Of Annual Leave and Readings for 2017

Tags

African Literature, Annual Leave, Reading List, suspense, thriller

I enjoy reading; well, who doesn’t for crying out loud. But of late, and it’s been a long of late, I’ve shelved my reading to the back bench and pushed poetry, in particular, haiku to the forefront. I’m so behind with my readings, that it’s almost an embarrassment. So this year, my annual leave or vacation days accruing to me is more than welcome.

I’m enjoying my almost three months annual leave with this book haul from my TBR pile.

Assorted books l should say so wish me luck so l can complete the reading. 🙂

I will try to review some of them but not all. 🙂 I may also review some books I’ve already read but which I couldn’t capture for this post. (my poor attempt at photography. (Lol) so please stay tuned. 🙂

 

 

Review: Reverb by J Cafesin

Tags

abuse, mental sickness, psychological, Reverb, suspense, trauma

Title:    Reverb

Author: J. Cafesin

Genre:  Psychological Suspense

Format: eBook

Publisher: Entropy Press

Pages:    328

Publication date: January, 2013

Reasons for reading: Received this book from the author for a candid review.

 

Blurb

James Whren is brilliant, beautiful, rich, and taken—with himself, or more precisely, his genius for creating music. Desired by many, committing to no one but his muse, on the eve of his brother’s funeral, his father inadvertently turns his life into a living nightmare, and James is left abandoned in hell with no one real to save him.

His odyssey to freedom takes him beyond the looking-glass, to the reflection of friends and lovers. Humbled and alone, James escapes to the Greek island of Corfu. But instead of finding solace there, loneliness almost consumes him.

Until Elisabeth, and her son, Cameron.

My Thoughts

I must first of all start by admitting or confessing that the  review of this book is long overdue. And for that I do apologise.  With that out of the way I plunge straight in.

How far will a parent’ meddle’ or’ interfere in the life of his child to ensure his will or what he thinks is best for his child is carried out? James Whren is a physically beautiful, rich, self-absorbed but extremely talented musician so wrapped up in his music that he has no time for anyone. He feels alone and unloved by his father whose actions later set in motion series of events that plunge James into unimagined horror and personal torture. Particularly disturbing and intense, I couldn’t put Reverb down once I started reading. Initially I found James, selfish and unyielding in his thoughts towards his father; having lost his mother at a tender age, he is unwilling to overcome his grief over his mother’s death. But my feelings change as I realised that his is a soul in torment.  Does his father Edward Charles Whren XXI have any acceptable justification for the course of action he takes? And does his remorse erase what brutalities and suffering his son goes through and the effects?

Jerri Cafesin has written a powerfully complex, compelling novel with characters that bring the hard-hitting story alive in a deeply profound way. Both story and characters linger long after the read. I was shaken by Reverb and for days, I lay awake, thinking of the role I play in my sons’ lives as a mother.

Adequate words fail me here to express how deeply I was touched by this novel. Reverb  touches on a lot of issues, drug abuse, parenting,  prison systems, mental sickness. Reverb also focuses on the darkness within the human being and the terrible things humans can do to each other. Reverb is not all gloomy; there is love, a beautiful romance that blooms slowly between James and Elisabeth, a young widow, which encompasses Elisabeth’s child, Cameron. Elisabeth and her son provide a much-needed anchor to James; they provide hope for James himself and I dare say for humanity too. 🙂 And there is redemption. And forgiveness.

Jerri Cafesin skilfully weaves the plot to inculcate the psychological and the romantic, creating this powerful novel that is at once moving, shocking, gripping and profound. My only snags are that some parts of the novel dragged a bit. But that in no way detracted from the overall effect. Secondly, the narrative is in the present tense. I guess that is more of a personal thing.

Reverb comes highly recommended for all lovers of good psychological suspense novels.

For copies of Reverb please visit here:

 

 

 

 

Review: My First Coup D’ Etat By John Dramani Mahama

Tags

Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, My First Coup D'Etat

Title:         My First Coup D’ Etat (Memories from the Lost Decades of Africa)
Author:     John Dramani Mahama
Binding:    Paperback
Genre:      Non-Fiction
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, UK
Pages:      318
Publication Date:  2012

Reason for reading: For my African reads and from TBR. Had wanted to review this for the Ghanaian Literature Week but could not meet the deadline.

It is not everyday that the President of a country writes a book and a non-fiction at that while in power. Granted that when this book was written John Dramani Mahama, the author, was then the Vice-President of Ghana, it is still a novelty. But I would hesitate to conclude that therein lies the appeal. The appeal lies in the contents and  freshness of his style.

John Mahama was about seven years old in 1966 when Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana was overthrown in a coup. His father who was then a Minister in the government was imprisoned for over a year. And life for the privileged Mahama changed in ways that never suggested that he would one day lead Ghana.

In poignantly engaging, warm and seamless narrative style, My First Coup d’Etat, a collection of personal reminiscences, takes the reader through a journey from the first coup d’etat, successive governments and coups, woven expertly with his childhood and coming of age, funny exploits in the secondary school, lively escapades with his numerous siblings, University days in Ghana, stint in Nigeria finding himself and later a postgraduate programme in Russia.

My First Coup D’Etat works on many levels; as history, cultural and political analysis. It also offers a look at the country that has long been considered Africa’s success story. In his review, the late Chinua Achebe says:

“With crisp, yet sweeping prose, John Mahama’s memoir, My first Coup D’Etat, provides insights into Ghana’s and by extension, Africa’s struggle to weather its historical burden and engage with a world much removed from her dilemma. Without sentimentality or condescension, he exposes homegrown African pathologies and helps us understand several contradictions of our post-colonial condition. His is a much welcome work of immense relevance to African studies and deserves serious critical attention.”

And yet for me, the relevance in the context above is seen in the author’s intellectual ability to separate partisan politics from the pages of the book. Having been born around the first coup, I lived through the periods and events described, though I was too young to remember a few. So the events described refreshed my memory in more ways than one. Reading My First Coup D’Etat has also made me to gain a better understanding of the man John Mahama and not the politician. (is that possible?)

What I gather though is that in his narrative, it seems as if the author is at pains to downplay the relevance of his privileged background to whom he is today. That his father E. A. Mahama had a huge influence in his life is without doubt. Did that influence unconsciously lead to his position today? I look forward to reading his second book!

My First Coup D’Etat is highly recommended for those who like non-fiction and interested in knowing about Ghana.

About the author: John Dramani Mahama is a writer, historian, journalist, communication expert, former Member of Parliament, Minister of Communications and currently the sixth President of the Republic of Ghana.

2014 Africa Reading Challenge

Tags

Africa Reading Challenge, Kinna

My dear friend Kinna is hosting the 2014 Africa Reading Challenge form January 1 to December 3. Now read on and be sure to participate for a fun time. As Kinna says, “I have absolutely no reason for hosting nor urging you to participate in this challenge save for the joy of discovering and reading African literature!”

Are you in? 🙂

Region

The entire African continent, including its island-states, which are often overlooked. Please refer to this Wikipedia “list of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa”. Pre-colonial empires and regions are also included.

Reading Goal

5 books.  That’s it.  There will be no other levels.  Of course, participants are encouraged to read more than 5 books.  Eligible books include those which are written by African writers, or take place in Africa, or are concerned with Africans and with historical and contemporary African issues. Note that at least 3 books must be written by African writers.

Genres

• Fiction – novels, short stories, poetry, drama, children’s books.  Note: You can choose to read a number of individual and uncollected short stories.  In this case, 12 such stories would constitute 1 book.  Individual poems do not count but books of poetry do.
• Non-fiction – memoirs, autobiographies, history and current events

Reading Suggestions

• Cover at least two regions, pick from North Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa, West Africa and Central Africa
• Include translated fiction from Arabic, Francophone and Lusophone literature
• You can mix classic and contemporary fiction
• If you are intend to read mostly non-fiction, then please include at least one book (out of the five) of fiction

Kinna is not inclined to push any reading philosophy but would however like to encourage participants to broaden their knowledge of African literature. Broadly then:

For the novice, if you have not read any African lit or if you’ve read one book (E.g. Achebe’s Things Fall Apart):  a mix of at least two regions, two languages, classic and contemporary, with both male and female writers is suggested.  A sample reading list could be:

• Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih (North Africa, Arabic, classic)
• Maps by Nuruddin Farah (East Africa)
• Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga (Southern Africa, contemporary)
• So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba (West Africa, classic, Francophone)
• Zoo City by Lauren Beukes (Southern Africa, contemporary, modern fantasy)

For the advanced reader of African literature: perhaps there is some gap (country, region, language, theme, gender) you want to fill or author(s) whose works you want to explore further?

You could also, for example:

• Read only collection/anthologies of short stories
• Stick to the literary tradition of one country
• Explore literature written in African languages
• Read only Lusophone literature
• Explore the literature of contemporary South Africa
• Read the books of North African countries of the Arab Spring
• Read wherever the urge takes you!

These suggestions notwithstanding, the most important thing is to have fun and to explore Africa through books.

Other Details

1. Overlap with other challenges is allowed.
2. E-books and audio books are allowed.
3. There is no need to make a list beforehand.  Although most of us love lists, don’t we?

To Sign up:

Leave a comment here to sign-up. You can list the books you intend to read if you’ve already decided.

For those with blogs: write a post on your blog about the challenge (with or without your list) and link to this post.

Please for more details read here

Readers’ Top Ten On ImageNations

Tags

African Literature, ImageNations

Nana Fredua-Agyeman, from Ghana is a virtual friend of mine. He is also a keen blogger of mostly African Literature and an excellent haiku writer.

Though we have never met,  I respect him so much for  his brilliance and deeply analytical reviews on his blog ImageNations. An Agricultural Economist by profession and a Poet by passion, Nana keeps three blogs: ImageNations, Haiku from Ghana, and Black Pathology. Some of his Haiku have been published in magazines such as Frogpond, The Heron’s Nest, Acorn etc and at e-zines such as simplyhaiku.com and Shamrock Haiku Journal. Currently,he has a manuscript of poems (not Haiku) titled BLACK PATHOLOGY.

Why this lovely introduction? Nana recently invited me to participate in the Reader’s Top Ten series, a weekly event that showcases readers’ or bloggers’ top ten African reads.

Wonderful friends, do visit my friend at ImageNations to sample my top ten African reds and also to have a taste of his beautiful collection of haiku and his other works.  🙂

Of A Death And Acquisitions

Tags

Acquisitions, Azar Nafisi, Death, Khaled Hosseini, Maya Angelou, The Book Trust, Used Books, Virginia Woolf

My dear friends and fellow bloggers, it’s not been easy for us in Ghana these past few days since the unexpected demise of our President, Prof. John Evans Ata Mills; at least for those who saw in him the embodiment of all that is pure, true, noble, humble and selfless. We are still in shock and until his funeral is held from 8th to 10th August 2012 and finally when he is laid to rest on 10th August 2012, everything I do would have a surreal quality to it.

I find it difficult reading the books I have lined up knowing very well that doing just that would be therapeutic for me. I try to blog by catching up on my mails and though that has yielded some results, I am not able to derive pleasure from it like I used to. However, I know deep down in my heart, that I will get over this apathy or lethargy or whatever it is I’m going through now. What I am certain about is that I am in mourning even as the whole nation observe the customary one-week celebration of the death of our illustrious President, today, Tuesday 30th July 2012.

In a completely un-related development, I recently acquired the following books from The Book Trust, in Accra. (a popular and fine outlet for used books from overseas) The prices are very affordable and I’m so pleased with myself. I only pray that I would be able to read and blog on them soon.

• Reading Lolita in Tehran, A Memoir In Books by Azar Nafisi
• Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. ( I had read so much being blogged about this  that I just had to buy it when I saw it. I may have to add it to two of the Challenges I’m on; The Classics Club and Back To The Classics Challenge)
• I know Why The Caged Birds Sing by Maya Angelou
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I must say that The Book Trust has loads and stacks of books, children’s, YA, text, language, adult and you name it, in quite a number of genres that you can think of. The books are so stacked together that it is quite an arduous task going through to find one’s choice. Funny enough, The Book Trust is just a stone’s throw from where I work and yet I hardly go there because I would not have the time to comb through the piles. Also, most of the time, I forget that The Book Trust is right under my nose. (can you believe that?) To think that a few months back I was raiding bookshops to get my oldest boy some good YA reads when all the time The Book Trust sat patiently nearby waiting for my visit. My virtual arsenal of knowledge, here I come mind you, on a monthly basis. Shalom

Review – The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta

Tags

African Writers Series, Colonial Powers, Joys of Motherhood, Misery, Second World War

Title: The Joys of Motherhood
Author: Buchi Emecheta
Binding: Paperback
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Pearson Education Limited 
Pages: 254
Publication Date: 1979

This Edition: Heinemann African Writers Series (AWS) Classics –  2008.

Reasons for Reading: I won this book in a Reading Relay organised by logo-ligi

Nnu Ego, (pronounced New Ego) the protagonist of the novel is a symbol of all the joys, woes, despair and ultimately disappointments of universal motherhood. Emecheta spares no effort in portraying her as a woman whose sacrificial love and duty towards her seven children see her wallowing in abject poverty, want, misfortune and ridicule from her husband and neighbours. The traditional and cultural expectations that a woman’s ultimate joy and worth are measured by her motherhood places so much pressure on Nnu Ego and when she is spurned and ill-treated in her first marriage to Amatokwu for being barren, her despair is palpable. She is sent from her hometown of Ibuza in the south-eastern part of Nigeria, to Lagos, the capital, to marry her second husband, Nnaife, a rotund wash-man for the white master  Dr. Meers and his wife. Her disappointment at the sight of her new husband is almost comical.

“She fought back tears of frustrations. She was used to tall wiry farmers, with rough blackened hands from farming, long, lean legs and very dark skin. This was one was short, the flesh of his upper arm danced as he moved about jubilantly among his friends, and that protruding belly! Why did he not cover it? She despised him on first night……….Another thought run through her mind. Suppose this man-made her pregnant, would that not be an untold joy to her people? O my dead mother, please make this dream come true. then I will respect this man, I will be his faithful wife and put up with his crude ways and ugly appearance..”  P 44 -45

To his credit, Nnaife  fathers in rapid succession all Nnu Ego’s children thus fulfilling her greatest desire of becoming a mother. Her toils, amid extreme deprivations only serve to highlight her joy in a glorious future that her children, particularly her sons, will make possible.

“Nnu Ego realized that part of the pride of motherhood was to look a little unfashionable and be able to drawl with joy: “I can’t afford another outfit, because I am nursing him, so you see I can’t go anywhere to sell anything.” One usually received the answer, “Never mind, he will grow soon and clothe you and farm for you, so that your old age will be sweet”

 Throughout the novel, Buchi Emecheta makes good use of dramatic irony and episodic narrative style, to point out the disappointments of Nnu Ego in every aspect of her sojourns in life. including the betrayal of her children, particularly the sons, in neglecting her in her old age. All her best laid plans come to naught, as the apple of her eye, Oshia and his brother Adim leave for the USA and Canada respectively for further studies and never write or send home the much-needed money to relieve the family of poverty. At the end of the novel, lonely and forsaken, her senses start to give way.

“She became vague, and people pointed out that she had never been strong emotionally. ………After much wanderings one night, Nnu Ego lay down by the road side, thinking she had arrived home. She died quietly there, with no child to hold her hand and no friend to talk to….she had never really made many friends, so busy had she been building up her joys as a mother.” P 253

There was never any thought given to educating her two sets of twin daughters. Daughters were looked at as an investment. Hopefully, they would marry well and bring in a good bride price (which would most likely go towards their brothers’ education). Nnu Ego assumes that her sons will come home to live and will care for her as she ages. Again, ironically, Adaku, Nnaife’s dead brother’s widow, whom he inherits as a wife, makes more money trading. Her lavish lifestyle only serves to highlight Nnu Ego’s poverty. But then even Adaku eventually leaves the marriage with her two daughters after she comes to realise that she is not regarded at all in the scheme of things because she has no sons to be counted among women.

“Everybody accuses me of making good money all the time. What else is there for me to do? I will spend the money I have in giving my girls a good start in life. The shall  stop going to them market with me. I shall see that they get enrolled in a good school. I think that will benefit them in the future.” P 189

Seeing the advent and benefits of the girl-child education on the horizon, Adaku is able to make a clean break with tradition, while Nnu Ego still clings to it. She is caught between two often warring worlds; and when resolution comes it is at the expense of her happiness and illusions.

The Joys of Motherhood is also about repressive attitudes of the traditional culture which called for strict regulation of women’s roles as wives in the society. Wives obeyed their husbands in all matters and were and subservient to them. However, this may not be a presumed right that every man holds, especially when the husband is unable to cater adequately for his wife and children as well as additional family members. Thus Nnu Ego is unable to accord Nnaife the full respect he deserves. Her on and off petty trading supplements the meagre income from Nnaife, to make earns meet. Nnu Ego also comes across in the novel as a woman who knows her right in the traditional setting and would not compromise on that.

Set in the colonial era, The Joys of Motherhood is also about influence of colonisation on the people, the new economic order which has made men like Nnaife a ‘woman-made-man‘ laundering the white madam’s clothes (P 48-49); and the gradual disintegration of cultural values. In all this, the family is affected profoundly. The colonial influence challenges and erodes the communal and clan value systems that once defined the African. Again The Joys of Motherhood talks about the effects of the Second World War on a people who did not create the war and did not know why they even had to fight a war they know nothing about. They are at a loss to understand forced conscription into the army and. The economic and social hardships that reared its head during and after the war in Europe is also felt in Nigeria and most significantly in Nnu Ego’s household. She has to scrape to hold the family together in Nnaife’s absence as his meagre allowance of 20 pounds is barely able to sustain them.

The title of the novel itself, The Joys of Motherhood, is ironic, when viewed in the light of the story. But perhaps, Emecheta seems to suggest that Nnu Ego’s joy is in her giving birth to sons, thus clinching her motherhood, respect and place in society. So that in the end, it may not matter at all whether her children take care of her in her old age or not.

I enjoyed this novel so much. Being a mother of sons, I could empathise with Nnu Ego. But perhaps, with the advantage of economic empowerment, advancement and the evolution of culture and tradition, my situation is not dire. Nevertheless, issues relating to motherhood has not changed much in Africa and I dare say elsewhere. It is the prayer of many a mother that their children will grow up and care for them, especially as we in Africa still place some emphasis on the importance of sons, though we know for a fact that daughters might be the ones who do much of the caring.

The Joys of Motherhood is considered a Classic by the  African Writers Series Classics, a brand new Heinemann series which offers a selection of the best works of African literature originally published in the African Writers Series.The fourth novel from the Nigerian-born writer, Buchi Emecheta, The Joys of Motherhood is recognised as one of Africa’s 100 Best Books of the 20th Century in an initiative organised by the Zimbabwe International Book fair. This edition includes an introduction by Dr. Elleke Boehmer, Professor of World Literature in English at Oxford University. (Introduction)

Related Article:

THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD by Buchi Emecheta  by logo-ligi.com

Review – Excursions in my Mind by Nana Awere Damoah

Tags

empower, Excursions in my Mind, inspire, Nana Awere Damoah

Without a doubt, Nana Awere Damoah is now a household name. Judging from my readings of his exploits on the literary scene, interviews, contributions to political, social and economic issues on various platforms and of course his writings, Awere Damoah has made such significant impact on the lives of Ghanaians. Having been privileged to meet the man and discussing various topics with him, I would not be amiss by saying that his writings reflect his thoughts (of course that is so in more cases than one); but what Awere Damoah brings to bear on his writings is his love for humanity.

What Awere Damoah does with Excursions in my Mind, a 133 page book, is not only to inspire, but to empower everyone, young and old with nuggets of wisdom to help them in the journeys of life, as well as to help build up character both morally and spiritually. These nuggets are in the form of anecdotes, Scripture passages, personal experiences of the author, poems, action exercises and quotes from famous people. What is also striking about Excursions in my Mind is that though it has Christian undertones, it does not set out to preach to the reader what he should or should not do; the empowerment series says it as it is, and so can appeal to a cross-section of people.

The author sets out his ideas or nuggets in simple and easy to understand language, interspersing the flow with vernacular on occasion. As usual, the language and narrative are all laced with humour, a trait of all Awere’s writings that I’ve come to admire. Without the ability to laugh at ourselves, life itself becomes dry and we, as human beings, would wither in that dryness. So, some of the stories had me cracking up with laughter, of course not in ways that would make the story lose the lesson or moral it seeks to portray.

I was particularly touched by the recounting of Awere Damoah’s story about the sacrifices of his parents to get him where he is today. I am sure this true-life episode may not be new to some readers since they may also have had similar backgrounds; what is moving in Awere’s case is his level of gratitude and his determination to ‘look after them till their teeth fall out.’ (49-53).

Awere Damoah also shares with his readers, his personal loss of close family members. (pp131-133) I see this as a sign of his humanity, that in sharing his personal tragedies with his readers, he is reaching out to them, offering them solutions to help them also in their time of need. What best way to share your love and concern for humanity?

I believe that Excursions in my Mind is a book that everyone should get and read, to arm himself and generations yet unborn against the hazards of life; for in doing so one will be able to reach into himself to tap into his inner strength to be able to build a better person for himself and for his country.

Nana Awere Damoah’s Tales from Different Tails – A Review

Tags

adults, betrayal, campus love, compassion, friendship, Ghanaian culture, love, Nana Awere Damoah, trust, young adults

Hmm! Nana Awere Damoah – the man to watch. His Tales  from Different Tails is a-must read for both the young adult and adult. I spent the whole of Saturday reading this wonderful collections of short stories in between tidying up the house, cooking for the week and attending  to the kids’ homework and what a read!

To simply say that Awere Damoah’s collection is campus based love stories intended to send the reader through nostalgic journeys, or intended to make the reader wish that he had been in the university to taste of the experiences described would be an injustice to the author, because the stories are more than that. More often than not, couples who meet on university campuses and fall in love end up marrying after they leave campus and it is only fair to conclude that, Awere is justified in basing his love stories on the university campus

However, Awere’s collections also touch on compassion, hurt, betrayal, loyalty, trust, friendship poverty, evil and courage; these are traits or characteristics that drive the human will and actions.  Beautifully lacing all these together is humour and fun.

Awere’s use of language relaxes the reader, taking him to familiar sites where they meet your everyday kind of person. The narrative is straightforward, yet deep, interspersed with rich proverbs and anecdotes reflecting the author’s deep insight and knowledge of the Ghanaian culture and traditions. Again, bits of the local dialects Twi and Ga,  sprinkled in the narrative with the English language creates in the reader an identifiable connection with the plots/themes.  The campus lingua in the narrative of the campus scenes is a bonus that had me reeling.

In October Rush, I had a lot of fun reliving campus days at Legon.  I can recall the ‘inte’ and ‘exte’ dating, and the adrenalin charged young men trooping to Volta hall to swim in the lake. However, one cannot help but admire Awere for bringing up the hypocrisy of some ‘chrife’ students and how they sometimes misinterpret God’s directive’s and messages for their own ends.

“Brother, God bless you for your prayers. May I ask what you were praying about?”

 Bazook smiled at the stranger, wondering; perhaps he wants to tap into my passion for souls? “Well I was            interceding for souls.”

The stranger responded, “Brother, the Spirit intercedes for us with groans we cannot understand, and He knows our real heart’s desires.  I can interpret tongues and all I heard you say for two hours I have been here at Paa Joe was ‘Lord Give me a wife!…..’ 

I actually felt sorry for Bazook.

In Truth Floats, Kwaku Ananse (as his name depicts his cunning and evil nature) betrays his best friend from campus days, Akoto in the most cruel and underhanded manner imaginable by manipulating, wooing and finally marrying Akoto’s fiancee.  This story goes beyond mere campus love story. It captures for us betrayal of trust and friendship and exposes the baseness of human nature. But Awere assures us that love conquers all when Akoto and Adoma come together in the end.

Dribble De Zagidibogidi is also a tale of betrayal which started from the university campus. I love this story  because it brings out the forgiving side of God in the person of Robbie, the born-again Christian whom Randy had treated badly on campus and whom Randy had taught raped his girlfriend.

“Randy let bygones be bygones O.K.?

Hardened (Randy’s nickname) softened. His tongue was not used  to this exercise. “Can you forgive me, Robbie?”

“Of course, I can.” “I must.”

“But why? How can you?”

Robbie smiled, The Jesus Way, remember?”

What else can be so beautiful and inspiring?

Kojo Nkrabea is a tale of woe and courage. Yes, courage for, Nkrabea found the courage to go back home to Moseaso, to face the music he played by running away to the city. He had the courage to run away from a life of robbery back home to his roots in Moseaso where he will ‘caress memories and take life from there.” 

In Guardian of the Rented Well, we meet Akosua Atiemo whose husband is away on peace keeping duties in Rwanda. Akosua indulges in an affair with Mr. Benson Stephen, a publisher who ended up not even publishing the manuscript Akosua had taken to him to see if it had possibilities. The affair becomes so hot that Stephen loses track and rides on the waves of pure ecstasy to his downfall. He is nearly killed by the army officer, Patrick Atiemo  when he returns unannounced to find his wife in another’s arms. The tragedy is that Patrick shoots and kills his wife after which he turns the gun on himself and ‘blows his head off.‘

This is a story of faithlessness and betrayal. Patrick needn’t have committed suicide. That was an easy way out. I see him as an army officer without courage. Akosua is just not worth it.

But Stephens is redeemed after being given a second chance by his Maker. He becomes an ambassador for Christ. Our elders say that it is only experience that changes a person, and not talk or advice.

Nana Awere Damoah has written a piece that challenges us a people to rethink our values as Christians and as human beings who value relationships with others. At the end of the day when all is said and done, it is love that surpasses all the virtues, love for mankind.

I highly recommend Nana Awere Damoah’s Tales from Different Tails. Well done!

Wonderful Wednesday

Tags

Africa Reading Challenge, Back to the Classics Challenge 2012, IPS., Kinna Reads, Lists

Hello, I just had an interesting visit from Kinna of Kinna Reads, right in my office at IPS. She is a very good friend and we go back a long way. She is helping to welcome me into the world of book bloggers. Yeah, I’m still learning and it’s been an interesting hour and a half. I know what you’re thinking, yes, that long. We were so engrossed, I mean I was so keen on all the good bits she had to offer that we lost track of the time. Thanks, Kinna for the gems. Old friends are the best.

I am tidying up my list for the Back to the Classics Challenge 2012 and Africa Reading Challenge, hosted by Sarah Reads Too Much and Kinna Reads respectively. You won’t believe it, I had to scout through an old chop box from secondary school days, rummaging for precious books for both challenges. Below are my two lists for the Challenges. Mind you , these are provisional:

Back to the Classics Challenge 2012

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus  by Christopher Marlowe    –  Classic Play

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy   –  19th Century Classic/Classic Romance

Dracula by Bram Stoker  –  Classic Horror/Mystery/Crime Fiction

Enemy Within  by Steve Jacobs  –  20th Century Classic

Nicholas II, The Last of the Tsars by Marc Ferro – (Non-Fiction) – Classic set somewhere you are unlikely to visit (That’s it for now. More will be added later)

Africa Reading Challenge

Chaka by Thomas Mofolo (translated by Daniel P Kunene) – South Africa-Non Fiction

Distant View of a Minaret by Alisa Riffat – North Africa – Fiction

Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo – West Africa – Fiction

My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola – West Africa-Fiction

Weep Not Child  by Ngugi Wa’ Thiong’o- East Africa – Fiction

Currently I’m reading Tales from Different Tails by Nana Awere Damoah, for review. The book has been on my TBR list since I was given a complimentary copy for review by the author. So, dear friends, look out for the review of this book very soon. Ciao!