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In a Free State
In a Free State | V.S. Naipaul
16 posts | 9 read | 1 reading | 17 to read
Winner of the 1971 Booker Prize, this grouping of two stories a short novel within a prologue and an epilogue from Naipauls travel journals is held together by Naipauls pervading concern with the themes of exile, freedom and prejudice. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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rwmg
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Panpan

A gay English aid worker and the wife of a colleague return home from a conference in the capital of an unnamed African country by road - a trip that takes two days during a time of political upheaval.

Unless you are particularly interested in descriptions of African scenery, I wouldn't bother. Apparently, this novella is from a book of thematically linked short stories. I don't know if reading the whole thing would have improved my appreciation.

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rwmg
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rwmg
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In this country in Africa there was a president and there was also a king.

#FirstLineFridays

@ShyBookOwl

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Novelista71
In a Free State: The Novel | Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul
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Currey
In a Free State | V.S. Naipaul
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Pickpick

#Uganda #readaroundtheworld #1001 This book won the Booker Prize when it came out in 1971. It is three short stories and the one titled In A Free State is about Uganda. The story takes place over two days at a crucial moment in Uganda‘s history when the newly independent state breaks into tribal factions. The incredibly ugly white main characters are drawn with deft strokes and you really experience their fear and their anger.

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Emilymdxn
In a Free State | V.S. Naipaul
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I‘m so saddened to hear about the death of VS Naipaul. I was lucky enough to see him at the Booker prize festival last month, and to hear his wife speak about his life and writing. In A Free State was one of my favourite novels I‘ve read recently and I was (still am) very excited to read more by this amazing writer. He was more relevant now than ever and I‘m grateful for the writing he put into the world. RIP

britt_brooke 😔 6y
35 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Emilymdxn
In a Free State | V.S. Naipaul
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(Pic irrelevant, just a nice one of me reading in a cafe)

Just voted for In a Free State for the #manbookergoldenprize and wanted to say why! Would I say it was the shortlisted book that I enjoyed reading the most? No, English Patient and Moon Tiger were better reads for me, but IAFS was the one that had me thinking the most, and it felt to me like the one that most summed up what I want the Booker prize to stand for. How did other people vote???

BarbaraBB Maybe you are right, but I really didn‘t like it. I think Wolf Hall is a good candidate as well but in the end I voted for the one Iliked most, which was An English Patient (with Moon Tiger second)! 6y
Emilymdxn @BarbaraBB if I‘d been gonna vote for the one I personally enjoyed reading most it would have been the English Patient for sure - I did really like wolf hall when I read it but idk if it had as much to say as IAFS, and I guess that‘s what I prioritized. Didn‘t actually read Lincoln in the Bardo lol no time. At least they‘re all better than Flights!! 6y
Simona I voted today for Wolf Half, and my reasons are the same as yours for In a Free State ... @BarbaraBB Moon Tiger is on the second place for me too! 6y
28 likes3 comments
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Simona
In a Free State: The Novel | Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul
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Mehso-so

Ordering this book I wasn‘t aware that I ordered author‘s revised edition, and that the original (awarded) book was collection of three short stories. My edition have only one - In a Free State which is set in Africa, in unnamed state that has recently acquired independence. The tension between white and black residents is described in a very tangible way, and I think that this is the strongest part of the story. #goldenBooker

Simona @EclecticReaders #eclecticreadathon My first finished book, and also ‘a book with a quote that I had to write down‘ #ScavengerHunt 6y
EclecticReaders @Simona Awesome! Congrats! 6y
Simona @EclecticReaders Thanks 😘 6y
48 likes3 comments
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Simona
In a Free State: The Novel | Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul
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A protagonist dream (Bobby‘s nightmare after strange dinner in colonel guesthouse)
ScavengerHunt for #EclecticReadathon

EclecticReaders Nice! One point for that! 6y
61 likes2 comments
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Simona
In a Free State: The Novel | Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul
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My first book for #eclectigreadathon

53 likes1 stack add
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Emilymdxn
In a Free State | V.S. Naipaul
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Pickpick

3/5 for the #manbookergoldenprize

I thought it was immensely well written, well crafted, mature, thoughtful and the writer is clearly a genius. There was nothing about that that I thought was done badly or crudely, which is why I marked it as a pick. At the same time it was just so brutal and depressing I didn‘t really enjoy a second of reading it so it‘s hard to say I truly loved it. Would absolutely read more by this author tho

BarbaraBB I know what you mean. I had a hard time finishing this book. I did however really like some of his others. 6y
Emilymdxn @BarbaraBB I read it really fast but honestly felt I was trying to get through it rather than enjoying reading it. I have the enigma of arrival sitting in my kindle cause a friend recommended it highly, I think from the blurb it sounds more up my street 6y
BarbaraBB I have enjoyed his travel books, like A Turn in the South and Among Believers. Another non-travel book (A bend in the river) I bailed on. 6y
Emilymdxn @BarbaraBB ooh ill put those on my wishlist I love getting recommendations! 6y
27 likes4 comments
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Hidie
In a Free State | V.S. Naipaul
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Saw this book lying around the house and thought...why not...?

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BarbaraBB
In a Free State | V.S. Naipaul
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Mehso-so

Two English people, Bobby and Linda, undertake a long car journey across an unnamed East African country (Uganda?) where a coup by the president has just displaced the king. Just freed of colonialism the president‘s men replicate the selfsame power structures, similar instruments of oppression of their own peoples as the whites did before.
During their road trip Bobby and Linda (both so white and racist) become aware of... (continued below 👇)

BarbaraBB ...how serious the situation has become.
While I write this summary I realize the plot is very good. Yet somehow I didn‘t enjoy reading it. It‘s Naipaul‘s style, the dialogues and the racism that botters me. My vote for the #ManBookerGoldenPrize won‘t go to this one. #1001books
(edited) 6y
Cinfhen Great review and definitely NOT something I want to read any longer #BookerBabe 💕 6y
Simona Hmmm ... now I‘m worried... 6y
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emilyhaldi Sounds tough 🤔 6y
BarbaraBB @Simona You may like it, the thought behind it is really good. 6y
BarbaraBB @emilyhaldi Yes, a tough read. And disappointing in the end. No need to read it! @Cinfhen 6y
67 likes1 stack add6 comments
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BarbaraBB
In a Free State | V.S. Naipaul
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Before voting for the Golden Man Booker Prize I am going to read this one, the only book on the shortlist that I haven‘t read yet. #manbooker

Cinfhen Ahhh! You & @Simona #BookerBabes 💝💝 6y
Simona I will vote on the last day, because I‘m reading/rereading all five of them... I think I‘m a #NerdyBookerBabes @Cinfhen 6y
Kalalalatja Love that tag @Cinfhen 😄 6y
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BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja @Cinfhen Lol, #bookerbabes, but you‘re right, I am a sucker for Booker books 😘 6y
BarbaraBB @Simona Smart to reread them, I don‘t have the patience, so I vote by heart 💕 6y
jhod Look forward to hearing your and @Simona 's musings! 6y
65 likes6 comments
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GoneFishing
In a Free State | V.S. Naipaul

The only lies for which we are truly punished are those we tell ourselves.

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HiddenGemBooks
In a Free State | V.S. Naipaul

The only lies for which we are truly punished are those we tell ourselves.

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