One of the best books I've read. Imaginative, thought provoking, vivid, rich in words and prose. I read it slowly to do it justice. Often I would stop and read a paragraph again to enjoy it twice.

Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo is a curious book – using the technique of anthropomorphism to present her characters as animals leads to inevitable comparisons with Orwell’s Animal Farm, but the similarity which resonates with me is actually the animals in the animated movie Madagascar. Whilst Glory shares common ground with Animal Farm in depicting repression and totalitarianism, for much of the novel the characters are presented in a jaunty, jokey style, which I think detracts from the seriousness of much of the subject matter. Some of the scenes are deeply harrowing, and recall real-life mass murder and genocide perpetrated by the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe. The nation in which Glory is set – “Jidada with a -da and another -da” as we are repeatedly told – is a thinly-veiled version of Zimbabwe, and with frequent references to aspects of the Mugabe regime, I’m not entirely sure why Ms Bulawayo chose to depict the events as happening in a country which is so obviously Zimbabwe, and why the main characters are animals. Indeed, the way the characters act – wearing clothes, sleeping in beds, driving cars and so forth – detracts from the visualization of the narrative (back to Madagascar again). For sure, it’s an enjoyable novel, and the last 30 pages make some profound points about how people can and should live together in harmony, but overall I found it a bit muddled.

Interesting and in the end optimistic novel set in Zimbabwe. Slow start but worth reading. though somewhat repetitive. Might be best to hear it read out loud

A novel written from the heart about anguish, despair, courage and hope. The subject so terrible yet dealt with such tenderness. A stunning read indeed.

By a girl born in Bulawayo in south Zim. Very good story about how the people feel about their leaders. I was in the country when it was still Rhodesia 1962-1975. A very well written book.

I loved this book - the style throughout was whimsical but in turn bitingly, angrily satirical and deeply moving, although the protagonists are all animals!!

I cannot say I know what the real political events were that inspired this book but I would say that despite the hater reviews I really enjoyed this, really fun balance of poetic writing and descriptions and I actually feel the animal characters added to the narrative. Big fat recommend from me!

“This is not an animal farm but Jidada with a ‑da and another ‑da! So my advice to you is, Stop it, and Stop it right now! Immediately! At once!” - ‘Glory’ by NoViolet Bulawayo.

It was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize for Fiction and while it didn’t win, I felt that it was an impressive work of fiction that took an unusual approach to political satire that contained a hard hitting message.

‘Glory’ is set in the fictional African country of Jidada, which is populated by animals. Since the European colonisers were ousted almost forty years ago, the country has been led by the ‘Old Horse’. While he considers himself President for Life and Father of the Nation, he is about to be overthrown himself.

It is fairly obvious that ‘Glory’ is a fable in the tradition of ‘Animal Farm’ and is a thinly veiled political satire about the 2017 coup in Zimbabwe and the fall of Robert Mugabe.

In reference to her decision to populate Jidada with animals she said that it was homage to her late grandmother, who had entertained her and her siblings with folk tales populated by animals. I am always drawn to novels that are informed by mythology and folk lore.

Literary fiction is by its nature often challenging and satire, whether general or political, even more so. In addressing the subject in this form, I felt that NoViolet Bulawayo had granted herself more freedom than might be have been possible in a more traditional account of the period, whether in fiction or nonfiction. In addition, satire allows for universal themes linked to politics and social issues, no matter the nation, to be explored.

Overall, an intelligent, thought provoking novel that combined the absurd with the tragic.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Good read! Enjoyed reading the story of Jidada. Loved the way of storytelling and the way it climaxed. Lovely book.

great

The author masterfully transforms a story of struggle for liberation from enemies past and present, external and internal into a mystical, heart-warming and heart-breaking experience that is authentically Zimbabwean. Its message and call for justice and life extends beyond the African continent. An enriching and deeply beautiful reading experience.

Jag har hört flera som direkt ogillade denna bok. Det finns ett utdrag tillgängligt att läsa gratis på nätet, jag skulle rekommendera den intresserade att söka upp det innan köp. Den satiriska stilen är inte för alla. Men det var definitivt för mig! Jag tycker Glory är en otroligt välskriven bok, topp tre i år än så länge. För mig förstärktes upplevelsen av den speciella prosan.

I would have rated this 4.5 stars because it deserves more than a 4.

I started it several months ago after I read a review about it on NYT. It was then on the Booker short list, and I was hoping it would win. Eventually, “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” did, but this book is similarly beautiful (and perhaps alienating).

As my review title suggests, this is a anthropomorphic political satire of the tyrannical/dicatorial governments in sub-Saharan Africa, which can be extrapolated to other similar governments around the globe. You will eventually fall in love Jidada (with a “da” and another “da”) and the main characters, who are all animals.

The author, who I great admire in some of the choices made, uses dark humor, irony, and repetition masterfully to communicate the “okay-ishness” of the jarring reality-like happenings in this fictitious word. For example, election rigging is okay because how else would someone who conducts the election win it?

Warning: I mostly listened to this book on my Alexa device in the mornings. So the chapters of fictitious social media responses and the repetitive phrases (and there are a lot) might come across as hard to read/listen.

I would recommend everyone in 2023 to read this book. I would probably want to read this again to understand the techniques that the author has used to ensure fluency of the political commentary/criticism.

PS: There is an element of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and a homage to “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” toward the end of the book. I’ll let you find out!