Afro Book Club discussion

This folder is for Beverly's posts and reviews

The two reviews listed below are for books that were first published in the US in 2011 and deal with the Niger Delta region.

Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away by Christie Watson
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Oil On Water by Helon Habila
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Oil and Water by Helon Habila seems very interesting, will put it on my list to read next year. Thanks for this

One of my top reads last year was Searching for Zion: The Quest for Home in the African Diaspora

Searching for Zion by Emily Raboteau is a soul-bearing contemplative journey seeking an answer to the question – “So, where is my home?” Growing up in the privileged environment of Princeton, New Jersey where her father was a professor specializing in antebellum African-American Christianity, Emily was aware she was different. Finding kinship with another girl, Tamar, who was also different as her father was a professor in medieval Jewish history, the girls learned and bonded around their connected history of oppression and the concept of the Promised Land. Disillusioned by America’s false hope of equality, her family’s unspoken ghosts of past racial transmissions, acerbated by her father’s leaving the family, Emily spent most of her young adult life in a “blanket of low-burning rage” until a vile humiliating incident with EL Al security staff turns up the flame. Emily realizes despite whatever imperfections that may exist, her friend, Tamar had her Zion – Israel, a real physical place that she can call home, and her mind is screaming where is my Promised Land (home). Thus the seed for the author to explore places Blacks have sought out to settle and establish a sense of home was germinated.

Here is my full review/thoughts on this book:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Beverly this one is getting my attention, I can identify with this search
thanks for the review

TransAfrica Bookclub - When I lived in the Washington DC area this was one of my bookclubs. The discussions were lively. and informative and I got exposed to books and ideas/theories that inspired to learn more and challenged some of the ideas that I had.

I would encourage anyone who lives in the area and is interested in theory/policies affecting people of color to join this group.

They do have a web presence with book list and other information - that may have some of you adding more books to your reading lists. :)

http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org...

Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa was one of my top reads in 2013.

I enjoy travelling so this book was right up my alley.

My thoughts:
• I really enjoyed this book – it is part travelogue, part memoir, part history lesson, part commentary written in an engaging thoughtful informative manner.
• I have read several books on Nigeria but most of the books concentrated on one region or a specific conflict regarding a specific event or a specific ethnic group. But this book gave me a great introduction to Nigeria as a whole and as separate regions – it open up my eyes on how much more I have to learn.
• I especially liked how the author sought out historical sites in each of the places she visited – also providing the history of the place. It was heartbreaking to read about the historical sites being neglected and/or the valuable artifacts that exist outside of Nigeria
• Sometimes you have to be away from a situation to fully comprehend the situation and I thought the author wrote with honesty and compassion on what she observed and what the future potential could be.
• One of the interesting commentaries throughout the book dealt with corruption and the government – and how most of the people see spoke to in Nigeria had the same attitude about it - but in contradiction the author mentions that she could leave her bags in an open truck, etc and they would not be stolen – that corruption/stealing did not extend to that everyday individual level.
• This book will enhance my future reading of stories set in Nigeria as I have better overview of the landscape and the connection between the regions.
• The only thing is I wish that a map with the cities was included – but this is just a nitpick thing with me as I am visual and like to understand where places are relative to others – so I just looked at a map of Nigeria every time the author moved to another place.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was also a favorite read for 2013. i should mention that Adichie is one of my fav authors and I have enjoyed all of her work.

A remarkable storyteller with a keen sense of observation, Adichie’s ambition novel is destined to become a classic of its time. In pitch-perfect tone the book expertly captures the world of Nigerians finding their way within their country and their immigration to the United States and Great Britain, exploring the concept of Blackness is a more universal sense, exploring what bonds us, what separates us and how these threads of sameness and differences are tentative and situational and often complicated by class and status. The most entrancing aspect for me is the Tocqueville-like manner Adichie chronicles the non-American Black experience in America via Ifemelu’s blog entries – what primer on an outsider looking in the American culture. A witty, warm, thought-provoking tale of how global and insular we are. I expect this book will be on many award lists.

Beverly wrote: "Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa was one of my top reads in 2013.

I enjoy travelling so this book was right up my alley.

My though..."

Nice one, this goes on my to read list in the next two months Thank You Beverly

Looks like I should read Americanah Beverly and soon. Will make it part of the holiday reading

The King's Rifle: A Novel by Biyi Bandele

I enjoy fiction and history - so when I can both at the same time I am a happy camper. Reading historical fiction leads me to researching history and getting a more rounded picture of the times.

In The King's Rife by Biyi Bandele, we are taken into the maddening world of World War II African soldiers who fought for the British against the Japanese in Burma. These soldiers were part the Allied Special Forces, known as Chindits, named after the Burmese mythical winged lion. While this was a diverse group of soldiers, little is known about the African soldiers and their contributions to the war effort. The story also centers on the coming-of-age of Ali Banana.

Ali Banana, a thirteen year-old, who is indentured as apprentice to a cruel blacksmith, decides on a whim to follow his older friends as they march off to join the British to fight a war they know little about. Ali's superior know that he is underage, but they are not aware how young he really is and is soon shipped off to be trained in India in preparation of being dropped behind enemy lines in the Burma jungle. While Ali is a fictional character, the horrors of war we witness through his eyes are all based on factual events.

The author's background as a playwright is evident as the novel reads like a play with dialogue setting the scenes for us. The scenes were played out in my mind as if I were watching a play. One of the most effective uses of dialogue in the book is in ordinary conversations among the men as they wait for the nightly attacks from the Japanese. Through these conversations we learn of the differences among the West Africans that are part of the Chindits, in their religion and tribal differences. The author also addresses the issues of race and class that existed during the time period, but does it in an implicit manner.

But this is primarily a military story and the author has done his research on the techniques and cruelties from both the British and Japanese. I enjoyed reading about this lesser known piece of history but I believe having more historical background incorporated into the storyline would have enhanced the reading experience.

I recommend this book for fans of historical fiction and military history. Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories will also be interested in the learning how Ali learns about the larger world and becomes a man.

Reviewed by Beverly
APOOO BookClub
April 21, 2009

Donald wrote: "Looks like I should read Americanah Beverly and soon. Will make it part of the holiday reading"

Have you read Adichie before?

The Wine of Astonishment by Earl Lovelace

• I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this book. It has been some time since I read a “Caribbean Classic” and I wondered how I missed this book as during the 80s and early 90s I was reading most of the books that were part of the Heinemann Caribbean Writers Series.
• This book was 146 pages and the author did a impressive job of telling the story of a small community and the challenges they faced in a recent post-colonial world, the “invasion” of American soldiers and how it affected (or maybe just accelerated) the transition the challenges of a modern more urban focused culture, and the challenge of violence vs patience (working through the approved process) for achieving equality goals.

Read full review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Beverly wrote: "Donald wrote: "Looks like I should read Americanah Beverly and soon. Will make it part of the holiday reading"

Have you read Adichie before?"

Adichie is my all tine favourite.. I look forward to reading Americanah next year.

Beverly wrote: "Donald wrote: "Looks like I should read Americanah Beverly and soon. Will make it part of the holiday reading"

Have you read Adichie before?"

Yes I have read Half a Yellow Sun. Slowly gettin into fiction - but a non fiction person at heart. I will read Americanah this year tho

Donald wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Donald wrote: "Looks like I should read Americanah Beverly and soon. Will make it part of the holiday reading"

Have you read Adichie before?"

Yes I have read Half ..."

LOL Donald - Yes, I gathered you are a non-fiction reader at heart. And yes most of my reviews will be for fiction books. I do read non-fiction books but they are usually history/cultural related as opposed to memoir types.

I am reading a really interesting non-fiction book now on a subject that has not been explored much in the US - Slavery's Exiles: The Story of the American Maroons

i'm reading 'americanah' at the moment - absolutely loving it ... like her other books. wow !!

Beverly wrote: "Donald wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Donald wrote: "Looks like I should read Americanah Beverly and soon. Will make it part of the holiday reading"

Have you read Adichie before?"

Yes I ..."

Thanks for the recommend Beverly