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We Need New Names

From the twice Booker-shortlisted author of GLORY
By NoViolet Bulawayo
Series: Vintage Heroines
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Check link for latest rating. ( 23,141 ratings, 2,871 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo follows a young girl named Darling as she navigates life in a Zimbabwean shantytown. Amidst political turmoil, Darling and her friends dream of better futures while grappling with the realities of their environment. The story then shifts to her experiences as an immigrant in America, contrasting her childhood with new challenges and self-discovery.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate compelling narratives that explore themes of displacement, identity, and resilience. It offers a vivid depiction of childhood in Zimbabwe and the immigrant experience in America, blending poignant moments with a touch of humour. If you're interested in stories that provide both cultural insights and emotional depth, this novel could be a perfect match.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

'There are times, though, that no matter how much food I eat, I find the food does nothing for me, like I am hungry for my country and nothing is going to fix that'

This is the story of Darling, uprooted from her family home by paramilitary police, and living in a Zimbabwean shanty called Paradise.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world.

'There are times, though, that no matter how much food I eat, I find the food does nothing for me, like I am hungry for my country and nothing is going to fix that.'

This is the story of Darling, uprooted from her family home by paramilitary police, and living in a Zimbabwean shanty called Paradise. Despite the turmoil, she revels in mischief and adventures with her friends, like stealing guavas from the rich neighbourhood, and singing Lady Gaga at the top of her voice.

But when Darling has a chance to forge a different life in America, she realises that this new paradise brings its own set of challenges. In We Need New Names, a spirited girl grows into a powerful observer of global identity.

Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world.

Series: Vintage Heroines

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  • We Need New Names
    Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world. 'There are times, though, that no matter how much food I eat, I find the food does nothing for me, like I am hungry for my country and nothing is going to fix that.' This is the story of Darling, uprooted from...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

NoViolet Bulawayo's novel is noted for marking a significant shift in African literary tradition, praised for its aesthetic and political depth. It's described as a transformative work that resonates with a sense of renewal and change.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784877507

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 October 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 210g

Pages: 304

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Fiction General Fiction Gifts $20-$50 In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction NoViolet Bulawayo Penguin Books Series: Vintage Heroines

About the Author

NOVIOLET BULAWAYO grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. When she was eighteen, she moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her first novel, We Need New Names, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, the Guardian First Book Award and the Barnes & Noble Discover Award, and won a Betty Trask Award, Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, Hurston-Wright Legacy Award, the Etisalat Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for First Fiction. She has also won the Caine Prize for African Writing and a National Book Award's '5 Under 35'. NoViolet earned her MFA at Cornell University, and was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, where she taught fiction. She currently writes full-time, from wherever she finds herself.

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    Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2022 "You thought you were getting a novel as good as We Need New Names, tholukuthi Bulawayo's second is even more dazzling" - Sarah Ladipo Manyika, Guardian Glory is an energy burst, an exhilarating joyride. It is the story of an uprising, told by a bold, vivid chorus of animal voices that help us see...
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