Rate this book

The Magic Of Saida (2012)

by M.G. Vassanji(Favorite Author)

3.39 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0385667140 (ISBN13: 9780385667142)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Doubleday Canada

review 1: Unlike his prize winners, The Book of Secrets or The In-between world of Vikram Lall, this book disappointed. The way the book was structured made it a difficult read, and the story needed to lose about 20% of its length to keep engagement with the reader. Set in East Africa, it did convey the sense of time, place and character that I love to see in my world fiction reading, but did so in such a torturous way that I lost empathy with the characters. In the end, I consider it important that the author keeps readers engaged and the publisher's editor tells the author when he just takes too many words and too many unnecessary timeline switches to convey the story. Not a recommendation here.
review 2: Thought provoking and informative if 20th century East Africa is... more of interest to you but in stark contrast to two other novels I have read by Vassanjii, I found this title tough going, especially at the beginning. If it were not for the fact that my two other encounters with his work were so enjoyable, I would never have finished this title as the first half was so tedious. I can't begin to recall how many times I picked it up and put it down again after reading just a few pages. It was only in the second half that the many, many story lines began to come together and make sense. That said, the ending was a huge nonsensical disappointment. less

Download links for: The Magic of Saida

Advertising