Cover text:
The arrival of independence brings new upheavals as well as the betrayal of the promise of freedom. The new government, fearful of an exodus of its most able men, discourages young people from travelling abroad and refuses to release examination results. Deprived of a scholarship, Hassan travels to Nairobi to stay with a wealthy uncle, in the hope that he will release his mother's rightful share of the family inheritance.

Well written with vivid and naked descriptions of society, environment and neighborhood. But it had a rawness and brutality I hadn't expected.

Releasing at Bookcrossing meet-up.

I brought this back from the meet-up yesterday. I've read one of Gurnah's novels before and liked it, so I'm looking forward to this one.

Oh, my, this is a gruesome beginning. I almost didn't want to keep on reading. We enter the story in a poor, violent and neglected area and in a violent family at the socio-economic bottom. The story is told by Hassan, one of the children in this god-forsaken family. It's dark and gritty and there are few glimpses of joy. It gets a little better as the story continues, I think, or, maybe, I just got as used to the shit as the people in that place had?

Trevlig läsning!