Review of The Strange Land
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Virginia Nyabuto
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- Latest Review: The Strange Land by Jennifer Mugrage
Review of The Strange Land
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Strange Land" by Jennifer Mugrage.]
The Strange Land by Jennifer Mugrage paints a haunting picture of survival and community amidst isolation in an unforgiving world. The story centers around "The People," a small tribe traveling through a desolate land. They face many challenges, such as attacks from wild animals, conflicts with other tribes, and harsh climate conditions, all while holding onto the hope of a better future and a place to settle, as foretold by their forefathers. Throughout the journey, they remain united .
The story explores how God had wiped out and punished different generations for their sins. The first generation was destroyed because they failed to care for a ‘particular special tree”. The second generation, that of Noah, was wiped out by a flood due to unholy marriages between the gods, humans, and animals that made them impure. The third generation, which led to the tribe's current situation, was punished for attempting to build a tall tower where the gods could meet. God disapproved and punished them by confusing their languages so they couldn't understand each other unless they shared the same forefathers. This confusion led to misunderstandings and hostility, which eventually forced ‘ThePeople’ to leave the city in search of a better place to live and a brighter future.
I liked how the author brings out the sense of community among the People how they supported one another in times of happiness and sadness,and how few disputes arose and also how they lived in unity and harmony. When conflicts did occur, they were resolved peacefully.One interesting thing about their culture was the intermarriages; people related by blood, such as first or second cousins, could marry each other without any harm coming to their children, as they didn't have "bad blood" like we have today. These intermarriages were important for the tribe's continuity since they lost at least one person with every passing season.
The author also touches on domestic violence and how it was handled. This is illustrated through the story of Endu, who abused his wife, Sari, leading her to commit suicide by throwing herself into a hot pool in search of peace, where she tragically died. Another fascinating aspect of the book is the deep respect the People had for their elders and leader, trusting him to make the right decisions for them which he gladly did and there's was minimal opposition.
I also admired how the author gave each character a significant role within the tribe. However, my favorite character was Ikash. Despite being raised in an abusive home, he remained humble and kind. He didn’t turn out like his father and, through determination, became a shaman who helped guide the tribe to a better place to live.
There’s nothing I disliked about the book. It’s professionally edited, and I give it 5 out of 5 stars. The characters are well-developed, the plot is historically accurate, and the author’s writing style is engaging. I would highly recommend it to lovers of historical fiction and those who enjoy well-crafted narratives.
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The Strange Land
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Strange Land by Jennifer Mugrage paints a haunting picture of survival and community amidst isolation in an unforgiving world. The story centers around "The People," a small tribe traveling through a desolate land. They face many challenges, such as attacks from wild animals, conflicts with other tribes, and harsh climate conditions, all while holding onto the hope of a better future and a place to settle, as foretold by their forefathers. Throughout the journey, they remain united .
The story explores how God had wiped out and punished different generations for their sins. The first generation was destroyed because they failed to care for a ‘particular special tree”. The second generation, that of Noah, was wiped out by a flood due to unholy marriages between the gods, humans, and animals that made them impure. The third generation, which led to the tribe's current situation, was punished for attempting to build a tall tower where the gods could meet. God disapproved and punished them by confusing their languages so they couldn't understand each other unless they shared the same forefathers. This confusion led to misunderstandings and hostility, which eventually forced ‘ThePeople’ to leave the city in search of a better place to live and a brighter future.
I liked how the author brings out the sense of community among the People how they supported one another in times of happiness and sadness,and how few disputes arose and also how they lived in unity and harmony. When conflicts did occur, they were resolved peacefully.One interesting thing about their culture was the intermarriages; people related by blood, such as first or second cousins, could marry each other without any harm coming to their children, as they didn't have "bad blood" like we have today. These intermarriages were important for the tribe's continuity since they lost at least one person with every passing season.
The author also touches on domestic violence and how it was handled. This is illustrated through the story of Endu, who abused his wife, Sari, leading her to commit suicide by throwing herself into a hot pool in search of peace, where she tragically died. Another fascinating aspect of the book is the deep respect the People had for their elders and leader, trusting him to make the right decisions for them which he gladly did and there's was minimal opposition.
I also admired how the author gave each character a significant role within the tribe. However, my favorite character was Ikash. Despite being raised in an abusive home, he remained humble and kind. He didn’t turn out like his father and, through determination, became a shaman who helped guide the tribe to a better place to live.
There’s nothing I disliked about the book. It’s professionally edited, and I give it 5 out of 5 stars. The characters are well-developed, the plot is historically accurate, and the author’s writing style is engaging. I would highly recommend it to lovers of historical fiction and those who enjoy well-crafted narratives.
******
The Strange Land
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Strange Land by Jennifer Mugrage
