I had difficulties when I started reading keeping the characters straight. I had difficulties processing the violence of the story. This was due to my lack of knowledge about Kenya and its history. Because of this, I have no way of knowing the historical accuracy of the novel. What is clear, is that the characters were well thought out and complicated.

A lot has been written about the influence Franz Fanon had on Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. I've read a little Fanon, not enough to consider myself well versed, but that which I've read fits very well with the novel. If anything, this novel might be a great entry point into the history of Kenya and Fanon's Fanon’s philosophy about neo-colonialism.

If you want a good read that is thought provoking, this fits the bill. It has left me wondering what other books are out there like it.