Fred D'Aguiar
Auteur de La mémoire la plus longue
A propos de l'auteur
Œuvres de Fred D'Aguiar
Explainer 2 exemplaires
Oeuvres associées
Mending the World: Stories of Family by Contemporary Black Writers (2003) — Contributeur — 33 exemplaires
The Golden Shovel Anthology: New Poems Honoring Gwendolyn Brooks (2017) — Contributeur — 16 exemplaires
Bearden's Odyssey: Poets Respond to the Art of Romare Bearden (2017) — Contributeur — 11 exemplaires
Another English: Anglophone Poems from Around the World (Poets in the World) (2014) — Contributeur — 10 exemplaires
Étiqueté
Partage des connaissances
- Date de naissance
- 1960-02-02
- Sexe
- male
- Nationalité
- UK
- Lieu de naissance
- London, England, UK
- Lieux de résidence
- London, England, UK
Guyana
USA - Études
- University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
- Professions
- poet
novelist
dramatist
Professor of English and Co-Director of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Virginia Tech. (2003- )
Assistant Professor of English, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine (1994–95)
Professor of English and Creative Writing, University of Miami - Prix et distinctions
- Judith E. Wilson Fellow, Cambridge University (1989–90)
Northern Arts Literature Fellow, Newcastle and Durham Universities
Visiting Writer, Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts (1992–94)
Membres
Discussions
British Author Challenge January 2023: Rosemary Sutcliff and Fred D'Aguiar à 75 Books Challenge for 2023 (Février 2023)
Critiques
Prix et récompenses
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Statistiques
- Œuvres
- 20
- Aussi par
- 14
- Membres
- 536
- Popularité
- #46,472
- Évaluation
- 3.8
- Critiques
- 15
- ISBN
- 65
- Langues
- 5
The story is told from multiple povs, even including from the pov of Adam, a captive gorilla. The focus is on Trina, a young girl who has received special attention from the leader, here referred to only as "Father" or "the Reverend," and on Joyce Trina's mother. Joyce has come to realize that there is a real danger to staying in the compound and is plotting ways for her and Trina to escape. The commune members, including Joyce, are basically performing slave labor and receiving starvation rations, while the Reverend lives in luxury, with gourmet meals, any sex partner he desires, and recreational drugs. Guyanan officials are corruptly involved in returning to the compound any members who have tried to escape and ensuring that mail does not always get through to relatives back in the US.
As the story progresses, the author excellently portrays the myriad of ways in which the Reverend controls the lives of the residents, and the subtle ways in which he is preparing them for a mass suicide. A mood of paranoia has been consistently instilled, and any disagreement or dissent is harshly and immediately punished. There are spies everywhere, and children are encouraged to report any grumbling words they may hear from their parents or any other adult. And the children themselves do not escape harsh punishment, and so for the most part they are fearful and obedient. The book made me entirely understand why 1000 people would "drink the KoolAid."
When I started the book, it quickly became apparent that the first section is being narrated by Adam, the gorilla, and I wasn't entirely sure this would work as a narrative device. In the end, I was satisfied with this little bit of I guess could be called magical realism, though there are some reviewers for whom this did not work. From this opening section, the book slowly builds the world of this strict religious compound, all the while ratcheting up the mood of dread and tension towards the horrific event we know is coming.
Recommended. 3 1/2 stars… (plus d'informations)