Book Review: “My Totem Came Calling” by Thorsten Nesch & Blessing Musariri
“My Totem Came Calling” by Thorsten Nesch & Blessing Musariri
Genre:
Page Length: 176 pages (paperback review copy)
Synopsis:
Chanda is a seventeen-year-old schoolgirl in Harare, Zimbabwe, who suddenly starts suffering from memory lapses, which become even more worrisome when she starts seeing a zebra in all sorts of places. The trouble is, nobody else can see it. Afraid of being institutionalized in a hospital, she follows the advice of an old aunt and sets off for her ancestral village, a primitive settlement with none of the amenities she is used to in the city. But there she meets the rest of her family, including her strange and mysterious grandmother, and learns the hard way who she really is—not a superficial, rich city girl with foreign habits but someone who is somebody, whose name carries a history of her African people. (description from Goodreads)
Review:
This novel follows a teenage girl named Chanda whose memory lapses and starts to see a zebra everywhere. Confused and looking for the meaning behind the zebra she sets out on a journey to her ancestral village to find answers.
Though the book is short, Chanda’s journey seems lengthy and complex. She’s traveling to a place that’s foreign to her to adapt to rural surroundings while also reflecting on herself. Joined by companions, Chanda and her friends run into wild animals, family, new experiences making it into an entertaining read.While the book is contemporary there is also hints of magical realism within the text with concept of spirit animals and Chanda’s interactions with the zebra and ancestral rituals done with her family.
I enjoyed seeing Chanda’s growth throughout the story and how became more open to others and gained a wider sense of understanding. Being away from her family in a new place make her check her prejudiced views and learn new ways of expanding her worldview.
It’s short, has a meaningful lessons that readers can take away from the story, and a cast of rich characters. Recommended reading for sure!
Final Verdict:
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from Mawenzi House in exchange for a fair and honest review.
