A review by rmnedder
Innards: Stories by Magogodi oaMphela Makhene

challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Innards was a rich and compelling anthology! I'm a sucker for interconnected stories, and I really enjoyed the way all these stories and their people wove in and out of each other. The narrative diversity across all the stories was great; every story felt different and the variety of tones and narrators and styles just brought everything together. I will admit I felt a bit on the outside at times--there are cultural allusions and text in other languages included that are everyday for these characters, but not necessarily for us as readers--but I think it works for an anthology about the horrors of apartheid. 

I greatly enjoyed this book and the wide range of deeply impactful stories it presented. Read the content warnings - this one is intense.

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