By Leila Aboulela
ISBN: 9780802160676
‘River Spirit’ provides a unique historical view into the lives of 19th century Sudanese people, affected by British colonialism, Ottoman rule and rise of the false Mahdi. The raw and unfiltered accounts from multiple perspectives is what makes this book truly unlike any typical historical fiction novel you might have read before.
Synopsis:
“When Akuany and her brother Bol are orphaned in a village raid in South Sudan, they’re taken in by a young merchant Yaseen who promises to care for them, a vow that tethers him to Akuany through their adulthood. As a revolutionary leader rises to power – the self-proclaimed Mahdi, prophesied redeemer of Islam – Sudan begins to slip from the grasp of Ottoman rule, and everyone must choose a side. A scholar of the Qur’an, Yaseen feels beholden to stand against this false Mahdi, even as his choice splinters his family. Meanwhile, Akuany moves through her young adulthood and across the country alone, sold and traded from house to house, with Yaseen as her inconsistent lifeline. Everything each of them is striving for – love, freedom, safety – is all on the line in the fight for Sudan.
Through the voices of seven men and women whose fates grow inextricably linked, Aboulela’s latest novel illuminates a fraught and bloody reckoning with the history of a people caught in the crosshairs of imperialism. River Spirit is a powerful tale of corruption, coming of age, and unshakeable devotion – to a cause, to one’s faith, and to the people who become family.”
What’s to like:
River Spirit weaves together stories of characters from a time in Sudan’s history that readers seldom find as a subject of mainstream historical fiction books. In this endeavor the author has kept the story true to its context with genuinely Muslim-African lens that isn’t made more palatable for audiences from different backgrounds. Her writing style is direct, and it makes the prose enjoyable and interesting.
The discussion around Islamic norms and rules regarding slavery and the coming of the Mahdi as a messiah are both interesting aspects of the story that might be mind-boggling for a typical reader not aware of these, but for the novel are instrumental in building its many rich layers.
The multiple perspectives of both protagonist and antagonist characters in the book are critical in understanding the plot and provide a deeper understanding of the historical events. Aboulela does not sugarcoat anything and that makes the story authentic.
What’s not to like:
The story is slow paced initially and it can take a while to get into it. This might also be because the multiple perspectives mean that it can take a while before the reader can situate the many characters in the context of the story. However, it is all worth it for the reading experience.
Moreover, the ending chapters could offer more details about Yaseen and Zamzam/Akuany’s life after the defeat of the false Mahdi by the colonialists.
Book Review Rating: 4.5/5 – Recommended
Clean Content Rating: Intermediate.
Content Warnings: Violence, nudity and slavery. Age advisory: 18+