Grief Child

by Lawrence Darmani

It was midnight. The little village of Susa slept in darkness in the heart of the forest farms, among the tall trees. The mahoganies and sapeles stood tall in the dark sky, providing a canopy over the village and deepening the density of the pitch-dark night. From a distant cluster of neighboring villages, Adu herd a dog bark. Another dog howled. In this village midnight was a dangerous time. It was better not to be awake or hear noises.....

Genres: Literature, Grief, Ghana, Novels, School, Fiction

187 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1991

Reviews

[Louisa Opoku]

Lawrence's purpose in publishing Grief Child is to inform the others that, life may be of obstacles and struggling but brave, hope and determined people get through it. Grief Child is an inspirational book to the readers and those who have heard of it. It shows the similarities of challenges of what people go through.Life is too short to give up. After every failure, there is success.This means, failure strengths us to be stronger to face the future and enjoy the good bad of failure.
Grief Child has brought many impact to the society, both children and adults. Listeners to the story know what the story says, and what the character went through. It shows us that, many people have gone through stronger and all-lost hope challenges but they have been able to make it.
The book, Grief Child is well written. This is because, its chapter have an effect on the reader especially in emotions. It is well organized and the characters in the story played an important role. Each character has an effect, for instance, how to get the reader curious on what will happen next, how to change the mood of the reader.I found myself in tears when I got to the middle of the story.
The book was very captive. I didn't relate any of the characters because they all played a massive role. The greatest strength of the story is when Afolabi thought of going to school even though there was no hope. Food was a major problems but it didn't stop him from reaching his priority. The greatest weakest of the story was, it couldn't explain further about what happened to the people who helped Afolabi in reaching his goal.
I would recommend this book to a friend, a student who is a stranger and has lost hope for his or her future. I like emotional book like Had I known, Until my last breath and The World Is Dynamic (these are African book I have read in my country) but none of them can be compared in terms of emotion. It educates the readers to keep strong and they shall make it. Such is Life!!!

[حسن حجازي]

whether you’ve been to Ghana or not, this novel puts hand on the warmest ghanian impressions: the crops planted there, tall trees of cocoa, the food as fufu, the wicky weather and harmattan ... all of these are presented here.

Moreover, everyone during reading, will pass by more than one grief: orphanhood (losing mom then dad) then losing sister, leaving childhood village, being treated badly by your sole relative and so on.

In this novel, myth interlocks with reality where they progress in parellel adding suspense to the plot.

To me, it's not a good-evil war. It's a struggle for life.

[Lynda]

It was great seeing how an author from another culture writes. I enjoyed this book thoroghly. It was about a boy who lost his whole family what his life was like after that.

[Robin]

Sad story of a young boy who loses his parents and only sister in a matter of months

[Allan Jerry]

I really like this book is a nice novel... i want to tell learners to keep reading on them.

[Ebenezer]

This book is one history

[Addo Benjamin armah]

The book is so nice.

[Jerry]

An interesting book.

[Lorretta]

I can't read

[Yeboah]

am almost carried away by this book

[Gloria]

Love how Ghanaian culture weaves itself throughout this story. You can see the Christian presence (which is more prominent in the south) juxtaposed with the animism so common in villages. Dreams and animals play an important role in foreshadowing. Picked this book up in a print shop in Ghana and what a perfect book for this season of life :)

[Bra Anyaa]

This book is one of the best books I have ever read. When I read it at first I nearly wept. It teaches more moral lessons and African culture. It tells the reader that at every challenge just be courageous and not give up at ones.

[Nyameba]

This novel is really interesting and sad at the same time, as the character looses his parents and sister as well. It reminds me of our village where the houses are far apart and hardly will you hear people talking and the tress standing in the dark at mid-night scares at times.

[Karren Sakala]

I read the book because my friend used to read it when she was growing up. I was curious to know about her childhood since we come from different countries.

I am grateful to the author I had a glimpse of Ghanaian culture and traditions. The story is indeed sad I cried a lot..

[Damien]

it's a book that makes one realize that, he/she has to appreciate what he/she has

[Oscar Marvinz]

Understanding the book is the best thing

[Lawrenda]

I want to read

[Oheneba Karikari]

Love reading this book since from shs

[Agyei Tuffour]

Loving and interested

[N.K. Aning]

A true gem

[Zilevu Peter]

The best of all

[Davinvalencia]

love the book

[Afranie Agnes]

This book is very inspirational, I've read it several times. I really enjoy reading it every day😇

[Maheen Junaid]

Good

[Irene]

It was superb. I love the story even though it was a sad one. I read for literature classes back in high school and always wanted to read it again.

[Christabel Ampomah]

I love this book

[Jamal]

Nice

[Noah Gume]

Nice

[Alba Auma]

Excellent

[Nkän Sâh]

Its a nice story