Devojka sa Zanzibara

by Roger King, Rodžer King, Vladimir Matković (Translator)

„Ovaj roman je prava bomba, tornado koji se zakovitlao kroz haos naše današnjice, knjiga sa više života nego mačka – a svaki od njih vam budi jezu, i nijedan nije tipičan.“
Širli Hazard, autorka knjige "Grin na Kapriju: Memoari"

„Prelepo i prefinjeno preplitanje priče o Marselinoj sadašnjici sa slojevima njene prošlosti potpuno je čudesno. Čitanje ove knjige me je naprosto usrećilo.“
Andrea Baret, autorka knjiga "Servantes sa mape" i "Brodska groznica"

„Kad čujete za Zanzibar, to vam zvuči egzotično – ali za ovu pametnu devojku lišenu svih iluzija njena rodna zemlja je varljiva i puna bura. Roman o njoj, pažljivo promišljen i napisan tako da će vam čvrsto držati pažnju, priča je o izgnanstvu, odanosti i granici između prestupa i pogrešno protumačene vrline. Svaka stranica ove opčinjavajuće knjige Rodžera Kinga naučila me je nečemu novom.“
Rozlin Braun, autorka knjiga "Pre i posle" i "Građanski ratovi"

Genres: Fiction

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several reviews on the Goodreads page of this book describe an autobiography about a man living with chronic fatigue syndrome. A Girl from Zanzibar, the book I read for my Transnational Asian-American literature course, features a Zanzibari of mixed African-Asian-Arabic-European-Catholic heritage as its protagonist - so unless I missed something huge when reading this for class (finals were approaching...), then some type of flub happened on this site.

Anyway, A Girl from Zanzibar follows the independent and insightful Marcella D'Souza from her childhood in her native Zanzibar, to the streets of London where she tries her hand at entrepreneurship, to a college town in Vermont where she teaches a vague course called "multi-cultural studies." The narrative fluctuates from past to present and back again as we see Marcella strive to claim ownership over herself and her identity, a difficult task as a perpetual foreigner.

Recommended to those who want to read about the effects of immigration on identity, the complicated nature of race relations in the context of interpersonal interactions, and a fierce protagonist who tries to reclaim her life in any way she can. Marcella never ceased to intrigue me, and she represents the best parts of A Girl from Zanzibar, both in its theme and its progression. While I felt the book's loose, nonlinear, and sometimes absent structure discombobulated my reading experience, I would still give this one the go-ahead to those who enjoy an eclectic and diverse story.

[Erica Verrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Girl From Zanzibar is about displacement - where we have been, where we want to be, and where we cannot escape from. This metaphorical place is concretely represented by Zanzibar, an island which embodies, at least for those of us in the western hemisphere, the concept of "far."

Marcella, a beautiful Zanzibari of mixed African-Asian-Arabic-European-Catholic-Muslim heritage, finds herself stuck in her homeland of Zanzibar after a failed attempt to get a passport. Through a series of misadventures involving a British visitor (who may or may not be a spy), a suave African with shady connections, and a questionable proposal of marriage, Marcella finally escapes the stifling environment of her homeland, launching herself into a new life in London. There, she attempts to make her way as a fledgling entrepreneur, only to find herself quickly enmeshed in the tangled web of the Asian underground: international arms deals, money laundering schemes, and suspiciously smooth real estate transactions. Soon, she is flying high. But her success is tempered by the increasingly risky schemes of her lover, Benji, and the impending threat posed by his "connections."

What is striking about this story is not just its exotic setting, but the way it is told. Roger King manages to weave this fascinating tale almost entirely from the standpoint of Marcella's recollections - for she is, at the telling of the story, a professor in a remote Vermont college. The unfolding of Marcella's haunted past in the context of a stodgy New England town makes for a remarkable contrast. And, as the story builds to its high point, when Marcella's safe present and dangerous past collide, the tension is almost unbearable.

King's writing is fluid, perceptive, and profoundly engaging. This is one of those books that is hard to put down, and even harder to forget. Highly recommended.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want one of my friends to read this so I can discuss it with them. I found it very absorbing, I think I read it in a week.

"I think I have the making of a new theory here. Maybe these days, everything is so international, there's always an advantage in being from somewhere else. What is important is not local knowledge, but foreign knowledge. If the whole world is in motion, then the world's displaced are those who stay at home."

[Louvaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing portrait of an international woman and what it means to be an immigrant.

[Erica Verrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Girl From Zanzibar is about displacement - where we have been, where we want to be, and where we cannot escape from. This metaphorical place is concretely represented by Zanzibar, an island which embodies, at least for those of us in the western hemisphere, the concept of "far."

Marcella, a beautiful Zanzibari of mixed African-Asian-Arabic-European-Catholic-Muslim heritage, finds herself stuck in her homeland of Zanzibar after a failed attempt to get a passport. Through a series of misadventures involving a British visitor (who may or may not be a spy), a suave African with shady connections, and a questionable proposal of marriage, Marcella finally escapes the stifling environment of her homeland, launching herself into a new life in London. There, she attempts to make her way as a fledgling entrepreneur, only to find herself quickly enmeshed in the tangled web of the Asian underground: international arms deals, money laundering schemes, and suspiciously smooth real estate transactions. Soon, she is flying high. But her success is tempered by the increasingly risky schemes of her lover, Benji, and the impending threat posed by his "connections."

What is striking about this story is not just its exotic setting, but the way it is told. Roger King manages to weave this fascinating tale almost entirely from the standpoint of Marcella's recollections - for she is, at the telling of the story, a professor in a remote Vermont college. The unfolding of Marcella's haunted past in the context of a stodgy New England town makes for a remarkable contrast. And, as the story builds to its high point, when Marcella's safe present and dangerous past collide, the tension is almost unbearable.

King's writing is fluid, perceptive, and profoundly engaging. This is one of those books that is hard to put down, and even harder to forget. Highly recommended.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot while reading this book. I, myself, am living in Hong Kong as an ex-pat. We are not called migrants because it is assumed we are rich. Originally from Germany and then to the US as a child, I was definitely a migrant back then, at least as the world defines it. The story has cemented my idea that living "afar" is much more exciting than living at "home".

[Tracie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read.. it lured me to Zanzibar!

[Elizabeth Managan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't really like this book at the beginning, but I found myself drawn in as I kept going, and the ending was fascinating and not at all what I expected.

[LaTamera Woodley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very intriguing. It was hard to follow at times. I definitely had to give it my undivided attention. I got lost a couple of times trying to follow all the names and workings going on throughout the book. I guess I was building for a climatic ending. Years have passed since I first started reading the book. I never finished and always thought bout it and longed to complete the story. I left on such a cliff hanger I guess.
Marcella was a multicultural multiracial individual. She was from Zanzibar but had roots from multiple ethnicities. I'm guessing this made her even more interesting and unique. She did not have a purpose in life as in career goal or professional destiny but she did have her mind set on leaving Zanzibar far far behind.
What was intriguing to me was her carefreeness to try new jobs and risky adventures. She was a restaurant owner for a spell. A home owner. A property developer? A caregiver. An arms dealer, maybe. An embezzler. A college professor. Thief. And a murderer. LOL SMH
This book was all over the place. It's not fast paced but it move continuously and you must keep up or you'll get lost in the sauce.
The ending left me wondering what happened to her. What happened to Benji. and If Asaph was really ....

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking story about multicultural people and the problems that ensue when everyone misunderstands everyone else. Wish I had read this before traveling to Zanzibar some years ago, as my brief visit would have been more meaningful. I would have preferred a different ending, but I think I know the reason for the one given.

[Samarei Morgan]

I liked the premise of this book about a woman attempting to find a place for herself. However, I found the writing too much telling versus showing. And some of the most intriguing parts were barely addressed.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed the history, the politics and the insight to immigration and desperation. I highly suggest this novel to anyone interested in a woman who travels to different sections of the world, and the culture she gains from each new place.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the Story Of a girl... who left her island, and caused trouble all over the world......