Beyond the Rice Fields

Posted on 14 July 2018 by Naivo

The first novel from Madagascar ever to be translated into English, Naivo s magisterial Beyond the Rice Fields delves into the upheavals of the nation s past as it confronted Christianity and modernity, through the twin narratives of a slave and his master s daughter.Fara and her father s slave, Tsito, have been close since her father bought the boy after his forest village was destroyed Now in Sahasoa, amongst the cattle and rice fields, everything is new for Tsito, and Fara at last has a companion But as Tsito looks forward to the bright promise of freedom and Fara, backward to a dark, long denied family history, a rift opens between them just as British Christian missionaries and French industrialists arrive and violence erupts across the country Love and innocence fall away, and Tsito and Fara s world becomes enveloped by tyranny, superstition, and fear.With captivating lyricism, propulsive urgency, and two unforgettable characters at the story s core, Naivo unflinchingly delves into the brutal history of nineteenth century Madagascar Beyond the Rice Fields is a tour de force that has much to teach us about human bondage and the stories we tell to face and hide from ourselves, each other, our pasts, and our destinies. Free Download [ Beyond the Rice Fields ] Author [ Naivo ] For Kindle ePUB or eBook – kino-fada.fr Full review here I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.The most important detail about this book is it s the first book from Madagascar to be translated into English Just think about that for a moment The first book from Madagascar to be translated into English. I find it unlikely it s the first book to ever be published in Madagascar, so it s strange to me that in 2017 English readers are only now getting to read a Malagasy novel.This powerful novel follows the lives o Full review here I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.The most important detail about this book is it s the first book from Madagascar to be translated into English Just think about that for a moment The first book from Madagascar to be translated into English. I find it unlikely it s the first book to ever be published in Madagascar, so it s strange to me that in 2017 English readers are only now getting to read a Malagasy novel.This powerful novel follows the lives of Fara and Tsito, her father s slave, from their childhood through their adult lives It s the 19th century in Madagascar, during a time of political terror and violence as Christian missionaries from Britain and French industrialists arrive The bond Fara and Tsito formed as children is bro...This story is so original and that, in and of itself, is very refreshing I found the two narratives of Fara and Tsito compelling and their perspectives unusual and innovative They struggle through life s obstacles but I felt the storytelling about their lives was new and pushed my expectations and experiences beyond what I have read in other books I was truly invigorated by this author and how he crafted this book.There is intrigue and a few mysteries that are confronted and uncovered But wo This story is so original and that, in and of itself, is very refreshing I found the two narratives of Fara and Tsito compelling and their perspectives unusual and innovative They struggle through life s obstacles but I felt the storytelling about their li...Madagascar, early to mid 1800s The traditional ways are being challenged by European ways and Christianity There is confusion as to which way the wind will blow and many lose their lives to purges.The story is narrated alternately by Fara and her childhood companion Tsito who was a slave Their voices are quite c...Naivo s Beyond the Rice Fields translated by Allison M Charette took me to a place I ve never been before in fiction nineteenth century Madagascar The novel follows the trials and tribulations of Tsito, a slave turned craftsman, and Fara, a villager who always wanted to be rich, as they get caught up against Queen Ranavalona I ...3.5 starsThis book is celebrated for being the first novel from Madagascar translated into English though it was written in French originally, not a large or unusual gap to jump It is also the author s first novel, and I would be interested to see what he does next, though I wasn t thrilled with this one.Beyond the Rice Fields is, ultimately, a novel about the mass purges and killings carried out by the Imerina queen in Madagascar in the mid 19th century, though it takes a long time to get th 3.5 starsThis book is celebrated for being the first novel from Madagascar translated into English though it was written in French originally, not a large or unusual gap to jump It is also the author s first novel, and I would be interested to see what he does next, though I wasn t thrilled with this one.Beyond the Rice Fields is, ultimately, a novel about the mass purges and killings carried out by the Imerina queen in Madagascar in the mid 19th century, though it takes a long time to get there First we follow our two protagonists Tsito, a boy who is sold as a slave at a young age, and Fara, a girl whose family buys him for household help through their childhoods and much of their adult lives We read about their childhood games, their schooling, Tsito s career as a craftsman, Fara s triumph as a dancer and anticlimactic life afterwards, their local lord and his downfall, and their interactions with various oth...This story is mainly about two people Fara and her father s slave, Tsito They have been close ever since they were children Tsito came to the family when his village was destroyed Fara is glad to have a companion and Tsito feels he must always protect her There lives entertwine, even after Tsito leaves her father s service and Fara grows up and falls in love with another They always find their way back to each other drawn by familiarity and then love.However, their lives are torn apart This story is mainly about two people Fara and her father s slave, Tsito They have been close ever since they were children Tsito came to the family when his village was destroyed Fara is glad to have a companion and Tsito feels he must always prote...I knew from the start of this book that it would be a page turner I could not put it down The entire book was absolutely fascinating The story is set in 19th century Madagascar, a country totally unfamiliar to me Through the story and characters, one gets a feeling for the culture But what I liked most was the historical narrative which is apparently true The queen of Madagascar at that time, Ranavalona, is infamous for her paranoia and persecution of her people I read separately that a I knew from the start of this book that it would be a page turner I could not put it down The entire book was absolutely fascinating The story is set in 19t... Beyond the Rice Fields is the first novel from Madagascar ever to be translated into English, and for that reason alone, it is a worthy and fascinating read We are transported to a 19th century Malagasy village where slaves, zebu hunters, missionaries and locals are woven into a story that is told through the eyes of the slave Tsito and the girl Fara.When Tsito s forest village is destroyed, he is captured and sold as a slave to the zebu hunter, Rama We follow his story, his aspirations, his f Beyond the Rice Fields is the first novel from Madagascar ever to be translated into English, and for that reason alone, it is a worthy and fascinating read...Took me awhile to finish this but I blazed through the last hundred pages The action really picks up at the end after building these characters and really setting the scene of early and mid 1800 s Madagascar as the country first embraced, then rejected, Europeans...Fara deserved better

14 July 2018

Naivo