I fell into the trap of reading this non-fiction novel by Tony D'Souza because I bought it unknowingly. Generally, before purchasing my novels I try to research a bit about the writer, book review and etc. However, some other times the book cover can simply incite me to buy without wondering about the content, that is the case of "Whiteman".
The narrator is a member of Peace Corps who is assigned to a small village in Côte d'Ivoire where he is accepted without reserve by the villagers. He was supposedly to help in the "supply of clean water" however
he did none of that, attributing it to the lack of funding from the USA.
he did none of that, attributing it to the lack of funding from the USA.
As a result, he had nothing left to do and decided to invest his free time in having sex with as many local women as he could. The way he narrates on these incidents was quite denigrating, just as the same way he patronises the culture and tradition of people who wholeheartedly accepted him in their community. Again, as a white man he felt superior and used that as a privilege to treat locals the way he wouldn't dare treat any body in the United States of America. That, to me speak volumes about the content of his character.
His aim wasn't to help the villagers, he was simply lost and thought he would find himself in seeking to belittle some other group of people.
I am glad that today there are many Africans who are actually writing their own story and wouldn't leave it in the hands of haughty and contemptuous writers. I also hope that Tony D'Souza finally found himself without having to hold anybody in contempt.
The three stars goes to his writing effort, content not included.
So many times I've grabbed a book because of the cover and bought it without ever opening the cover or turning it over to read the description. Fortunately, I haven't been in for the type of surprise you got with this one. It does appear to be a sort of bait-and-switch. I'm surprised you finished it.
ReplyDeleteShannon... yahh Tony in my opinion is not a bad narrator at all. I guess one thing is to be a good narrator and another is the content of your narrative.
DeleteThat sounds really annoying! I'm surprised you gave it three stars!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, I wonder why I gave him 3 stars. I have been pondering over your comment because as an African woman even though I live in the West, this book was sort of humiliating, I think Tony thought he was another Joseph Conrad (who needs another one?)
DeleteAnyway, my emotions apart, as a debut novel the way his writing comes about isn't bad at all. Though, there is no need to degrade any body with it.
That's crazy and it's sad that there are people who think and act like him today.
ReplyDelete~Linda~
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DeleteSounds like a book I would like to read. Already I can see an Irony ;he is a member of the peace - corps and there he is treating people poorly. By the way who is this Tony guy, never heard of him before.
ReplyDeleteNeither have I, he is American. his name has got this African intonation, with the book cover, one might think that he is African.
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