading journal, and I'm sure I'll have a cramp in my hand after I finish transcribing all of the lyrical observations, pithy remarks, and humorous dialogue I highlighted on my Kindle. From almost the first page, I was reading passages aloud to my husband over Sunday breakfast at the bagel shop; he was reading Investors Business Daily, which says something about his interests, but Chiveneko's writing was simply too wonderful not to share with someone immediately.
Before beginning this review, I looked back at the book's Goodreads page and noticed for the first time that Kirkus had reviewed it; the Kirkus review states that the printed version runs to almost 500 pages, which shocked me because I felt like I was on a rollercoaster of discovery. Chiveneko's beautiful writing makes this a wonderful recommendation for fans of literary fiction.
However, there is so much more to Sprout of Disruption. There are layers upon layers to the story of Abel Muranda's quest to become Zimbabwe's next executioner, with shifting alliances, hidden connections, multiple motives, and mysteries galore. Accordingly, this book should appeal to readers of mysteries and thrillers. There are also hints of the supernatural, as it appears that the obvious horrors of the carnivorous flame lilies may be connected to the ngozi, Shona avenging spirits who return to smite their killers (and their killers' families). The role of the ngozi is not fully developed in Sprout of Disruption, but Chiveneko is expected to release at least two more books in the Hangman's Replacement series; in anticipation, I have already done some preliminary research into Shona religion so that I can better appreciate the nuances of Chiveneko's storytelling. The ngozi and the logic-defying abilities of the person who created the flame lilies make Sprout of Disruption a fine choice for readers of horror and dark fiction.
When I write lesson plans for my law-related education program, I am most excited about those which resemble a spider web, with one connection leading to another, often in unexpected ways. The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption is like one of those spider webs, with each disclosure leading this reader, at least, to reevaluate things I thought I already understood. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and I anxiously await the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2013
It's been almost a week now since I finished this book, but I still don't know what to make of it. I took a good deal of time to finish this (a month, to be exact) & there were times when I ran out of patience & didn't read it for days on end. Yet there was something mysterious & powerful about this book that kept drawing me back to it & compelled me to finish the journey I started & by the time it ended, I was left enthralled.
'The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption' begins with the story of Abel Muranda, who has arrived in Harare to apply for the job of Zimbabwe's next hangman, having travelled miles from his remote village on foot. A poor but proud man, Abel is desperate to take up this undesirable job since he believes that will provide his family with free healthcare. However, little does he know that there are many forces at work already - on one hand, those who wish to ensure he gets the job for their own ulterior motives & on the other, those who wish to protect him from taking up the job in order to save his life. Meanwhile, the appearance of a new breed of carnivorous flame lilies at the Great Zimbabwe Monument has forced the hand of some people in high places to empty death row, since they feel such a course of action will make them immune to 'ngozi' catching up with their misdeeds.
The writer indeed deserves high praise on the writing & storytelling aspect. I must admit that for two-thirds of this book, I wasn't really sure whether I'd done the right thing to pick this but then all of the pieces of this strange jigsaw puzzle start falling into place beautifully & you realise how the actions of every character set into motion an irrevocable chain of events. Chiveneko explores themes of science fiction, horror, magical realism, surrealism & mysticism ('ngozi' signifies a form of bad karma) amidst the ever complex web of human relationships throughout the course of the plot.
The characterisation is again very well done but there are a couple of characters which really stand out - one being Professor Khupe's scheming aunt & the other being the (initially-unknown) genius who manages to genetically engineer the breed of deadly flame lilies. What I felt about them, I quote from "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" -
"My admiration for your skill is lost only by the horror of your crimes."
The only complaint I had from the book is that it could've been a bit shorter & crispier. The plot seems to drag a bit at quite a few places, which could've been avoided in my opinion. Also, I felt there were far too many characters & keeping track of them can be a bit cumbersome. I hope that is so only because this is the introductory book to an entire series.
4 stars to Taona Dumisani Chiveneko's debut novel 'The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption' & this one's definitely going into my yearly 'Discovery of the Year' list. I suggest you keep your mind open to all kinds of possibilities & widen your perspective - you will be captivated by the novelty & the scope of it. Recommended for those who wish to read a thought-provoking, absolutely weird & engrossing work of literature.
P.S. I received a free copy of this book from the author & I solemnly maintain that this review was in no way influenced by the same.
'The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption' begins with the story of Abel Muranda, who has arrived in Harare to apply for the job of Zimbabwe's next hangman, having travelled miles from his remote village on foot. A poor but proud man, Abel is desperate to take up this undesirable job since he believes that will provide his family with free healthcare. However, little does he know that there are many forces at work already - on one hand, those who wish to ensure he gets the job for their own ulterior motives & on the other, those who wish to protect him from taking up the job in order to save his life. Meanwhile, the appearance of a new breed of carnivorous flame lilies at the Great Zimbabwe Monument has forced the hand of some people in high places to empty death row, since they feel such a course of action will make them immune to 'ngozi' catching up with their misdeeds.
The writer indeed deserves high praise on the writing & storytelling aspect. I must admit that for two-thirds of this book, I wasn't really sure whether I'd done the right thing to pick this but then all of the pieces of this strange jigsaw puzzle start falling into place beautifully & you realise how the actions of every character set into motion an irrevocable chain of events. Chiveneko explores themes of science fiction, horror, magical realism, surrealism & mysticism ('ngozi' signifies a form of bad karma) amidst the ever complex web of human relationships throughout the course of the plot.
The characterisation is again very well done but there are a couple of characters which really stand out - one being Professor Khupe's scheming aunt & the other being the (initially-unknown) genius who manages to genetically engineer the breed of deadly flame lilies. What I felt about them, I quote from "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" -
"My admiration for your skill is lost only by the horror of your crimes."
The only complaint I had from the book is that it could've been a bit shorter & crispier. The plot seems to drag a bit at quite a few places, which could've been avoided in my opinion. Also, I felt there were far too many characters & keeping track of them can be a bit cumbersome. I hope that is so only because this is the introductory book to an entire series.
4 stars to Taona Dumisani Chiveneko's debut novel 'The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption' & this one's definitely going into my yearly 'Discovery of the Year' list. I suggest you keep your mind open to all kinds of possibilities & widen your perspective - you will be captivated by the novelty & the scope of it. Recommended for those who wish to read a thought-provoking, absolutely weird & engrossing work of literature.
P.S. I received a free copy of this book from the author & I solemnly maintain that this review was in no way influenced by the same.
March 3, 2014
I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. If you read my reviews you will see how infrequently I give a book a five star rating, so the very fact that I have done so in this instance should alone be reason enough to rush out and get yourself a copy!
This book reads like a beautifully complex topographical map. There is so much going on with such a wealth of characters that keeping a written cheat sheet at hand listing each of the players and how they are all connected seems like a wise decision in retrospect xx And those connections spread like the root system of (insert some diabolically hardy plant with a massive root system that can take over in weeks - like the kudzu vine maybe) as the story unfolds.
Now this may make it sound terribly confusing to read but that would be incorrect. For one thing, the author separates chapters by sets of characters, and their relationships are slowly revealed and expanded upon the deeper into the book you go. Interestingly enough, many of those connections are not seen by the related characters at all, even though it is as if they have been diabolically moved around the chessboard of Africa (and a few other parts of the world at this point) for an unfathomable reason. And we don't know if it is one or more players that are manipulating all the others, almost always without them knowing it. Or at least not knowing it at the time of the event - some will come to the realization at a much later time, possibly years later. And even then most don't know who the master puppeteer is. Yet it feels acceptable, if not right, given the sheer moral turpitude of so many of the player's. Though there are certainly differing levels of corruption amongst the characters, almost all exhibit an absence of morality to varying degrees. All but one that is, one lone righteous man. Yet even he is sucked into this massive juggernaut.
Though the title of the book talks of a Hangman's replacement, after a certain point in the story we no longer see the most likely candidate for the job. But we do still learn about him through the experiences of other characters. As depraved as most of the characters are, we still get a very strong sense of them as individuals, and sometimes the external forces that made them into the creatures they are today. I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this series, if only to see how these people cope with learning who it is that has been 'playing' them for so long.
Add to intriguing characters a Gordian plot chock full of raw creativity and you are in for one hell of a ride. It may not be non-stop blood and gore, guns and physical violence all the time, but psychologically it is a book that will give any top-notch thriller a run for its money. At the same time it is also an exercise in cerebral acrobatics, and a mystery worthy of the name. This one book packs the equivalent of multiple books between its covers. And all that happens in the first book of the series. I don't know how Mr. Chiveneko can top this book, but I am dying to see what he comes up with for the next installment of the series!
This book reads like a beautifully complex topographical map. There is so much going on with such a wealth of characters that keeping a written cheat sheet at hand listing each of the players and how they are all connected seems like a wise decision in retrospect xx And those connections spread like the root system of (insert some diabolically hardy plant with a massive root system that can take over in weeks - like the kudzu vine maybe) as the story unfolds.
Now this may make it sound terribly confusing to read but that would be incorrect. For one thing, the author separates chapters by sets of characters, and their relationships are slowly revealed and expanded upon the deeper into the book you go. Interestingly enough, many of those connections are not seen by the related characters at all, even though it is as if they have been diabolically moved around the chessboard of Africa (and a few other parts of the world at this point) for an unfathomable reason. And we don't know if it is one or more players that are manipulating all the others, almost always without them knowing it. Or at least not knowing it at the time of the event - some will come to the realization at a much later time, possibly years later. And even then most don't know who the master puppeteer is. Yet it feels acceptable, if not right, given the sheer moral turpitude of so many of the player's. Though there are certainly differing levels of corruption amongst the characters, almost all exhibit an absence of morality to varying degrees. All but one that is, one lone righteous man. Yet even he is sucked into this massive juggernaut.
Though the title of the book talks of a Hangman's replacement, after a certain point in the story we no longer see the most likely candidate for the job. But we do still learn about him through the experiences of other characters. As depraved as most of the characters are, we still get a very strong sense of them as individuals, and sometimes the external forces that made them into the creatures they are today. I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this series, if only to see how these people cope with learning who it is that has been 'playing' them for so long.
Add to intriguing characters a Gordian plot chock full of raw creativity and you are in for one hell of a ride. It may not be non-stop blood and gore, guns and physical violence all the time, but psychologically it is a book that will give any top-notch thriller a run for its money. At the same time it is also an exercise in cerebral acrobatics, and a mystery worthy of the name. This one book packs the equivalent of multiple books between its covers. And all that happens in the first book of the series. I don't know how Mr. Chiveneko can top this book, but I am dying to see what he comes up with for the next installment of the series!
April 13, 2013
Where do we draw the line of morality in terms of justice in society? Taona Chiveneko provides us with such thought-provoking ideas in his novel The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption. In this work, he challenges the ideas of the justice system, telling a tale of internal conflicts that most of us do not even stop to think about. Regardless, we need to give these questions some thought, as the human conscience is one of the most important facets in our day-to-day interactions.
One aspect of this novel I find interesting is its style. Chiveneko primarily employs short, quick paragraphs of dialogue that keep the story flowing, which, I have to admit, works well. In addition, the prose contains a number of metaphors, using heavy symbolism in each physical object to represent a much larger idea. These devices lead us to entertain interesting comparisons, helping us understand the different layers of the work. As a whole, I really enjoy Chiveneko's distinct but effective style.
Some of the best stories take place from multiple perspectives, and the author crafts the story wonderfully with this tool. Initially, it appears that the tale would continue from the perspective from one single character, which would have been fine as well, but as it progresses, it becomes apparent that Chiveneko had other ideas in mind. While this alternation of point-of-view may somewhat convolute the flow of the novel, it is effectively a rich, engaging method of unveiling the details gradually. With that being said, the development of the story is well-timed and intriguing.
Moreover, much can be said on how unique this story is. By blending realism with certain elements that suspend belief, Chiveneko blurs the line between reality and imagination. In other words, he mixes farfetched situations with realistic encounters to craft a brilliant story. At some points, however, these instances become a little too bizarre that it seems somewhat satirical, but I suppose that is part of the effect. In some ways, this strangeness contributes some humor to the story. Simply put, this aspect of the novel is definitely a nice touch.
In conclusion, we have quite the hidden gem in Taona Chiveneko's The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption. From what I hear, a sequel is in the works, so it would certainly be an interesting read. If you haven't read this book, go ahead and give it a shot. It provides some unique perspectives on viewing our existence as a society and the impact of our actions on the people around us.
One aspect of this novel I find interesting is its style. Chiveneko primarily employs short, quick paragraphs of dialogue that keep the story flowing, which, I have to admit, works well. In addition, the prose contains a number of metaphors, using heavy symbolism in each physical object to represent a much larger idea. These devices lead us to entertain interesting comparisons, helping us understand the different layers of the work. As a whole, I really enjoy Chiveneko's distinct but effective style.
Some of the best stories take place from multiple perspectives, and the author crafts the story wonderfully with this tool. Initially, it appears that the tale would continue from the perspective from one single character, which would have been fine as well, but as it progresses, it becomes apparent that Chiveneko had other ideas in mind. While this alternation of point-of-view may somewhat convolute the flow of the novel, it is effectively a rich, engaging method of unveiling the details gradually. With that being said, the development of the story is well-timed and intriguing.
Moreover, much can be said on how unique this story is. By blending realism with certain elements that suspend belief, Chiveneko blurs the line between reality and imagination. In other words, he mixes farfetched situations with realistic encounters to craft a brilliant story. At some points, however, these instances become a little too bizarre that it seems somewhat satirical, but I suppose that is part of the effect. In some ways, this strangeness contributes some humor to the story. Simply put, this aspect of the novel is definitely a nice touch.
In conclusion, we have quite the hidden gem in Taona Chiveneko's The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption. From what I hear, a sequel is in the works, so it would certainly be an interesting read. If you haven't read this book, go ahead and give it a shot. It provides some unique perspectives on viewing our existence as a society and the impact of our actions on the people around us.
May 28, 2013
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair review.
That said, I do not know if I can write a fair review. I do not think I have enough control over language to give this book justice. It was beautiful. Taona Dumisani Chiveneko uses beautiful language. I met so many interesting characters brought to life through metaphor. Chiveneko does not just describe a character, he creates a stunning visual and produces deep characterization in a few words. It is a rare and wonderful talent that, as a reader, grabs you and transports you into a deeply complex narrative full of vivid and interesting characters. From the moment I read the description of Mr. Gejo I knew I had discovered a wonderful new author. The description is as follows:
To the Chairman's right was the largest man that Abel Muranda had ever seen. He had the muscular definition of a man who had spent his life restraining elephants in heat. Each of his sleeves looked like a python that had swallowed prey larger than the snake was elastic. The garment was losing the fight. The man's size was not his only striking feature. He also had a massive mustache that looked like a scruffy kitten had nestled above his lips and fallen asleep.
And the descriptions just continue to get better from there. Each character is vividly created to be intertwined in a complex narrative with more links than the flame lily has roots, weaving together subtly over the course of the book.
Beyond that, the story is fascinating. I don't give synopses of books, the description above or the back of the book will do that for me. The story is wonderfully executed, just giving touches of information, the perfect amount to make it hard to put down, and just enough fantasy to make the reader wonder what is true and what is imagination. Okay, so the flame lily is fantasy, but a new hangman was just appointed in Zimbabwe this year.
I will admit, that the story and language can be a bit heavy at times and may not be to everyone's taste. I did have to put the book down at one point to read something else for my book club. Then I picked The Hangman's Replacement again and devoured the second half of the book. Again, I was drawn in by the language and the detailed characters. Now part of that could be that my book for book club was painfully bad and to return to an author with such an amazing talent was refreshing.
I want more of this story. Thankfully, this is only book 1 with an anticipated four to seven books in the series. I plan on owning them.
That said, I do not know if I can write a fair review. I do not think I have enough control over language to give this book justice. It was beautiful. Taona Dumisani Chiveneko uses beautiful language. I met so many interesting characters brought to life through metaphor. Chiveneko does not just describe a character, he creates a stunning visual and produces deep characterization in a few words. It is a rare and wonderful talent that, as a reader, grabs you and transports you into a deeply complex narrative full of vivid and interesting characters. From the moment I read the description of Mr. Gejo I knew I had discovered a wonderful new author. The description is as follows:
To the Chairman's right was the largest man that Abel Muranda had ever seen. He had the muscular definition of a man who had spent his life restraining elephants in heat. Each of his sleeves looked like a python that had swallowed prey larger than the snake was elastic. The garment was losing the fight. The man's size was not his only striking feature. He also had a massive mustache that looked like a scruffy kitten had nestled above his lips and fallen asleep.
And the descriptions just continue to get better from there. Each character is vividly created to be intertwined in a complex narrative with more links than the flame lily has roots, weaving together subtly over the course of the book.
Beyond that, the story is fascinating. I don't give synopses of books, the description above or the back of the book will do that for me. The story is wonderfully executed, just giving touches of information, the perfect amount to make it hard to put down, and just enough fantasy to make the reader wonder what is true and what is imagination. Okay, so the flame lily is fantasy, but a new hangman was just appointed in Zimbabwe this year.
I will admit, that the story and language can be a bit heavy at times and may not be to everyone's taste. I did have to put the book down at one point to read something else for my book club. Then I picked The Hangman's Replacement again and devoured the second half of the book. Again, I was drawn in by the language and the detailed characters. Now part of that could be that my book for book club was painfully bad and to return to an author with such an amazing talent was refreshing.
I want more of this story. Thankfully, this is only book 1 with an anticipated four to seven books in the series. I plan on owning them.
April 21, 2013
**I received a free copy of this book through a giveaway**
The Hangman's Replacement is a monster of a book; Not because it's almost 500 pages but because of what is held within those pages. I had originally read the 5000 word excerpt and was hooked after reading that. This book contains a lot of information that needs to be absorbed and is a very heavy read.
The structure of the book was very interesting. It was written with a mixture of individual stories (that didn't seem to fit together at first), newspaper articles, and letters. About two-thirds of the way into the book, all the pieces started to fit and every bit of understanding I thought I had about the book was wrong and I was intrigued even more. Every little detail, that in most books would be considered a "filler", has a place in this story. The smallest details seem, at times, to play the biggest role in the outcome of the story.
The book contained humor, impeccable word choice and a great insight of the human psyche. The were many moments that made me laugh out loud either with descriptions of people or parts of the dialogue. As a reader, I gained a lot of knowledge about what was going on in the characters minds and why they acted the way they did. My favorite part of the book is the word choice. For me, this is what made the book. The entire time I was reading it, all I could think about was Vonnegut. Not necessarily for the writing style but for the desire to get into authors mind, just for a few hours, to know what goes on in their mind. The play on words in the book is fantastic and I probably doubled my list of my all-time favorite quotes from reading this.
Some of the lines that stuck with me are as follows:
"A true survival instinct always assumes that starvation is one's fate."
"She just has a few wrinkles in her personality. I am helping her iron them out."
"Wow. I never thought I would live to hear the words 'lugubrious', 'splendiferous', and 'ragamuffin' used in the same monologue."
"I only know sex, not foreplay. Let's get this idea naked right now."
While these may seem insignificant when taken out of context, when read throughout the text, they show a great deal about the characters and even more about who the author really is.
When you pick up this book, be sure you have the time to dedicate to it but don't let that deter you from reading it, it is well worth every minute. I can't wait to read the next book.
The Hangman's Replacement is a monster of a book; Not because it's almost 500 pages but because of what is held within those pages. I had originally read the 5000 word excerpt and was hooked after reading that. This book contains a lot of information that needs to be absorbed and is a very heavy read.
The structure of the book was very interesting. It was written with a mixture of individual stories (that didn't seem to fit together at first), newspaper articles, and letters. About two-thirds of the way into the book, all the pieces started to fit and every bit of understanding I thought I had about the book was wrong and I was intrigued even more. Every little detail, that in most books would be considered a "filler", has a place in this story. The smallest details seem, at times, to play the biggest role in the outcome of the story.
The book contained humor, impeccable word choice and a great insight of the human psyche. The were many moments that made me laugh out loud either with descriptions of people or parts of the dialogue. As a reader, I gained a lot of knowledge about what was going on in the characters minds and why they acted the way they did. My favorite part of the book is the word choice. For me, this is what made the book. The entire time I was reading it, all I could think about was Vonnegut. Not necessarily for the writing style but for the desire to get into authors mind, just for a few hours, to know what goes on in their mind. The play on words in the book is fantastic and I probably doubled my list of my all-time favorite quotes from reading this.
Some of the lines that stuck with me are as follows:
"A true survival instinct always assumes that starvation is one's fate."
"She just has a few wrinkles in her personality. I am helping her iron them out."
"Wow. I never thought I would live to hear the words 'lugubrious', 'splendiferous', and 'ragamuffin' used in the same monologue."
"I only know sex, not foreplay. Let's get this idea naked right now."
While these may seem insignificant when taken out of context, when read throughout the text, they show a great deal about the characters and even more about who the author really is.
When you pick up this book, be sure you have the time to dedicate to it but don't let that deter you from reading it, it is well worth every minute. I can't wait to read the next book.
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