The Read Around The World Book Club discussion

Final impressions

Throughly enjoyed it. Sometimes the names threw me especially as several characters have the same name, I flicked back and forth a few times to make sure I hadn’t missed anything but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment. I think I could have read a whole book just set in the first part of the book but enjoyed the linking of the Uganda of then with today, how the landscape and culture have changed but also stayed the same in certain ways.

I appreciated the way she would reference colonialism and Idi Amin but didn’t make the book just about that, that it was about this one family, it’s history and it’s curse. The stories of Issac and Suubi were probably my favorites but there were secondary characters like Bweeza and Kusi that I enjoyed and her writing was easy to read but often lyrical. Will be interested to see what others think.

This was really enjoyable after what has, for me, been a lacklustre reading start to 2019. I thought it was perhaps losing its way a little in the middle, but book 5 was very strong and consolidated all the themes perfectly. I particularly liked the way she explored ideas around inheritance, and also different interpretations of mental illness. The chapter where Suubi discusses the curse with her newfound cousin at the reunion was very astute. This idea that a “curse” can become an intrinsic part of one’s identity, that it might only be apparent as a curse when seen through the eyes of other people.

I seem to have a thing for multi-generational epics lately. Last year two of my absolute favourite reads were Rafik Schami’s The Dark Side Of Love, and Ségu by Maryse Condé, and a big highlight of the year before that was Pachinko. Perhaps, then, I’ve approached this with unreasonably high standards, but I have to say Kintu didn’t quite live up to any of those for me. I gave it a solid 4-star rating. I just didn’t quite engage fully with any of the characters. Would 100% recommend Ségu for anyone who has enjoyed Kintu!

Nice to see a thank you to Manchester City Library in the acknowledgements - the very library my copy is loaned from :-) always nice to find out an author is local!

Danke, Mel für die Organisation!

This was a really good read for me, although it wasn't allways easy to follow each character.

I liked the way the author showed the traces of colonialism till today, the roll of education and it's consequences in matters of culture, identity.

Really enjoyed this one. Strong opening, that immediately pulled me in, loved reading about all these different characters and experiences. I also really enjoyed how they all come together at the home-going ceremony and how they all emerge from it changed. My favorite character was Bweeza.

So glad, you all joined in, definitely one interesting read.

Well, I think I’m going to throw in the towel on this one. It isn’t a bad book, it just isn’t offering me anything, and I’ve no interest in picking it up.