Review of Lost Inheritance
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Prudence Katunasa
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Review of Lost Inheritance
[Following is a volunteer review of "Lost Inheritance" by Obert Holl [author name "Baruch"].]
Too white to be accepted by the black community and too black to enjoy the privileges that come with being white. In Lost Inheritance, we follow the life of Obert Holl, with Baruch being the author of this autobiography. He recalls his family history dating back to the 1800’s as well as the historical and pivotal moments that make up today’s Zimbabwe. This book, overall, gives us insight into what it was like growing up mixed-raced in an era that thrived under racial segregation. These struggles are evident in the lives of Obert and his siblings, as well as his father and his siblings, as they received much rejection from both the white and black communities. We also get to see precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial Zimbabwe, from Mzilikazi fleeing Zululand in South Africa (which was still under the rule of Shaka Zulu) to Matabeleland in Zimbabwe. We see how British colonialists settled in Zimbabwe and how they contributed to wars and the displacement of many native Zimbabweans. We also see the aftermath of the colonial era as well as the shocking economic decline that Zimbabwe is still facing today.
I loved this book because it wasn’t just historical and political. It was personal and rich in heritage. It was nice to follow the genealogy of the author. I loved how the book was devoid of any bias. The author shared his experiences and struggles without favoring one group over the other, as he gave an account of how he received unjust treatment from both races in the book. Throughout the book, we see the resilient and hardworking spirit of the author, which is encouraging to the reader.
I didn’t find anything to dislike about this book other than the fact that I came across several errors that could have been avoided.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. It would’ve been given a perfect score if it was exceptionally edited. However, it was a great read. It was educational, perceptive, bittersweet, and encouraging. It is a book that is relatable to many, especially people of color. It gives voice to those who wish to get ahead in life, but their dreams are suppressed simply because of the unchangeable things about themselves. Most importantly, it serves as a testament to how you can rise above your circumstances. It could be read in a short amount of time, and the chapters weren’t too long as well.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history pertaining to the colonial era and the history of Zimbabwe. I would also recommend it to anyone who loves nonfiction.
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Lost Inheritance
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Too white to be accepted by the black community and too black to enjoy the privileges that come with being white. In Lost Inheritance, we follow the life of Obert Holl, with Baruch being the author of this autobiography. He recalls his family history dating back to the 1800’s as well as the historical and pivotal moments that make up today’s Zimbabwe. This book, overall, gives us insight into what it was like growing up mixed-raced in an era that thrived under racial segregation. These struggles are evident in the lives of Obert and his siblings, as well as his father and his siblings, as they received much rejection from both the white and black communities. We also get to see precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial Zimbabwe, from Mzilikazi fleeing Zululand in South Africa (which was still under the rule of Shaka Zulu) to Matabeleland in Zimbabwe. We see how British colonialists settled in Zimbabwe and how they contributed to wars and the displacement of many native Zimbabweans. We also see the aftermath of the colonial era as well as the shocking economic decline that Zimbabwe is still facing today.
I loved this book because it wasn’t just historical and political. It was personal and rich in heritage. It was nice to follow the genealogy of the author. I loved how the book was devoid of any bias. The author shared his experiences and struggles without favoring one group over the other, as he gave an account of how he received unjust treatment from both races in the book. Throughout the book, we see the resilient and hardworking spirit of the author, which is encouraging to the reader.
I didn’t find anything to dislike about this book other than the fact that I came across several errors that could have been avoided.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. It would’ve been given a perfect score if it was exceptionally edited. However, it was a great read. It was educational, perceptive, bittersweet, and encouraging. It is a book that is relatable to many, especially people of color. It gives voice to those who wish to get ahead in life, but their dreams are suppressed simply because of the unchangeable things about themselves. Most importantly, it serves as a testament to how you can rise above your circumstances. It could be read in a short amount of time, and the chapters weren’t too long as well.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history pertaining to the colonial era and the history of Zimbabwe. I would also recommend it to anyone who loves nonfiction.
******
Lost Inheritance
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
