Well Trained Mind Readers discussion

On March 21st, Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, seen by many as the father of African literature, passed away at the age of 82. He is most well known for his novel Things Fall Apart, a book I've had on my wishlist and have been meaning to read for quite a while ever since I read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. A few years back I took a film versus literature course in which one of the books we compared was Conrad's book with the movie Apocalypse Now. Included in the book were several essays including one written by Achebe called An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness. It was a reprisal of a lecture he had given in 1975 tackling the racism portrayed in the story. Achebe believed that not only were the ideas in the book racist, but reflected the author's personal beliefs.

Having read Heart of Darkness I can totally understand his point of view and why I wanted to read Things Fall Apart.The book is now winging it way to me (thank you Amazon) and I'll probably be reading it sooner than later. Will I be rereading Heart of Darkness since it's been 3 or 4 years since I read it? I don't know - It is a short novella that packs a punch and stays with you for a very long time.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, in honor of Chinua Achebe, is sometime this year, read and compare Heart of Darkness with Things Fall Apart, then watch Apocalypse now. Check out his other books here.

Sounds really interesting.You will have to let us know how you like Things Fall Apart.

I am still working on The Iliad and just picked up Song of Achilles from the library. I haven't started it yet, but it seems to be set before the Trojan war and told for a modern audience. I think it was written in 2011.

I have also started Oliver Twist (as part of the WEM novel list).

I have Surviving the Applewhite on audiobook for my daughter's Newbery challenge...she is blowing me away and getting through 3-4 books a week.

I'm starting Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain and am really enjoying it.

I FINALLY finished The Divine Comedy and The House of Mirth. I highly recommend both!