How Beautiful We Were
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-03-17 09:52:08
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Imbolo Mbue
- ISBN：0593132440
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Summary
A fearless young woman from a small African village starts a revolution against an American oil company in this sweeping， inspiring novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Behold the Dreamers。
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Esquire • Marie Claire • Kirkus Reviews
We should have known the end was near。 So begins Imbolo Mbue’s powerful second novel， How Beautiful We Were。
Set in the fictional African village of Kosawa， it tells of a people living in fear amid environmental degradation wrought by an American oil company。 Pipeline spills have rendered farmlands infertile。 Children are dying from drinking toxic water。 Promises of cleanup and financial reparations to the villagers are made—and ignored。 The country’s government， led by a brazen dictator， exists to serve its own interests。 Left with few choices， the people of Kosawa decide to fight back。 Their struggle will last for decades and come at a steep price。
Told from the perspective of a generation of children and the family of a girl named Thula who grows up to become a revolutionary， How Beautiful We Were is a masterful exploration of what happens when the reckless drive for profit， coupled with the ghost of colonialism， comes up against one community’s determination to hold on to its ancestral land and a young woman’s willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of her people’s freedom。
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Esquire • Marie Claire • Kirkus Reviews
We should have known the end was near。 So begins Imbolo Mbue’s powerful second novel， How Beautiful We Were。
Set in the fictional African village of Kosawa， it tells of a people living in fear amid environmental degradation wrought by an American oil company。 Pipeline spills have rendered farmlands infertile。 Children are dying from drinking toxic water。 Promises of cleanup and financial reparations to the villagers are made—and ignored。 The country’s government， led by a brazen dictator， exists to serve its own interests。 Left with few choices， the people of Kosawa decide to fight back。 Their struggle will last for decades and come at a steep price。
Told from the perspective of a generation of children and the family of a girl named Thula who grows up to become a revolutionary， How Beautiful We Were is a masterful exploration of what happens when the reckless drive for profit， coupled with the ghost of colonialism， comes up against one community’s determination to hold on to its ancestral land and a young woman’s willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of her people’s freedom。
Reviews
Clare
，
3。5 stars rounded up， because the theme is so pertinent。 This is a sad tale （all too likely based on real life examples from across the world） of how capitalism trumps humanity and the real human cost of that。 For that reason I think it's an important read。However as a novel and on purely entertainment grounds， I found some of the choices of style frustrating: the jumping timelines， the changing narrators， the distance to most of the protagonists （apart from the Bongo and Sahel chapters）， the ab 3。5 stars rounded up， because the theme is so pertinent。 This is a sad tale （all too likely based on real life examples from across the world） of how capitalism trumps humanity and the real human cost of that。 For that reason I think it's an important read。However as a novel and on purely entertainment grounds， I found some of the choices of style frustrating: the jumping timelines， the changing narrators， the distance to most of the protagonists （apart from the Bongo and Sahel chapters）， the abortive plot points that fizzled out。 。。。more
Nisma
，
This book。 So very devastating。 It has captured the war within me about fighting the good fight versus living the good life， and just wrenched me apart even more。 It has further crushed my heart for all the little towns and villages， cultures， languages and stories， being swallowed up by this fast moving， greedy， thoughtless modern world。 I love that this was written。 But I hate that it hasn't fixed me either。 This book。 So very devastating。 It has captured the war within me about fighting the good fight versus living the good life， and just wrenched me apart even more。 It has further crushed my heart for all the little towns and villages， cultures， languages and stories， being swallowed up by this fast moving， greedy， thoughtless modern world。 I love that this was written。 But I hate that it hasn't fixed me either。 。。。more
Susey
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 It took me a month to finish this book because it was so hard to read。 Not because of the writing， but because of the subject matter。 It’s so hard to see the results of capitalism in real time。 We all know it’s happening， but this story is so unvarnished， so real。 I believed each of the characters and their experiences。 Thula was a marvel of intelligence and steadfastness， but she reminds me of Sancho Panza tilting at windmills。 I’m glad I finished。 I’ve been seeing and hearing this same story i It took me a month to finish this book because it was so hard to read。 Not because of the writing， but because of the subject matter。 It’s so hard to see the results of capitalism in real time。 We all know it’s happening， but this story is so unvarnished， so real。 I believed each of the characters and their experiences。 Thula was a marvel of intelligence and steadfastness， but she reminds me of Sancho Panza tilting at windmills。 I’m glad I finished。 I’ve been seeing and hearing this same story in so many places。 - same pipelines in Canada too， destroying first peoples homes。 Shakes one to read about it。 I loved understanding the culture and how important it was to the families and their lives。 It seems so incredible that making the area safe just never was even considered。 It’s a hard book to read， but an important concept for all of us to hear。 The various narrators give the story a bigger feel for me。 It’s not just one person’s experience， but many。 It gave the story a greater weight for me。 I was never lost in the story。 I just let it unfold。 I’d recommend the book to others。 。。。more
Chris
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This novel about the late-20th century exploitation of a west African village by an American oil company covers a lot of ground。 Imbolo Mbue has clearly given a lot of thought to issues of colonialism， sovereignty， self-determination， gender roles， corruption， and other matters attendant to this expansive story。 She gives us a memorable rendering of her heroine Thula， who we see grow from a village girl to an international student to a political organizer。 Mbue struggles with Thula to find the r This novel about the late-20th century exploitation of a west African village by an American oil company covers a lot of ground。 Imbolo Mbue has clearly given a lot of thought to issues of colonialism， sovereignty， self-determination， gender roles， corruption， and other matters attendant to this expansive story。 She gives us a memorable rendering of her heroine Thula， who we see grow from a village girl to an international student to a political organizer。 Mbue struggles with Thula to find the right and most effective course to guide her village of Kosawa in its fight for survival。 Those of us who remember the 20th century debates about the relative emphasis to be placed on armed resistance vs。 political pressure vs。 civil resistance will recognize the irresolvable divisions present among Kosawa's residents。 。。。more
Beth
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Beautifully written， like a fable。 Inspiring and unsettling。
Julia Lee
，
Read for book club as Lee's choice。 Very sad yet probably very accurate story of the devastation Americans perpetuate on African countries。 Also probably an accurate description of the evils of the dictator of the country。 Read for book club as Lee's choice。 Very sad yet probably very accurate story of the devastation Americans perpetuate on African countries。 Also probably an accurate description of the evils of the dictator of the country。 。。。more
Liz
，
This is one of those books that is going to linger in my heart and soul for a long time。 The story and words flow easily in creating this tale of neocolonialism and environmental destruction in contemporary Africa。 While the story is told from the perspectives of the oppressed， care is given also to voice the rationale of those in various levels of power。 "。。the ones who came to kill us and the ones who'll run to save us are the same。 No matter their pretenses， they all arrive here believing the This is one of those books that is going to linger in my heart and soul for a long time。 The story and words flow easily in creating this tale of neocolonialism and environmental destruction in contemporary Africa。 While the story is told from the perspectives of the oppressed， care is given also to voice the rationale of those in various levels of power。 "。。the ones who came to kill us and the ones who'll run to save us are the same。 No matter their pretenses， they all arrive here believing they have the power to take from us or give to us whatever will satisfy their endless wants。" 。。。more
Tessa White
，
Emotional and upsetting and yet filled with pride and power。。 it’s real life and it kinda sucks but something that happens time and time again so without reading， educating and understanding nothing will change
Brandon Collins
，
The writing is BEAUTIFUL！ I had to read this heartbreaking novel slow because I did not want it to end！ Wow I’m love this authors writing！ This book is so good！
Meredith
，
What a beautiful and sad book！ Although fiction， there’s so much to learn from it， to resonate with。
Liza
，
This is a very compelling novel， and I think the way the story skips between various characters' perspectives is engaging， but I also got a bit lost because of it。 I probably could have paid more attention， so I don't want to completely fault the book， but I am coming away from it feeling like I already don't remember all of the details。 The ending is very beautiful。 This is a very compelling novel， and I think the way the story skips between various characters' perspectives is engaging， but I also got a bit lost because of it。 I probably could have paid more attention， so I don't want to completely fault the book， but I am coming away from it feeling like I already don't remember all of the details。 The ending is very beautiful。 。。。more
Sandy （Ms Reads A Lot）
，
Last BookTube prize book complete！！！！ Woo hoo！
Steve
，
Beautifully written， compelling story of the impact of an oil company’s profiteering and government politics on a generation of people in an African village。 Told from multiple points of view over decades， it is a gripping， complex and emotional story， offering no easy answers。
Jennifer
，
It’s hard to put into words how I feel after reading this book… the cruelty and immorality the systems humans have created （corporations and autocratic governments） affect other humans; those without power， who simply want to live with health， safety and happiness… the hope we struggle to maintain and the ways in which hope can be worn down by greed and evil…。 This is an important and thought provoking book written with incredible beauty。
Annie
，
Required reading。
Ellen
，
It is impossible not to be moved by the story of this imaginary African village and the fate thrust upon it by a corrupt government and an exploitive oil company。 The telling of the story mixes the voices of many of the village segments--children， mother， grandmother， father， daughter， evangelist/ex-pat。 It is truly her story， Thula， who works to avenge the deaths of her father and other village members by learning the principles of peaceful revolution/transfer of power in the U。S。 Though she se It is impossible not to be moved by the story of this imaginary African village and the fate thrust upon it by a corrupt government and an exploitive oil company。 The telling of the story mixes the voices of many of the village segments--children， mother， grandmother， father， daughter， evangelist/ex-pat。 It is truly her story， Thula， who works to avenge the deaths of her father and other village members by learning the principles of peaceful revolution/transfer of power in the U。S。 Though she sees that citizens there are also powerless in the face of greed and corruption。 Two things kept me from completely loving this book。 First the inevitability of the outcome。 I found myself wanting the struggle to be over because it could be no other way。 Second， I grew tired of the "fable" like quality of the story telling。 Fables are short and instructive。 This seemed repetitive because various voices covered the same topic。 Sadly， though the book is called a novel， I am certain that the circumstances， people， and outcomes are real and continue to unfold in Africa but also everywhere there are resources to be extracted and people who are not aware or unable to protect themselves of the long-term consequences of the exploiters。 。。。more
Quinby6696 Frank
，
A bittersweet story about the evils of corporate greed and exploitation perpetrated on a fictional African village - a story that is all too universal。 Pexton Oil has been polluting the environment around the village of Kosawa for years and the children are dying and the crops are destroyed。 The villagers try a variety of ways to fight back including kidnapping and holding representatives of the oil company captive。 The book takes place over multiple generations of the villagers and the characte A bittersweet story about the evils of corporate greed and exploitation perpetrated on a fictional African village - a story that is all too universal。 Pexton Oil has been polluting the environment around the village of Kosawa for years and the children are dying and the crops are destroyed。 The villagers try a variety of ways to fight back including kidnapping and holding representatives of the oil company captive。 The book takes place over multiple generations of the villagers and the characters are unique and well-drawn especially a young village girl named Thula who grows up to be an activist leading the fight to save the village。 The chronology is sometimes confusing when a character suddenly turns up dead and the reader doesn't know until later in the book how he died。 A "massacre" is referred to， but only explained later。 Not sure if this is an effective literary device。 I kept thinking I missed something and went back to re-read to see how these things happened。 At its heart， the book is a fable of good and evil and a tale of the power of love and community。 As a New York Times reviewer described it， "Mbue is masterful at shading in the spaces where greed and guilt intermingle。" 。。。more
Sonia
，
Beautiful。 Despondent。 Haunting。 Depressing。 Hopeless。 On a macro level， there are no winners only losers。 Even winners are losers， they just don't know it。 Beautiful。 Despondent。 Haunting。 Depressing。 Hopeless。 On a macro level， there are no winners only losers。 Even winners are losers， they just don't know it。 。。。more
Rule
，
heartbreaking…The author’s powerful writing forces us to examine our consumption and actions。 Having escaped the “snatchers” the village people are no match for capitalism as history repeats itself。
Sam Powers
，
How do you live when the destruction of your culture， body， and land is inevitable？ Do you fight？ With guns or with voices or in the court of law？ Do you marry， make meaning， forget about the end？ Or maybe you run away？ Join the aggressor？ Leave on your own terms to build a life you deserve？ That existential of a question accepts no response but nuanced narrative and pure art。 This book is both。
Jody
，
Dnf
Jena
，
Beautifully written and narrated
Yvonne
，
This is a tragic story of what greed can do to a community。 Mbue’s protagonist Thula is a young girl who becomes possessed with what the big American Oil Company is doing to their community。 The soil and water are poisoned which in return kills the people。 The African village， under the leadership of Thula， takes on the oil company who thinks that money can and will buy them off。
Lilly M
，
felt pretty long。。。 a lot of philosophizing。 but the story was good and interesting and very sad and i did enjoy reading it！
Emireland
，
Powerful storytelling of what happens when resource mining and extreme government corruption collide。 There were also sub issues in terms of mental health， social differences between rural vs。 city， and men vs。 women。 Overall， it was somewhat depressing in that humans can't seem to get beyond not exploiting other people within or outside our social circle， and exploiting the resources without care。 In the middle of reading this novel， I read in the news that similar events are happening in Indon Powerful storytelling of what happens when resource mining and extreme government corruption collide。 There were also sub issues in terms of mental health， social differences between rural vs。 city， and men vs。 women。 Overall， it was somewhat depressing in that humans can't seem to get beyond not exploiting other people within or outside our social circle， and exploiting the resources without care。 In the middle of reading this novel， I read in the news that similar events are happening in Indonesia where mining lithium for electric vehicles has caused the similar environmental impacts as mining for oil has。 。。。more
Brianne W
，
I loved Behold the Dreamers and was excited to read this， the author’s second novel。 The story was interesting but the book could definitely use a good edit。 There are long， rambling paragraphs that don’t do much to advance the plot or enhance the style/form。 The book is a slow read。
Degenerate Chemist
，
"How Beautiful We Were" is a breathtakingly beautiful book。 My goodness I am not sure where to start with this one。 It hit all the right notes for me。 Criticisms of neocolonialism， authoritarian governments， and shoutouts to Thomas Sankara and Frantz Fanon。 This book is written almost like a fable with certain sections that reminiscent of a chorus from a Greek play。 The plot is basically about the rise of a radical movement in response to government corruption and corporate exploitation。 Spoiler "How Beautiful We Were" is a breathtakingly beautiful book。 My goodness I am not sure where to start with this one。 It hit all the right notes for me。 Criticisms of neocolonialism， authoritarian governments， and shoutouts to Thomas Sankara and Frantz Fanon。 This book is written almost like a fable with certain sections that reminiscent of a chorus from a Greek play。 The plot is basically about the rise of a radical movement in response to government corruption and corporate exploitation。 Spoiler alert- it doesn't end very well for anybody。 It is beautifully written with fascinating characters and an interesting plot。 The one big flaw with this book is there are some pacing issues especially in the novels closing chapters。 Unfortunately these issues were noticeable enough that I had to remove a star。Overall this is a fantastic read， one I highly recommend。 。。。more
Inge
，
💔💔💔
Kathy
，
the audio version was lovely。 Five stars for the different point of view and plot。
Megan Vealey
，
Such a sad story， but I enjoyed every page。 Thought-provoking and beautiful！
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=How Beautiful We Were
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=How Beautiful We Were&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,How Beautiful We Were&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0