2013 Booker longlist: We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

This thread is for discussion of We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo.

We Need New Names is more of a string of short stories than one continuous narrative. The narrator, Darling, lives in Zimbabwe for the first half of the book, and in the US for the second half. She clearly loves her home in Zimbabwe, despite the poverty and other hardships that are part of her every day life. She talks about the games she plays with her friends, their guava-stealing expeditions into the upscale part of her town, Sundays at church, her pregnant 11-year-old friend, and the "Sickness," AIDS. In the US, Darling navigates the cultural differences and tries to stay in touch with her friends and family in Zimbabwe.

I'm not really sure what the Booker judges saw in this book - sure, it was an interesting look at the idea of one's home, and at contemporary Africa, but I didn't find that it added anything unique, or that it was particularly well-written. Darling's voice is well-developed, but the other characters were one-note. Some of the stories were excellent, while others were rather unnecessary. We Need New Names was good, but not great - and the Booker should be great.

3.5 stars

I finished We Need New Names last night, and I completely agree with Cait's assessment and rating of it. The novel's first half, set in Zimbabwe, was far better than the second half, and it ended abruptly and forgettably. It is worthy for consideration for the Guardian First Book Award, but it has no place on the Booker Prize longlist, nonetheless the shortlist. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie would have been a much better choice.

I agree with Uzodinma Iweala's New York Times review of Bulawayo's book. The narrative of her life in Zimbabwe is compelling and well voiced. However much of the substance of her new life in “Destroyedmichygen,” is clichéd, trite and not reflective of real life. I agree with kidzdoc about the ending.

I agree with most of what's been said above. The novel wasn't bad but felt disjointed, like a series of short stories with common characters. I enjoyed reading it but didn't feel it was Booker shortlist material.