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Jo (The Book Geek)'s Reviews > At Night All Blood Is Black
At Night All Blood Is Black
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At Night All Blood Is Black is a fairy short book consisting of just 145 pages, and within those 145 pages, the phrase 'God's truth' was written at least 120 times, if not more. Why, I hear you ask? Well that, I cannot answer, but I can certainly state that from a personal point of view, this was not an International Booker Prize Winner. God's truth, it drove me to the brink of madness with it's repetitiveness.
This wasn't a total mess, because the book actually began quite well, and I was intrigued with the plot and the descriptions of the horrors and atrocities of war, but this was short-lived, as things quickly went south.
The themes are ultimately dark and really quite disturbing. Make no mistake here, this is not a pleasant read. That isn't what made me wince, though. The final straw for me, was when our main guy compares a war trench to female genitalia (yes, he really did) and then almost in every chapter he distastefully speaks of how marvellous the sensation is when one is inside a wet and warm female.
I do understand what this book was trying to do, and it probably could have been something better, but it was horribly tainted by the monotonous and strange comments about the female sex. It simply wasn't for me.
This wasn't a total mess, because the book actually began quite well, and I was intrigued with the plot and the descriptions of the horrors and atrocities of war, but this was short-lived, as things quickly went south.
The themes are ultimately dark and really quite disturbing. Make no mistake here, this is not a pleasant read. That isn't what made me wince, though. The final straw for me, was when our main guy compares a war trench to female genitalia (yes, he really did) and then almost in every chapter he distastefully speaks of how marvellous the sensation is when one is inside a wet and warm female.
I do understand what this book was trying to do, and it probably could have been something better, but it was horribly tainted by the monotonous and strange comments about the female sex. It simply wasn't for me.
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Donna
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Jun 08, 2022 07:28AM
Ha! God’s truth, I enjoyed your review.
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Donna wrote: "Ha! God’s truth, I enjoyed your review."Thanks, Donna!
This book was not written to be feminist or be a normal human in the way he acts after his 'more than brother's' death. It is showing how he suffers and cannot rationalise anything and they ways he tries to. I have no gripes with the female genetals usage (yes I am a man so you can slate me if you want) I felt like his only sexual encounter was such a happy thing for him that he used it as a place of happiness in the trenches, if he believed the trenches as such things he could feel happy within. Maybe I am reading too much in to it.The 'God's truth' became rather annoying to me too but having read other Senegalese literature and watched documentaries it is the way they speak so the translator is being true to the voice of the author, and we may find it weird and annoying they may find similar grievance with our language.
Overall the story is harrowing and will remain in my mind for a long time. Was it my favourite, no! Was it worthy of a nomination, yes, definitely
Matthew wrote: "This book was not written to be feminist or be a normal human in the way he acts after his 'more than brother's' death. It is showing how he suffers and cannot rationalise anything and they ways he..."Well, I disagree with everything you have said of course, but thank you for your comment.
Please do expand...
Firstly, I wasn't expecting this to be a feminist text, not in the least, but the way in which the female genitalia was mentioned as almost a constant was odd, and comparing it to a war trench, well, I am no prude but it just seemed immature and simplistic to me. As for the 'God's truth' repetition, it was grating, and while I appreciate it may be the way they speak, it was overused immensely, almost to the point of me putting the book away.
I've definitely read better books regarding the subject matter of war.
I agree with the "God's truth" it irked me as a reader but I know that it is used as a figure of speech much how Americans may use "like." And this is not normally in books, it is edited out but it added some authenticity, but I agree it was overused.I still stand by my genitals argument. The way he describes them is so childlike, he is obviously not doing it as a sexual think l, more as a comfort thing. Yes it may be gross, but it is looking at his mind, the need for comfort, for familiarity. He describes the encounter with Fary as such a magical, happy experience l, so now in such a bleak world he finds solace in it. Would I write like that, no. Have I been taken from an African village and thrown into a war I had no care for, also no. I cannot understand why it was used, but I feel the use was actually a nice insight into a character. I did not see it as vulgar. If you did then fine, all books and art works are open to discussion and differences of opinion, I am just giving mine, while respecting yours
Matthew wrote: "I agree with the "God's truth" it irked me as a reader but I know that it is used as a figure of speech much how Americans may use "like." And this is not normally in books, it is edited out but it..."I've read some vulgarities in texts, and I wouldn't call it that, but whether it was meant in a sexual way or not, it was superfluous and it certainly didn't add anything to the story, and I was honestly relieved to return it back to the library!
And that is your feeling. All art is subjective, whether we like it or not. Thank you for an honest conversation about it though and I hope that maybe we can talk more about other books, whether we both like, hate or disagree. Your review was very insightful, from your insight. And my opinions are from my own insight. They are different but both valid and helpful to others. You seem like a lovely person and I wish you all the best in life and reading 📚
