Great African Reads discussion

There is a rich literature by and about Africans who are living the immigrant experience. I just finished Tahar Ben Jelloun's A Palace in the Old Village, a novel about a Moroccan immigrant who raised his family in Paris, eventually completely losing all relationship with his assimilated children. Now I'm onto On Black Sisters' Street, which follows Nigerian women taken into the sex trade in Belgium. And of course there's What Is the What, by David Eggers, and so much more. There's a wealth of possibilities in this topic, both fiction and non-fiction. Is anyone else interested in discussing such books?

Dina wrote: "There is a rich literature by and about Africans who are living the immigrant experience. I just finished Tahar Ben Jelloun's A Palace in the Old Village, a novel about a Moroccan immigrant who rai..."

[thanks so much Dina!]

i've read What is the What and loved it. I've wanted to read A Palace in the Old Village: A Novel for awhile but haven't yet. and On Black Sisters Streetis something i'd definitely like to read.

emigration/immigration is definitely a great sub-topic for this group...I may just make a brand new folder for Diaspora literature...

Marieke wrote: "Dina wrote: "There is a rich literature by and about Africans who are living the immigrant experience. I just finished Tahar Ben Jelloun's A Palace in the Old Village, a novel about a Moroccan immi..."

Ah, diaspora...marvelous word. I will add that as a category in my book list and start filling it with possibilities!

The diasporan experience of Africans - in the US, and elsewhere - seems to be quite a popular topic for many of the younger African writers, many of whom are part of that diaspora. I've just finished reading Tropical Fish: Tales From Entebbe by Doreen Baingana, and at least one of her stories is set in the US. As for E C Osondu's Voice of America: Stories, the title indicates the focus of many of the stories.

Nina wrote: "The diasporan experience of Africans - in the US, and elsewhere - seems to be quite a popular topic for many of the younger African writers, many of whom are part of that diaspora. I've just finis..."
I agree Nina. In a way that is what made Jelloun's book so engrossing, as it was about an immigrant at the end of his days, looking back on and puzzling about his life. There are now also older Africans returning from abroad, searching for the sense of home that they never found elsewhere, only to find that the home they left no longer exists. I've added Tropical Fish to my to-read list. Thank you for the suggestions!

How about The Thing Around Your Neck, a collection of short stories by Chimimanda Ngoze Adichie? The stories weave together to paint a picture of immigrant experience. I heard this author lecture at Chicago Lit Fest in 2010. She promotes writing and publishing in Nigeria. Her website is valuable resource for African Lit, especially LINKS. http://www.l3.ulg.ac.be/adichie/

Sharon wrote: "How about The Thing Around Your Neck, a collection of short stories by Chimimanda Ngoze Adichie? The stories weave together to paint a picture of immigrant experience. I heard this author lecture..."

Excellent. I've read something by Adichie, but it was years ago and my memory being so poor (that's what Goodreads is for, right?) I no longer remember what it was :{ I will look at the list.

The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears

Excellent topic :) I am very aware of the classics and such about immigrants in France (or elsewhere in Europe), but I need to do some catching up with the literature about Africans in the US - thanks guys!

I'm pretty sure you all know these authors already as they've shown up in book club reads or nominations - Ken Bugul, Alain Mabanckou, Fatou Diome, Calixthe Beyala (listed because they have books in English translation)

Oh, but for a more literary-essay academic take on this, I recommend Manthia Diawara's We Won't Budge: An African Exile in the World. I think you guys would like it - provides some interesting comparison between the African immigrant experience in France and in the US.

Sho wrote: "The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears"

i just read this and thought it was excellent. :D

I just added We Won't Budge, Mahrianna!

I'm reading The Translator, a novel about a woman from Sudan living in Scotland.

Wonderful new book suggestions. I am so excited by these responses. I think this genre, if it can be called that, brings a wealth of wonderful writing to Western readers, combining the unique story-telling approach of foreign lands, with an updated view of the immigrant experience, and genesis, for our times. It's socio-political-economic upheaval made personal. I find all these books both compelling and enlightening. What do you think?

Just finished On Black Sisters Street. Must say I was a tad disappointed by the writing and story-telling technique. I expected to be blown away. I wasn't. Am I getting jaded?

I liked The Second Life of Samuel Tyne Unabridged Audiobookabout a Nigerian family in Canada and have been wanting to read The Icarus Girl.

i've been wanting to read The Icarus Girl, too. I've had it on my shelf ever since it came out in paperback but have never managed to get around to reading it. :(

Dina wrote: "Just finished On Black Sisters Street. Must say I was a tad disappointed by the writing and story-telling technique. I expected to be blown away. I wasn't. Am I getting jaded?"

Dina, that's too bad. i doubt you're getting jaded; i think that just happens sometimes. and i vaguely recall some others having a similar reaction. i still want to read it, though. thanks for lowering my expectations! ;)

maybe her next book will blow you away...

Marieke wrote: "Dina wrote: "Just finished On Black Sisters Street. Must say I was a tad disappointed by the writing and story-telling technique. I expected to be blown away. I wasn't. Am I getting jaded?"

Din..."Let me know what you think once you're through. I'm ready for a really captivating book now. Not sure what it'll be......