The River Between

by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

Alternative cover edition for ISBN: 0435905481

...that rarity, an almost wordless love story that avoids pseudo-nobility while remaining proudly and distinctively African. - The Guardian

Christian missionaries attempt to outlaw the female circumcision ritual and in the process create a terrible rift between the two Kikuyu communities on either side of the river. The people are torn between those who believe in Western/Christian education and the opportunities it will offer, and those who feel that only unquestioned loyalty to past traditions will save them. The growing conflict brings tragedy to a pair of young lovers who attempted to bridge the deepening chasm.

Genres: Fiction, Africa, Kenya, African Literature, Classics, Historical Fiction, Literature

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o was a Kenyan author and academic, who was described as East Africa's leading novelist.
He began writing in English before later switching to write primarily in Gikuyu, becoming a strong advocate for literature written in native African languages. His works include the celebrated novel The River Between, plays, short stories, and essays, ranging from literary and social criticism to children's literature. He was the founder and editor of the Gikuyu-language journal Mũtĩiri. His short story The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright was translated into more than 100 languages.
In 1977, Ngũgĩ embarked upon a novel form of theatre in Kenya that sought to liberate the theatrical process from what he held to be "the general bourgeois education system", by encouraging spontaneity and audience participation in the performances. His project sought to "demystify" the theatrical process, and to avoid the "process of alienation [that] produces a gallery of active stars and an undifferentiated mass of grateful admirers" which, according to Ngũgĩ, encourages passivity in "ordinary people". Although his landmark play Ngaahika Ndeenda, co-written with Ngũgĩ wa Mirii, was a commercial success, it was shut down by the authoritarian Kenyan regime six weeks after its opening.
Ngũgĩ was subsequently imprisoned for more than a year. Adopted as an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, he was released from prison and fled Kenya. He was appointed Distinguished Professor of Comparative Literature and English at the University of California, Irvine. He previously taught at Northwestern University, Yale University, and New York University. Ngũgĩ was frequently regarded as a likely candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature. He won the 2001 International Nonino Prize in Italy, and the 2016 Park Kyong-ni Prize. Among his children are authors Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ and Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I imagine being a woman in the beautiful landscape of colonial Kenya as having to choose between Scylla and Charybdis, as being torn between ancient rites and Christian missionaries - neither of them offering any kind of individual choice and development for a woman.

As a woman, you are stuck between quite similar, yet opposing male monsters of rigid patriarchal rituals, fighting each other with religious salvation vocabulary and with you as a prize.

It is interesting for myself to follow my multiple changes in attitude and perspective during the reading process. My modern, liberal and democratic values were shaken and attacked from different angles. In the character of rebellious Muthoni, the hopelessly bitter life of a daughter of a dogmatic Christian preacher is outlined. To connect with her ancestral roots, she has to break with the brutal single-mindedness of her father, who considers himself her only authority while bowing to the power of white rule through Christianity and administration. Disobedience equals ostracism. It feels natural to side with Muthoni against her dogmatic, brutal father.

But when she makes the decision to go through circumcision in order to feel "beautiful in the way of the tribe", I shiver. What a brutal world for her, having to choose between what she calls Christian submission and the demands of her tribe, which will effectively take away her ability to feel sexual pleasure! Male dominance is guaranteed either way.

It gets worse when she dies of her wounds. My heart now moves to side with the white oppressors and their most effective tools - the preachers. Even if they are evil and oppressive, their take on life must be more humane than the ancient tribal rites? For a moment, I hesitate, and then I make up my mind:

"No!"

One wrong is not excused by another wrong. "Whataboutism" is the worst kind of indifference and irresponsibility. Young women deserve to make their own valid choices, oppressed neither by inhumane and brutal religious doctrine, nor by surgery aiming at reducing their sexuality.

If I am between Scylla and Charybdis, it is not about choosing which way to give up my life, it is about doing my best to steer away from both dangers - on the river between.

The natural beauty of the river flowing between the two opposed shores in the novel remains a symbol for the possibility of change and movement!

As long as the waters are flowing on the river between, there is hope. Slim as it may be!

[Rowena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story to be very reminiscent of one of my favourite books, Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, as both stories deal with the turmoil, changes and confusion that arose in Africa after Christianity was introduced. In The River Between, two communities of Kikuyu (a Kenyan ethnic group), one Christian, the other traditional, struggle as the Christian group tries to outlaw female circumcision, which they believe to be a pagan practice, while the traditionals being distrustful of the “white man’s religion”, feel that circumcision is an important part of their culture and struggle to continue with their practice. The protagonist, Waiyaki, is caught between his destiny as the direct descendant of an African seer who supposedly foresaw the arrival of the white man, a “people with clothes like butterflies,” and who must therefore lead the village, as well as being a young man who obtained education from the missionaries, and is in love with Nyambura, the Christian daughter of Joshua, the Kikuyu pastor.

I liked the book a lot. Like African society in general, I found the story to have lots of patriarchal elements. First of all, there was the issue of the practice of female circumcision. Second, the female characters in the story barely had a voice, and were left out of political and economic matters, causing them to be the most vulnerable members in the society. What I also found interesting was the struggle between the traditional and the modern, something that is very difficult to be overcome.

[Sawsan · Rating 3 out of 5]

الكاتب الكيني نجوجي واثيونجو بدأ الكتابة عام 1964 باللغة الانجليزية
وفي السبعينيات بدأ يكتب بلغته الأصلية لغة الجيكويو والسواحيلية لغات بلاد شرق أفريقيا
لإحياء اللغات الأفريقية التي حاول الاستعمار تهميشها
واثيونجو من المدافعين بشدة عن اللغة والثقافة المحلية الأفريقية في مواجهة الثقافة الغربية
الرواية عن كينيا فترة الاستعمار البريطاني, وانقسام المجتمع بين الرافضين والموالين للمستعمِر والصدام الفكري والديني بين الفريقين
واياكي الشخصية الرئيسية في الرواية يُمثل الشباب الذي يؤمن بأن التعليم هو بداية الطريق للاستقلال
وفي المقابل هناك من يرى عدم جدوى أي إصلاح أو تعليم قبل التحرر من الاحتلال
يعرض الكاتب قوة وسيطرة المعتقدات والطقوس القبلية الموروثة
وإمكانية القدرة على التغيير لكن مع الحفاظ على هوية المجتمع
فكرة الرواية مميزة لكن السرد بطئ

[Argos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Afrika edebiyatının en verimli dönemi postkolonyal dönem kabul edilir. Bu dönemin en üretici isimlerinden Ngugi wa Thiong’o’nun diğer eserlerinin (Kan Çiçekleri, Ağlama Oğul, Bir Buğday Tanesi, Kargalar Büyücüsü) yanında sönük kalmış bir romanıdır Aradaki Nehir. Çünkü edebi yönünden çok politik mesajı öncelemiştir yazar.

Thiong’o çağdaşlarından farklı olarak eserlerini yerli dilde üretmiştir. Dile yüklediği ideolojik anlam büyüktür. Hatta Avrupa dillerinde yazılmış modern Afrika edebiyatını sömürge okullarında okumuş “küçük burjuvazi”nin edebiyatı olarak görür.

Kitabın konusu arka kapak tanıtım yazısında özetlenmiş. Çarpıcı finali ile “Aradaki Nehir” romanını Afrika edebiyatına giriş için iyi bir seçim olduğunu düşünüyorum.

[Zanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it was published after Weep Not, Child, this is the first book Ngugi wrote. For me, it contrasts with later works like Wizard of the Crow, which gives the strong impression of being written for the people it is about, (with the exception of the corrupt ruling class) whereas this book, I feel, unintentionally stands apart, employing a degree of ironic social critique, for example when parents mistake beatings by teachers for good pedagogy. The later work exudes affirmation and encouragement, while this story narrates painful disjunctures and intimate conflicts that appear almost insoluble. The introduction points out that Ngugi offers three strategies to cope with progressive colonisation and dispossession by white settlers: embrace, reject, or accommodate. All of these strategies go awry, suggesting that there is no right response to such a situation, and producing, potentially, a restless malaise rather than inspiration to act.

I enjoyed the characters in this book, especially the sisters Nyambura and Muthoni, determined, wilful, courageous girls who use their emotional intelligence to transform their lives. Despite the fact that their actions are disastrous for them and others, Ngugi presents them in a way that defies misogyny. Waiyaki, the main male protagonist, is relatably naive and uncertain, trying to follow the direction of his father with limited understanding of the old man’s wishes. The lack of communication between father and son is gently critiqued in Waiyaki’s bafflement.

The issue of circumcision, a rite of passage for both boys and girls in the Gikuyu ‘tribe’ is central to the conflict between Gikuyu tradition and colonial Christianity. The Christian authorities conflate circumcision with every trope of cultural inferiority they craft as weapons in their efforts to consolidate and extend their political domination of the Gikuyu. This is what makes the issue so loaded. Like Weep Not Child this should be required reading for white/western feminists concerned about the practice. Waiyaki reflects that some of the ideas of the Christians are attractive or unobjectionable, but that the Christians’ mistake is to attempt to take away the ‘tribe’’s traditions without giving them anything valueable in return; circumcision is not important as a physical change but an an internal, spiritual change. Murathi chooses circumcision to ‘become beautiful in the tribe’ - it is an act of connection for her. Waiyaki’s thoughts can be questioned of course – he has been educated by the Christians! But I think that through his thoughts Ngugi offers what I would call both feminist pedagogy and pedagogy for feminists…

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The arrival of the colonists greatly affects the cultural identity of the Kikuyu people, dividing them in two camps: one that clings to their traditions and customs, the other who wants to embrace the new religion and give up on their previous beliefs and practices. For the ones who try to unite these two camps, and make them see a new and combined way of life, danger lurks from both sides.

[Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

How towns divide and remain strangers to their neighbors. Who is getting indoctrinated into the White Man's ways or who is turning to the ancestral roots? Maybe this is a universal woe, but true. The writer writes so universally, explains the feelings withing multiple characters so superbly, that you would think that the woe is indeed everlasting, and very human. Short but impactful--crowds talking as one is a fear of mine, and so this has tinges of horror, to me. Worthwhile and relevant!

[Robert Wechsler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novel because I thought Ngugi would win the Nobel Prize today, but he did not. In any event, I’m glad I read it, because it has been very long since I read his work (since reading A Grain of Wheat in high school, not long after it was published).

I was struck by the rhythm not of Ngugi’s prose, but of his telling of the story, the repetitions, hesitations, thought processes, excitements, rememberings, and fears. The writing itself is not of much interest. The fablistic, traditional, and classical dramatic aspects are certainly interesting. But it is the rhythm of the telling that gives the novel its power. Give the rhythm time to grab you (it took me till about 1/3 of the way in).

[Araz Goran · Rating 3 out of 5]

رواية جيدة وهي التجارب القليلة التي أخوضها مع الأدب الأفريقي.. أفريقيا حيث المشاكل التي لا تنتهي والحروب التي تُزهق فيها الأرواح بسبب وبغير سبب ، يحكي الكاتب هنا عن فترة حرجة من تاريخ كينيا حيث المشاكل القبيلة بسبب الدين الجديد ومعارك الجيل الجديد للدخول في التعليم وبدأ مرحلة جديدة..

القصة تبدو كمزيج من الخرافات القبيلة مع روح تلك الحقبة الأليمة من تاريخ البلاد.. حاول أن يرسم صورة النهر كفاصل بين عهدين كلاهما مر ، وسطر فيها مشاهد مؤلمة حيث لابد أن الإنسان هو الطرف الأول والأخير من تلك المأساة المظلمة..

[أمل يعقوب Amal Yaqoob · Rating 4 out of 5]

النهر الفاصل

نهر نوهيا الفاصل بين كامينو وماكويو، يُقال إنهُ نهر الحياة الذي وحد الرجال والماشية والحيوانات البرية والأشجار فهل يوحد النهر أيضاً بين الأعراف والعادات القبلية والدينية معاً؟

رواية رائعة من القارة السمراء استطاع فيها نغوجي واثيونغو أن ينقل صورة عن دواخل شعب كينيا في ظل فترة الاحتلال البريطاني وكذلك بداية انتشار ديانة الرجل الأبيض الجديد (أي يعني المسحية) ونرى في ظل هذه الظروف انقسام الناس إلى مؤيدين و معارضين؛ كجرأة وتمرد موثوني على والدها المسيحي واختيارها التمسك بالعادات القبلية وهروبها للختان وهذا هو الحدث الذي يمكن أن نسميه انطلاقة الرواية نحو الصراع والظلم والاستبداد.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ngugi tells a tale of the divisions in a community in Kenya brought on my colonialism and Christianity. The rift grows as each of the major divisions solidify their positions amid the invasion of the country. The focus of the battle is between the Kenyans rather than the invaders, reminiscent of how in the diaspora the frustration of communities often gets turned on to itself rather than the wider system that creates and sustains those kind of divisions. An important read for black Americans because it gives a glimpse of life, beliefs and cultural practices of Africans before colonization.
As I continue to read books from different countries in Africa and around the diaspora, the more I am aware of how writing styles, story lines and emphases are indeed a reflection of those different cultures and realities. My hope is that this diversity of expression continues, rather than having a universally (or western) approved standard against which all books are assessed.
I really liked this book

[librosgatosyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta historia es demasiado buena, lo único que siento es ese final abierto 😢 necesito saber que pasó 😞
Este autor lo descubrí después de saber que había fallecido (QEPD), que había sido un eterno en la lista de espera al Nobel y entiendo el porqué, lo que no entiendo es cómo no se lo dieron!!!
Los libros que hasta ahora he leído, tienen mucho de crítica social, de libertad, de lucha contra el blanco, de costumbres y no está exento de el amor, todo en un ambiente natural y costumbrista en Kenia. Con una pluma fluida, expectante, entre costumbres y supersticiones, entra en un terreno que solo un nacido allí nos puede narrar.
Excelente! seguiré leyendo todos sus libros obviamente . 🙌🏼✨

[Serbay GÜL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Afrika maceram tüm hızıyla devam ediyor. Oralarda dolaşacak göte henüz sahip olmadığım için , kültürünü şimdilik önemli yazarlarına ait kitaplar aracılığıyla özümsemeye çalışıyorum.

Beyaz insanın bu güzelim topraklara yerleşip , her yeri tek tek ele geçirmesinden sonraki sürecin tam ortasında buluyoruz kendimizi. Koskoca Afrika'nın yaşadığı kültür erozyonunu; siyahilerin , beyazların getirmiş olduğu din üzerinden binlerce yıllık kültürlerine sahip çıkmak için uğraşan ırkdaşlarına karşı vermiş olduğu saçma mücadeleye tanıklık ediyoruz.

'Beyazlara karşı verilecek en büyük savaş onların ilimini irfanını almaktır , onlar gibi olmak değildir' söylemleri aslında dünyanın her yerinde geçerli olacak bir ödev niteliğindedir. Kitapta en çok dikkatimi çeken nokta , benim yıllardır bu coğrafyada İslamiyetin hakim olduğu bölgelere ait iğrenç bir kültür olarak bildiğim kız çocuklarının sünnet edilmesi olayının aslında Afrika kavimlerinin önemli bir kültürünün olduğunu öğrenmiş olmamdır. Her ne kadar kulağa korkunç gelse de Hristiyanlığı kabul etmiş siyahilerin içlerindeki kadınların sünnet olmak için mücadele vermesi de kitabın en garip noktalarından biriydi. Erkek olmak için nasıl sünnet olmak gerekiyorsa , kadın olmak için de aynı şey geçerlidir çünkü. Değişikti vallahi , kimi destekleyeyim bilemedim.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this writer—quite a bit, actually. He seemed unable to be a cynical prick like me, so it’s an attractive quality. He tells stories that are bedrock; folkloric, almost outside frame—quite a good thing, too. There do be issues, however.

Telegraphy.

As a spinner of yarns, he’s great; it’s the originality of the weaving that is driving me batshit. My copy says he wrote it still in college, something I hope is true: it’s the best Eng Comp paper ever written. Metaphor; symbolism; foreshadowing; elliptical wrap: bang fucking on. Problem is, it’s very jejune. Positive is, naivety combined with glowing intentions are far more attractive than linguistic-gymnastic cataracts these days.

Someone put on “I’ve Seen That Movie Too” and us players can get to acting surprised, saying, ‘Love’s just a four-letter word.’ Kenya, sure as Mississippi or goddamn, sure ain’t.

[Kuszma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zsenánt vagy sem, én már annyira hozzánőttem a nyugati típusú szépirodalomhoz, hogy szükségem van a cselekmény komplexitására a mű élvezetéhez – vagy ha az nincs, legalább a stílus vagy a gondolat újszerűségére. Nos, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o könyvét igazából ezek közül egyik sem jellemzi – ami például a stílus újszerűségének tűnik, az egyszerűen helyrajzi következmény, és abból fakad, hogy az író kenyai, és Kenyáról ír*. Amúgy ez egy szimpla vonalvezetésű Rómeó és Júlia-sztori, Waiyaki és Nyambura szerelmének története, akiknek igazából találkozniuk sem szabadott volna, hiszen annyi minden választja el őket. Az író két csoportkonfliktust hoz játékba: egyrészt ütközik a kereszténység és az ősi vallás, másrészt pedig egymásnak feszül a haladó és a maradó (vagy haladi és maradi?) gondolkodás. No most a shakespear-i alaptörténet fő tanulsága számomra (azon túl, hogy nem tanácsos elsietni egy öngyilkosságot sem) az, hogy két ellenséges közösség közül nem feltétlenül van valamelyiknek igaza, Jóra és Rosszra való felosztásuk önkényes, és nézőpont kérdése. Mi több: nem is beszélhetünk igazságról abban az esetben, ha ezek az ideológiák elválasztanak egymástól két egymáshoz vonzódó lényt – helyesebb ilyenkor talán a fanatizmus szót használni. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o szépen, rutinosan, helyenként megrázóan viszi végig ezt az ívet a végkifejletig, szavunk se lehet rá. Csak éppen végig ott motoszkált a fejemben, hogy ha ez a történet nem Kenyában, hanem mondjuk Iowában játszódik, Nyambura és Waiyaki helyet pedig mondjuk Mary és James a két főszereplő, akkor egy ügyes, de nem egyedülálló young adults lenne a végeredmény. Ha van benne vérfarkas, akkor ki is adja a Könyvmolyképző.

* Paradox módon az a tény, hogy egy kenyai ír Kenyáról, oda vezet, hogy evidensnek vesz és nem részletez olyan dolgokat, amik neki kenyaiként (gikujuként) nyilván természetesek, ugyanakkor én szívesen tudnék meg róluk többet.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella explores the riff created among a community in the area outside of Nairobi when they encounter European missionaries. Some embrace the European culture and religion and others regard any interaction with the whites as a betrayal of the community. Caught in the middle is a young man who wants his community to benefit from European education of their children while still retaining their ancient culture. This short book gave me a large insight into a moment in history in a world far from mine.

[Tamás Gábor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Döbbenetes utazás a lelkek mélyére a szerelem és a hagyományok ütközése.
http://gaboolvas.blogspot.hu/2016/05/...

[grimaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

He disfrutado mucho la lectura, ha sido una experiencia muy interesante y reveladora. Thiong'o es uno de los favoritos para ganar el Premio Nobel, según las casas de apuestas, tiene un estilo muy claro y sencillo pero que me transmite mucho (en ese sentido me ha recordado a Hemingway). Así que rapidamente me he sentido como si yo formara parte de la tribu kikuyu, no como si la observara desde fuera, y he notado la frustración que causa un problema que no se puede resolver. El problema es que con la llegada del hombre blanco y del cristianismo, la tribu ha quedado dividida entre los que asimilan las nuevas ideas y los que defienden las viejas tradiciones, entre ellas la horrible circuncisión femenina. El autor se muestra totalmente neutral, muestra todos los puntos de vista sin tomar partido, juzgar es cosa nuestra. Quizá lo peor sea la historia de amor a lo Romeo y Julieta que es muy tópica y está muy vista pero tampoco me ha desagradado esto, si la novela llega a tener un final mas memorable le doy las cinco estrellas.

[Chris Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently simple but deeply complex and lyrically beautiful story set in colonial Kenya. A young man from the Kikuyu people who seems to be destined to be its leader, comes to realise that what is being presented to him as a choice between resisting colonial pillage and disenfranchisement, and exposing his people to new knowledge and thinking, is actually a false one. It’s a novella so rather than taking time to develop characters, the focus is much more on presenting a set of complex themes and seeing how they interlock. The visual image of two sides of a valley being at war with each other is a metaphor for a number of binary conflicts; loyalty vs betrayal, love versus duty, the individual versus the collective, tradition versus modernity. But if you think you know where it’s going, the ending surprises you...

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, engaging, concisely written short novel about black Kenyans torn between accepting white settlement and rejecting it. Joshua, a black Christian preacher and leader, has two daughters, Muthoni and Nyambura. He is accepting of white settlement. Waiyaki is an educated man who lives with the Kenyans who follow the old customs and want to banish the white man. Waiyaki is a teacher and wants his people to become more educated, allowing them to learn new ways of supporting themselves. Conflicts arise between the Kenyans drawn to the white newcomers and those wanting to follow traditional customs. Complications arise when Waiyaki falls in love with Nyambura.

First published in 1965.

[Khushi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like the author didn't want to write anymore so just ended it there

[Zeynep T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sömürgecilerin Kenya'ya yerleşmeye başladığı ve misyonerlik faaliyetlerinin yoğunlaştığı bir dönemde Gikuyu topraklarında yaşanan ayrılıklara çözüm bulmaya çalışan genç Waiyaki'nin hikayesini okuyoruz bu kitapta.

Yine anlamsız bir şekilde beklentimin yüksek olduğu bir eserdi. Fakat verdiğim puandan da anlaşılacağı üzere aradığımı bulamadım. Ve yine okurken sık sık daha güzel olabilirdi diye düşünürken buldum kendimi. Fikirlerim şöyle;

+ Hikaye, Gikuyu mitolojisine dayanılarak verilmeye çalışılmış. İki rakip gibi duran dağ sıraları Kameno ve Makuyu ile onların ruhu kabul edilen Honia nehri. Bu mitolojik yapı metne başarılı şekilde yayılamamış ve karakterlerle yeterince bağdaşmıyor bence.

+ Kurgu çok dağınık. Baş karakterin sayıklamaları, kararsızlıklarıyla geçiyor hikayenin çoğu. Hikayeyi ilerletecek olaylar pat diye olup bitiyor. Giriş var ama gelişme zayıf.

+ Kitabın ana fikri 190. sayfada verilmiş. Temelden kötü olmayan Beyaz Adam'ın dininin kirlerden arındırılıp halkın gelenekleriyle uzlaştırılması gerektiği belirtilmiş. Beni metinle ilgili en çok rahatsız eden husus da burada yatıyor. Halkın geleneğine örnek olarak kadın ve erkek sünneti seçilmiş. Yazarın sünnet ile ilgili duruşunu anlayamadım, oldukça belirsiz bırakılmış gibi. Bir de yine bu kısımda bahsedilen insanların yaşam biçimlerinin her zaman üstün tutulması fikri etraflıca tartışılması gereken bir husus. Gelenek ve göreneklerin bu kadar yüceltilmesi doğru mu bilmiyorum.

Kargalar Büyücüsü kitabını merak ediyorum. Onu da beğenmezsem okumak için çaba sarf edeceğim bir yazar olmayacak.

[Mahmudur Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

থিয়োঙ্গোর লেখা প্রথম, প্রকাশিত দ্বিতীয় বই। নগুগি সম্পর্কে বেশ শুনে আরেকটু বেশি আশা ছিল বা নিজে থেকেই তাকে আচেবের মতো মনে করে নিছিলাম হয়ত। তাই খানিক আশাহত। তবে প্রথম বই হিসাবে ভালো। এরপর বাকিগুলো পড়তে হবে।

[Tiarnán · Rating 5 out of 5]

really beautiful picaresque piece of post or anti-colonial literature that convincingly explores the conflicts that colonialism sows within the colonised themselves, colonisation as a dialectical process and not as some simple 'goodies v baddies' narrative. weird to think my parents' generation reading african literature like this and applying it to what they were living through in northern ireland

[Sincerae Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to like this novel, and it has turned out that I did. This is the first book written by Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o that I've never read before, and I hope to read more of his work. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o once wrote in English, but he changed to writing in his native language, Gikuyu. He has been a political prisoner, taught at universities in the United States, and his writings have been considered for a Nobel Prize.

This short novel started out at a snail's pace. The language is spare but also with touches of eloquence. The style is a mix of a traditional tale, psychological and suspense novel, with a bit of romance.

The River Between centers around two villages and its' main character Waiyaki and his internal world. There is rivalry between the old indigenous ways of circumcision for both males and females and the Christianity brought by the Europeans. There is conflict between the old generation and the youth, the traditional brand of education and the education of the white man. There is the slow stealing of land by the Europeans and the imposition of taxation.

Waiyaki who is a teacher and a good man of balanced principles is caught in the middle, and he knows he must keep his balance on the head of the needle in between the mission education he received by the Europeans and his loyalty to his village and his father's belief in his destiny as savior of their tribe from the world of the invader and those who are traitors.

To me the two African villages of Kameno and Makuyu are microcosms of some of the struggles we face today in the postmodern era.

[Abtin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think the Goodreads summary people actually read the book. I'm also not sure about some of the other reviewers either. Saying this book is about female circumcision is like saying To Kill a Mockingbird is about Scout Finchlearning about shooting birds. It is a plot point and it is memorable,  but I wouldn't say that is what the book is about. 

The story is about how Africa is torn between its traditional ways, the Christian ways imposed upon it, and the need to find their own path. Circumcision, both male and female, is one of the dividing issues that separates the newly converted Christian village and the neighboring traditional village.

Many of the same issues addressed in his later book (Devil on the Cross) are present in this first book. However, I don't think his writing is captivating enough for me to recommend it. 

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about the disturbances and conflict in Kenya during the English occupation. The Christian missionaries, who saw themselves as superior and civilized, forced their way of life on the people of Kenya, took over their land and wanted them to pay tax. Many people of Kenya didn’t want to change.

In the book, it all comes down to the issue of circumcision. The Christians are against women circumcision. The tension grows more and more, because of this. The tribe does it because it is tradition, apparently makes the girl clean and is a part of becoming a woman. The Christians don't do it and forbid it because God doesn’t mention it. Girls who belong to families that have converted are saved from the procedure, but not for the most natural reason, but because God says so. No one seems to think about the women and the consequences of the torture procedure. The men are treading the women badly, regardless of their believes. Women on both sides fear their husbands.

Both sides care about people being clean and respectable. The Christians might be against circumcision, but they don't like the inituation rites because people dance a sinful dance. So they care as much as the tribes about people, especially women, being respectable. Men wanting to have power over women’s bodies, and especially their sexuality, always seems to be an important issue, whether it is circumcision or limited rights of abortion. In the book, both girls and boys get circumcised, but the consequences are worse for the girls.

The circumcision is viewed as a kind of initiation rite, to become a man or woman. That kind of test exists more or less in different forms in different countries, sometimes even in dormitories or sports. A person would have to do something to proove to be a man or woman. People seem to have the need for such processes, to prove themselves.

When reading such a book, I feel so powerless. No one cares about people. Everything is about religion or tradition. The topic is very difficult and complicated. It is difficult to take away a tradition immediately, just because God says so, and not expect consequences. Women rights must be discussed, and only then, the people can change what parts of the tradition they want, if they want to, for it to last and work. In this case, the Christians only seemed to care about their religion, and people to be converted. What about finding one’s place, about belonging? What if a girl feels she has to be circumcised because she wants to belong to the group, and become a woman, and for that she thinks that circumcision is necessary? Not accepting it would probably mean rejection by the family or limited chance of getting married. Information is a powerful tool, and the main character tries to unite people and make them understand each other. It is difficult to convince people of different perspectives, but it is probably the only way to create a lasting agreement that works.

The Christian missionaries wanted the tribes to live like them. The people of the mountains in Kenya wanted their freedom. At the same time, the women were never free. Like the river between the mountains, Waiyaki is stuck between two different understandings. The strongest theme of the book is the groups complete lack of understanding of each other's point of view, and the difficulty of building bridges between two rigid convictions.

The author is a favourite in Nobel Prize discussions, and I absolutely think that he is a good candidate. We’ll se who gets it on thurday, when the Nobel Prize in literature is announced.

EDIT. Bob Dylan got it.

[Ema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cum știu foarte puține lucruri despre cultura kenyană, romanul lui Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o a fost o incursiune interesantă într-o lume guvernată de tradiții și ritualuri străvechi, a cărei armonie și autenticitate sunt tulburate de sosirea oamenilor albi și a credinței creștine. Sunt vremuri de profunde schimbări, în care membrii triburilor ies din ignoranța lor fericită pentru a cunoaște beneficiile dar și blestemul civilizației. Ei sunt deposedați de pământurile lăsate de părinții neamului lor, sunt subjugați pentru prima oară de o putere străină, plătesc impozite unui guvern de a cărui existență nu aveau habar până atunci. Misionarii aduc cu ei școli și învățătură, dar aduc și o nouă religie care condamnă practicile păgâne ale triburilor Kikuyu. Însă africanii par mai degrabă interesați de învățătură decât de mântuire, neputând renunța la tradițiile care îi definesc – iar cei care o fac sunt considerați niște trădători.

În timp ce zonele din împrejurimi se modernizează sub influența coloniștilor, triburile de pe coamele Makuyu și Kameno duc o viață izolată și netulburată de influențele din exterior, păstrându-și intacte ritualurile și tradițiile. Sunt oameni al căror sânge și oase vorbesc limba dealurilor. Cele două comunități Kikuyu au aceeași origine, dar sunt despărțite nu numai de valea râului Honia, ci și de o veche rivalitate pentru supremație: africanii de pe coama Kameno își atribuie puterea spirituală și conducerea pe baza legendelor moștenite de la părinții din vechime ai tribului.

Nici măcar misionarii creștini care s-au stabilit în vecinătate nu se aventurează pe cărările întortocheate ce duc la așezările Kikuyu, dar influența lor reușește să pătrundă în interior prin câțiva membri ai tribului pe care i-au convertit la creștinism. Noua credință este cea care adâncește conflictele dintre cele două comunități, căci coama Makuyu devine treptat un centru de propovăduire a religiei și a obiceiurilor oamenilor albi - spre nemulțumirea membrilor tradiționaliști, care vor să apere puritatea tribului. Copiii celor convertiți sunt prinși între respectarea a două datorii - cea față de părinți și cea față de trib, iar multe femei ”învață” și acceptă noua religie din supunere față de bărbat.

Am mai avut o tentativă de a citi Râul care ne desparte, dar primele pagini pur și simplu nu m-au prins. Am avut senzația că este o carte dificilă și alambicată, mai ales datorită conceptelor cu totul necunoscute care sunt îngrămădite la început fără explicații (și fără note de subsol) - dar iată că la a doua încercare am realizat că nu este așa. Din contră, Râul care ne desparte este o carte simplă, repetitivă, care de multe ori pare că se învârte în cerc, fără a avansa prea mult - iar finalul lăsat în aer confirmă această senzație de suspendare în timp, fără o rezolvare clară. Însă istoria este cea care continuă și completează povestea lui Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, acest scriitor kenyan favorit la Premiul Nobel, un cronicar încercat de soartă al neamului său Kikuyu.


Dacă aveți chef de citit mai mult decât atât, varianta lungă (și alte informații despre diferite aspecte ale romanului) se află pe blog:
http://lecturile-emei.blogspot.ro/201...

[Eylül Görmüş · Rating 1 out of 5]

Son yıllarda adı Nobel için sıkça geçen Kenyalı yazar Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o ile tanışma kitabım oldu Aradaki Nehir ve herhalde hayatımdaki en kötü tanışmalardan biri filan oldu. (Sana laflar hazırladım Thiong'o.) Kendisinin meşhur kitabı Kargalar Büyücüsü ile başlamalıydım belki ama hayat, böyle gelişti.

Aradaki Nehir, Kenya’nın dağ köylerinde yaşayan Gikuyu insanlarının hikâyesini anlatıyor. Beyaz adamın gelişiyle beraber bölünen bir topluluğun öyküsünü okuyoruz kitapta. Bir yanda geleneklerine sahip çıkmaya çalışarak direnenler, bir yanda Hristiyanlığı seçerek "teslim olanlar", bir de tüm bunların ortasında beyaz adamdan alınması gereken şeyin eğitim olduğunu, topyekün bir reddediş yerine o eğitimi kendi kültürleriyle harmanlayıp ayakta kalmanın bir yolunu bulmak gerektiğini savunan kahramanımız Waiyaki var.

Sömürgecilik, ırk, gelenek, kültürel aidiyetler. İki din, iki tepe, bunları "bölen" nehir. Semboller semboller, acayip iş yapan konular evet. Çok güzel de, ben epeydir bu kadar yavan bir şey okumamıştım, onu ne yapacağız? Yani bu nasıl basit bir dildir, nasıl bir karakter geliştirememektir, nasıl bir diyalog yazamamaktır? Yazarın bu kitabında politik mesajını çok öncelediği, bu nedenle kurguyu ve dili çok geri planda tuttuğu söyleniyor ama bu geri planda tutmanın ötesinde bir şey, hakikaten ortaokul kompozisyonu gibiydi bazı bölümler. Şöyle dedi, böyle şaşırdı, öyle hissetti. Hakikaten şaşkınlıkla okudum.

Meşhur "gerçek edebiyat bu değil" cümlemi bile sarfetmeyeceğim, zira gerçeği geçiniz, bence edebiyat bu değil, propaganda bülteni okuyalım oldu olacak. Dili ve üslupsuzluğu bir yana, yazarın anlattığı hikâyenin ve kitabın kurgusunun da öyle pek ilgi çekici bir tarafı yok kesinlikle. Başka kitaplarını okuyunca daha ayakları yere basan yorumlar yapacağım ama diğerleri de böyleyse eğer, Nobel için adının bunca geçmesinin tamamen politik olduğunu, Thiong'o Nobel'i alırsa bunun tipik bir Batılı günah çıkartma hamlesi olacağını düşüneceğim. Böyle.

[Niklas Braun · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading Things Fall Apart by Achebe, I was interested in expanding my collection of literature from African authors. I am always interested in reading works from authors of all countries, so Kenya seemed a good next step. I have to say, however, that this one was a disappointment.
Now I was expecting for a command of English that was less than that of other authors, but this was far below what I had in mind. The overall writing style of Thiong'o was rushed and immature at best, and middle-school at worst. Any conversation between characters in the book can only be expected to last three to five lines before Thiong'o moves to summarize what they were saying. The description of the scenery was moderately lengthy, yet used basic diction that does not appeal to advanced readers.
The story itself in the book was far from perfect. There was not much character development in most characters. The main character for most of the book, Wayaki, did not have the utmost sympathy from the audience as the author would expect, as he often made decisions that had the reader asking "why?" And the ending was very rushed; after a few chapters of build up, the final "confrontation" was only a couple of pages long and ended in a disappointing ambiguity. The River Between was also very, very harsh against the Christians in the book, which, while understandable, was also distracting at some points (I am not Christian, so I do not have a bias in this respect). The main Christian leader Joshua was cruel for no apparent reason, seemingly pointing to the author's inherent hatred for the religion as a whole.
Overall, I give this book a 2/5, it's only redeeming quality being its defence of native customs which I agree with. The story itself, however, is poorly told.