Nervous Conditions

Nervous Conditions, Book 1

By: Tsitsi Dangarembga

Narrated by: Chipo Chung

A modern classic in the African literary canon and voted in the Top Ten Africa’s 100 Best Books of the 20th Century, this novel brings to the politics of decolonization theory the energy of women’s rights. An extraordinarily well-crafted work, this book is a work of vision. Through its deft negotiation of race, class, gender, and cultural change, it dramatizes the "nervousness" of the "postcolonial" conditions that bedevil us still. In Tambu and the women of her family, we African women see ourselves, whether at home or displaced, doing daily battle with our changing world with a mixture of tenacity, bewilderment, and grace.

©1988 Tsitsi Dangarembga (P)2021 Faber & Faber Ltd.

Thoughts I’ve never had to think before

Yikes I can’t believe that I’m giving 5-stars as that’s generally reserved for wow outstanding books. But when I was thinking “why is this only 4 stars instead of 5?” I didn’t have a good reason…

This book was less of what I thought it was going to be about, but so much more of things I’ve never had to think about. Great perspectives, the accents made it easier for me to follow along and yeah. I’ll be listening to the rest in the series!

Incredible!!

A great story and superb narration. one of the best audiobook I ever have read.

Horrifying and hopeful all at once

This story of a black girl growing up in Rhodesia in the 60s and 70s is painful, and yet in it’s very human way, also upbeat. Gripping, and very well performed.

Beautifully told—apartheid and the emancipation of women

Thoughtful and engaging story about the results of colonialism and the economic and physical apartheid it imposes on colonized peoples juxtaposed with the awakening of the ideals of emancipation told through the voices of the women in one family who are subjugated by both racism and the expectations of traditional culture.

Good but too detailed

I thought this book was a good read about the differences in a man child versus a girl child in societies. However, there were times in the book where the rooms or other things described may have been described in way too much detail to be relevant to the story. Therefore it was dull and slow moving at times. I thought the narrator did a great job and overall good book.

Beautiful. Awesome. Enlightening.

I absolutely loved the pronunciations and the voice of the actor. I enjoyed listening and reading alongside. This was extremely well done and the writing is superb. Loveeeeeeeeee this story.

Inspiring

This book made me laugh, cry and be inspired by the narrators perspective of her own life events. It captured me because I have felt so many of the same confusing and inquisitive thoughts. I really enjoyed this book.

Amazing Performance

We are studying this book in a course called Global Women writers at UNLV and this has been the best novel I have studied in my entire six years studying creative writing. I’m not sure if the performance had a lot to do with it, but I can understand why that would be the case. It was an amazing performance. The diction of the characters incorporated by Dangarembga and the personality in each voice was superb. It gave me a true insight of what it meant to the author to be African. I am highly impressed by the novel and the performance. I recommend this title 100%.

amazing read!

I normally don't write reviews, but this novel is an exception. If you are a girl of color, who's grown up in a patriarchal society, I highly recommend this book. Nervous Conditions put words to experiences I never knew how to explain. I am forever grateful.

I kept waiting for it to get interesting

The story seemed like it was going to take off but it just never did.