Fiction

We Need New Names

We Need New Names

  • Downloads：1978
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-08-24 08:54:31
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：NoViolet Bulawayo
  • ISBN：0099581884
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

**SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2013**

Ten-year-old Darling has a choice: it’s down， or out

‘To play the country-game， we have to choose a country。 Everybody wants to be the USA and Britain and Canada and Australia and Switzerland and them。 Nobody wants to be rags of countries like Congo， like Somalia， like Iraq， like Sudan， like Haiti and not even this one we live in – who wants to be a terrible place of hunger and things falling apart？’

Darling and her friends live in a shanty called Paradise， which of course is no such thing。 It isn’t all bad， though。 There’s mischief and adventure， games of Find bin Laden， stealing guavas， singing Lady Gaga at the tops of their voices。

They dream of the paradises of America， Dubai， Europe， where Madonna and Barack Obama and David Beckham live。 For Darling， that dream will come true。 But， like the thousands of people all over the world trying to forge new lives far from home， Darling finds this new paradise brings its own set of challenges – for her and also for those she’s left behind。
‘Stunning’ New York Times

‘Extraordinary’ Daily Telegraph

‘A debut that blends wit and pain。。。 Heartrending。。。wonderfully original’ Independent

‘Sometimes shocking， often heartbreaking but also pulsing with colour and energy’ The Times

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Reviews

dana brown ，

This story is told by a child narrator which is charming most of the time and an ingenious way to talk about hardships with a lightness that makes it endurable。 There is so much to take away from this book。 It’s about the clash between third world and first world in this time of social media， Skype， television。 It’s about losing your country but not truly gaining a new one - living in that middle ground。 And it even made me understand the concerns of Americans who feel there isn’t enough here to This story is told by a child narrator which is charming most of the time and an ingenious way to talk about hardships with a lightness that makes it endurable。 There is so much to take away from this book。 It’s about the clash between third world and first world in this time of social media， Skype， television。 It’s about losing your country but not truly gaining a new one - living in that middle ground。 And it even made me understand the concerns of Americans who feel there isn’t enough here to share。 I don’t agree but I got a glimmer of their point of view。 Good audio listen。 。。。more

Kim Buckley ，

I loved the Zimbabwe section of this book。 Darling’s innocence juxtaposed against the violent consequences of colonialism and warfare were stunning。 The chapters narrated in the collective were also brilliant。 But the America section felt so flat comparatively， and the ending was a complete dud。

Allison ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This books can be clearly divided into two very distinct eras of Darling's life: Zimbabwe and the U。S。 it's about a young girl growing up in a not so child friendly environment and the somewhat innocence she maintains while her country unravels。 Like other immigrants all over the world， she moves to another country for a better chance at life， but faces challenges adjusting to the new culture。 The dangers she knew at home are different than the dangers she faces as a Black person in America。 All This books can be clearly divided into two very distinct eras of Darling's life: Zimbabwe and the U。S。 it's about a young girl growing up in a not so child friendly environment and the somewhat innocence she maintains while her country unravels。 Like other immigrants all over the world， she moves to another country for a better chance at life， but faces challenges adjusting to the new culture。 The dangers she knew at home are different than the dangers she faces as a Black person in America。 All the while she must acknowledge that she cannot truly relate to those left at home。 She struggles like so many others， defining her role in her new country while maintaining some sort of semblance of her former self。 。。。more

Brooke Lopez ，

A truly amazing immigrant story。 If the first half of the book wasn’t fascinating enough， the second half was heart-wrenching。 I haven’t cried over a book in a while-this was special。

Andrew Westle ，

I really wanted to like this one， I tried hard but didn’t land for me at all。 The Zimbabwean aspect of conflict and children growing up amongst the most unfortunate of circumstances should be compelling but for me nah just didn’t get me。 Aspects of the story taking place in America were revealing， and I think the last few chapters more interesting…。 but it just wasn’t for me and that’s A okay， I know others have seemed to like it and it’s had great reviews。 Not for me atm。

Takudzwanashe ，

This book made me value the small things that money cannot buy and I was angry because Darling and her friends failed to have basic commodities as they were growing。 Darling and her friends had great memories but longed for a better future。 When Darling leaves for the USA she misses home and realises that there are a lot of truths that people who abroad do not share with their family back home。

Hanna Anderson ，

THE ENDING JFKSJXIFGYWLAPZKSNS

Cherisa B ，

From childhood in Zimbabwe， innocent and violent， to Detroit and Kalamazoo， we experience Darling’s displacement and dreams， drudgery and apartness。 Nicely rendered with some very moving passages on the bifurcation in an immigrant life。

Colleen ，

I couldn’t decide on a 4，4。5， or 5 but all in all Id say I am amazed and moved in many ways by this book。 Written more in essay-like chapters rather than a fluid flowing plot line， I got to know not only Darling but also an entire population of people who we do not ordinarily get to hear from。 This book spoke of the things society too easily covers up， doesn’t realize， or doesn’t want to realize。 Bulaway wrote poetically and in verse that captures truth and so much wisdom。 I really appreciated t I couldn’t decide on a 4，4。5， or 5 but all in all Id say I am amazed and moved in many ways by this book。 Written more in essay-like chapters rather than a fluid flowing plot line， I got to know not only Darling but also an entire population of people who we do not ordinarily get to hear from。 This book spoke of the things society too easily covers up， doesn’t realize， or doesn’t want to realize。 Bulaway wrote poetically and in verse that captures truth and so much wisdom。 I really appreciated this book for its truth， insight， wisdom， humbling effect， and art。 I wish Bulaway wrote more books or does so in the future！ 。。。more

Stephanie ，

Somewhere between 2-3。

sofia ，

bailed halfway through but will be pretending that i finished because my aunt really wanted me to read it

Laura ，

Love it！ More engaging to me than Americanah！

Daniel ，

An engrossing story of a young girl growing in an African shanty town who then moves to the US。 Within her story is a grotesque picture of the realities of daily survival in the poorest of African countries and the contradictions of living in the US as an African immigrant。 She also paints the portrait of a time of rising global inequality and the politics of the first decade of the 21st century。 What a vividly written page-turner！

Kati Leskinen ，

Sydäntäsärkevä， kiinnostava， sivistäviä ja kiehtova kirja。 Viihdyttävä myös， vaikka sitä ei yleensä ekana yhdistä slummialueen lapsien elämän kuvaukseen （josta tarina alkaa）。 Kirja ei jeesustele， ei mässäile mutta tarjoaa silti paljon ihmetyksen hetkiä， vie tarinaa koko ajan eteenpäin ja tuntuu että opin lisää yhteiskunnista。 En sano yhteiskunnasta， tätä ei voi eriyttää eksoottiseksi ”tapahtuu jossain kaukana” - tarinaksi。

Marilee ，

I appreciated reading fiction about Zimbabwe during this time in history。 So many heartbreaking events in one life！ I think the characters could have been developed more。 It skipped around a bit for me。 Still， The tension of immigrating to a country because of economic and political is one that’s important to hear and done well。

Nick ，

8

Amari ，

Very impressive， but unfortunately too disturbing for me。

John ，

Really enjoyed this one。 I thought it was clever in the subtle ways it addressed some big political themes while also delivering an engaging story。

Hannatu ，

I'm currently reading this book and I love it。 I love how honest it is， and how it touches on social issues whilst not detracting from literature。 It's almost poetic。 I'm currently reading this book and I love it。 I love how honest it is， and how it touches on social issues whilst not detracting from literature。 It's almost poetic。 。。。more

Bllak_starr ，

More like 2。5 really。

maureen ，

struggled to finish this。 my interested was sparked at the start but it never really clicked for me， and then it started to go downhill unfortunately

David ，

A well done work of fiction （which I suspect is heavily autobiographical？） which displays the author's fine skill at crafting an immigrant tale of a very mature girl at age ten facing hard times early and late in discordant environments， an insightful and socially important book。 （Seems worthy of some awards - but far from a Booker nomination。） The story is set from 1980 （independence） to 2008 with frequent civil turbulence， and with Robert Mugabe a primary country official and at times NGO part A well done work of fiction （which I suspect is heavily autobiographical？） which displays the author's fine skill at crafting an immigrant tale of a very mature girl at age ten facing hard times early and late in discordant environments， an insightful and socially important book。 （Seems worthy of some awards - but far from a Booker nomination。） The story is set from 1980 （independence） to 2008 with frequent civil turbulence， and with Robert Mugabe a primary country official and at times NGO participation during chaos。 By 2003， the country's economy had collapsed。 It is estimated that up to a quarter of Zimbabwe's 11 million people had fled the country。 Three-quarters of the remaining Zimbabweans were living on less than one US dollar a day。 As a critically acclaimed creation， I find the author more notable than is this fiction。 Does this emerging writer show promise of living up to what here hints of a strong career ahead？ I'm not at this time ready to say - so I'll for now leave it with the following comment by experienced reader "Karen" who has posted the following: "This book is not impressing me a great deal。 Here's what I think: sometimes books can fall into the category of being beloved by the "professional" literary community。 Critics praise a certain book， librarians recommend it on their lists， it gets heavy notice， and perhaps the writer has already received an award for his/her previous efforts。 I really feel that can get to be a bandwagon type of effect。 Paid， professional critics would probably heatedly deny it， but I think they all influence each other， whether they are discussing music， art， or books。 It's always interesting to me how similar they sound， praising the same elements and often ignoring the same flaws。 That of course has an effect on us lesser mortals -- while you might privately think a book is fair to middling， it can be uncomfortable to be that lonely voice dissenting in the face of all the rah-rah talk from the NY Times Sunday mag or the committee that puts out the list for the Booker Prize， say。 I think this book kind of fits there。 It happens to be one of those debut novels that everyone seems to feel is just so profound， so it gets on the fast track for success。 The librarians in my area chose it as one of their top recommendations for 2014， and I think that is a BIG reason why it is the reading for my book club this month。" 1st chapter Hitting Budapest: typical teenage escapes， pranks， wild talk， pet names。 Holds attention on a very poor village in Zimbabwe。 2nd chapter - Darling on the Mountain: some questions in this chapter: Who is 'Bones' and is 'Mother of Bones' an aunt？ Meaning on page 23 of a stand-alone sentence: "You you futsekani leave her alone you bloody mgodoyis get away boSatan beRoma！" What is significance on page 28 of Darling's suitcase of worthless paper money， as Darling follows Mother of Bones to church？ 3rd - Country-Game: Chinese men， a new game， NGO humanitarians visit the children。 4th - Real Change: on voting day， bulldozing of all tin family shanties。 5th - How They Appeared: 。。。more

Books Akimbo ，

Stunning。 A brave novel。

NANA ，

4。5/5

Karyn Ann ，

This powerful novel follows the journey of Darling living in poverty in Zimbabwe and then immigrating to the cold and strangeness of Detroit to live with her Aunt。 A story of immigration， assimilation， and the problems of a "better life，" but separated from all that is familiar and in the heart。 “When things fall apart， the children of the land scurry and scatter like birds escaping a burning sky。 They flee their own wretched land so their hunger may be pacified in foreign lands， their tears wip This powerful novel follows the journey of Darling living in poverty in Zimbabwe and then immigrating to the cold and strangeness of Detroit to live with her Aunt。 A story of immigration， assimilation， and the problems of a "better life，" but separated from all that is familiar and in the heart。 “When things fall apart， the children of the land scurry and scatter like birds escaping a burning sky。 They flee their own wretched land so their hunger may be pacified in foreign lands， their tears wiped away in strange lands， the wounds of their despair bandaged in faraway lands， their blistered prayers muttered in the darkness of queer lands。” 。。。more

Tamara Agha-Jaffar ，

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo unfolds in the first-person point of view of ten-year old Darling in Zimbabwe。 Darling lives in a shanty town， ironically named Paradise。 She is without consistent adult supervision and spends her time running riot with her gang of friends， playing games， stealing guavas， supporting each other， calling each other names， and generally getting into mischief。Darling and her young friends suffer from bouts of hunger due to food shortages。 They are surrounded by We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo unfolds in the first-person point of view of ten-year old Darling in Zimbabwe。 Darling lives in a shanty town， ironically named Paradise。 She is without consistent adult supervision and spends her time running riot with her gang of friends， playing games， stealing guavas， supporting each other， calling each other names， and generally getting into mischief。Darling and her young friends suffer from bouts of hunger due to food shortages。 They are surrounded by tragedy and violence: a young woman hangs from a tree; a mob invades the home of a white couple， destroys their possessions， and defecates on their floor; Darling’s father dies of AIDS; a man is brutally beaten and ferreted away by the authorities。 Darling’s young friend is raped by her grandfather and now carries his child。 The children are feral， dirty， hungry， barefoot， and clothed in tatters。 Despite these horrendous hardships， Darling’s voice is fresh， young， and engaging。 She is astute， sensitive， resilient， street smart， and with a keen eye for observation and an ability to decipher the moods of adults。 She can also be very funny。With no transition， the second half of the novel finds Darling living with her aunt in Michigan。 She is torn between adjusting to her new environment and homesickness。 She dislikes the intense cold and snow of Michigan but is gratified by the abundance and availability of food。 She learns life in America has its benefits as well as its disappointments。 Constantly reminded of her outsider status while living in fear of deportation because she is an illegal immigrant， Darling adopts the language and mannerisms of an American teenager to blend in with her new environment。 The plot structure of the novel is episodic in nature。 The accumulation of events in Zimbabwe eventually coalesce to form a picture of life there。 Darling does not shy away from describing the hardships。 Her feelings of humiliation when aid workers take photos of the children covered in dirt and wearing torn clothing is poignant。 The children tolerate the embarrassment and accommodate with smiles in exchange for gifts。 But despite its challenges， Zimbabwe provides Darling with a sense of belonging， a community， and friends with whom she shares common experiences—qualities she doesn’t fully come to value until they are no longer available to her。 This section throbs with vitality and energy。The second section of the book lacks the vibrancy and immediacy of the opening half。 Darling seems to drift aimlessly， recording one experience after another。 The series of episodes chart her sense of alienation in America as well as her growing estrangement from family and friends in Zimbabwe。 She straddles between two cultures and feels the pain of being an outsider in both。 She gradually realizes she is a displaced individual who no longer has a place to call home。Bulawayo skillfully captures the intensity and communal life in Zimbabwe with vivid details and realistic dialogue。 And through Darling， she captures the alienation of a first-generation immigrant torn between two cultures。 Darling must abandon her old identity and adopt a new one， a new beginning and that calls for new names。Recommended。My book reviews are also available at www。tamaraaghajaffar。com 。。。more

Esther Mateo ，

No sé si podemos hablar de la inmigración sin haber pasado por ella， pero lo que sí podemos hacer es escuchar a los que tienen sus heridas。

Amy ，

Jarring and gritty。 Essentially a collection of disturbing moments in the author's life - presumably unfortunately true Jarring and gritty。 Essentially a collection of disturbing moments in the author's life - presumably unfortunately true 。。。more

Ecem Kıldır ，

I forgot all the names in the book by the time it was finished:（

gem ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 the ending ！a story of losing your country

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=We Need New Names

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=We Need New Names&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,We Need New Names&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0