The Old Drift
Namwali Serpell
The Old Drift starts along the Zambezi River during colonial
times, tracing the story of early explorers as they set off to
discover Victoria Falls and the descendants they left behind who will
eventually carve out a nation of their own. Over time, these
descendants will intersect forming a tangled web of love and loss
coupled together with a sense of hope and dreams for the future.
It's a sweeping tale that incorporates a little romance, fairy tale,
and science fiction. Frankly, it was unlike anything else I've read
lately.
On the positive side, I thought the author had an incredible gift for descriptive writing. I like the middle of this book which focused on the creation of the Zambian nation and the characters who were struggling to find their course in history. I didn't, however, care for the fairy tale aspect of some chapters or the veering off into science fiction. While both the story and writing style were unique, it wasn't somehow what I was expecting, and if I'm honest, I think it was a little on the long side. I would have preferred it if it had been a story of the struggle for Zambian independence told in a more traditional fashion following the diverse set of characters.
On the positive side, I thought the author had an incredible gift for descriptive writing. I like the middle of this book which focused on the creation of the Zambian nation and the characters who were struggling to find their course in history. I didn't, however, care for the fairy tale aspect of some chapters or the veering off into science fiction. While both the story and writing style were unique, it wasn't somehow what I was expecting, and if I'm honest, I think it was a little on the long side. I would have preferred it if it had been a story of the struggle for Zambian independence told in a more traditional fashion following the diverse set of characters.
Thanks to Hogarth Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange
for an honest review.
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