Consolata cover art

Consolata

A Short Story

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Consolata

By: Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse
Narrated by: Dorcas Sowunmi
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About this listen

A moving story of an old woman reckoning with memories - both cherished and heartbreaking - of her past, from French Rwandan author Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse, winner of the 2020 Prix des Cinq Continents de la Francophonie.

In childhood, Consolata was permanently separated from her family by French colonizers in her Rwandan village. Now, nearing the end of her life in an assisted-living facility, she starts losing her French language skills and can only remember her mother tongue, to the confusion of care workers. Oscillating between moments in assisted living and vivid childhood memories with family in Rwanda, Consolota is a poignant story of heritage, memory, and bonds that can never be broken.

©2021 Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC. African American Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Tear-jerking France French Short

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Loved this. Excellent narrator, engaging story, and there were so many beautiful lines in it. I haven't read anything by this author before, but I will in the future!

beautiful writing

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I downloaded Consolata to distract me while gardening. Within minutes I was deep in the countryside with Consolata while she listens to her grandfather's stories. Her mother picking and weaving sisal. A cousin explaining how our teeth fall out and are gathered up by the wagtail.

A reminder once again, thar the stories we hear from our forefathers are so important to understand about our origins.

just perfect!

beautiful short story

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A sensitive bright mixed race child is removed from her extended family and village in Apartheid Africa to spend her life in institutions. However Consolata’s beautiful spirit shines through the adversities. A very moving story.

A Beautiful and Sad Tale

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This is a densely packed and emotional short story about isolation, memory, and other ways in which colonialism causes suffering and division. An emotional journey through dissipating memories.

Beautifully written and performed.

Rich and Heartbreaking

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An interesting short story based on a tragic colonial practice, that seems to belong to a completely different period in the history of African literature. In fact, it seems to have been written forty years ago or even earlier in terms of theme and style. The story is well-written but failed to capture my imagination. The section about old Astrida is the best, in my opinion. The English translation is excellent and so is the audiobook narrator.

An interesting short story

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compares the traditional with the "civilised" and the colonial damage through the life of one lady.

shows you inside the heart of Astrid nee Consolata

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