The Old Drift

Where's this book been?
by Namwali Serpell | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9781101907146 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 11/19/2021
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, November 19, 2021
I got this hardcover from Better World Books. It's a multi-generational tale set in and around Victoria Falls in what is now Zambia - with a "Greek chorus" of a swarm of mosquitoes, which is more effective and less bizarre than it might sound at first. From a white colonialist (based on historical character Percy M. Clark) to a Zambian family whose course is altered by actions triggered by Clark, to the inclusion of immigrants from Italy and India, the story spans the colonial era, political and social upsets, and more - always weaving in the personal interactions, choices, and trauma of the individual characters. Some are quirky - the woman who's born covered with hair, not just a layer of body-hair but "Rapunzel"-level magical hair that continues to grow, replaces itself daily if cut, and sometimes seems to move and act of its own volition. And there are awesome scenes of beauty as well as nightmarish scenes of injustice and cruelty.

I was intrigued to find that the story extends past the modern day, taking the third generation into 2023 and beyond, with plot-points including a Virus and the ubiquitous "Bead" technology of embedded smart-devices. And the conclusion, which involves an attempt by the third-generation characters to commit a dramatic act of sabotage, has unexpected and catastrophic results - but may also lead to a sea-change in collaborative technology. (Can't say more about that without a major spoiler, but I did love the final appearance of that Greek-chorus swarm!)

[There's a tourist lodge called "Old Drift" now, with some historical info and photos here.]

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Released 2 yrs ago (1/18/2022 UTC) at Nashua, New Hampshire USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm sending this to BCer J4Shaw to fill a wish, for the US/Canada wishlist-tag game. Enjoy!

*** Released for the 2022 Clean Start for the New Year challenge. ***

Journal Entry 3 by wingJ4Shawwing at Boise, Idaho USA on Saturday, January 29, 2022
Received from the USA & Canada Wishlist Tag Game 2022
Thank you so much for sharing it GoryDetails. I am looking forward to reading it.

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