Our July get together saw us choose from a selection of African authors. As usual a wide variety of subjects, reviews and reactions were covered.
Connie - HIS ONLY WIFE - Peace Adzo Medie.
The 1st novel by the author. Afi - 20yo young, single woman from Ghana living with her widowed mother in a small village is organised, by a wealthy Indian woman, to a marry her son. The girl has no say in the proposal. He already has a wife and child however arranged marriages and multiples wives for men are common. On her wedding day the groom doesn't attend but the wedding continues. Afi waits for many weeks before her new husband visits. She is however living in luxurious accommodation with all her everyday needs met by her wealthy husband. Afi really wants her husband to be with her, she wants a family. Over time Afi learns to make a life for herself, gaining confidence and building on her creative skills. Connie felt the different societal rules were hard to accept, the culture so different but she did learn a lot about life in Ghana.
Helen - AMERICANA - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Ifemelu, a young and spirited woman from Lagos Nigeria is well educated. Her parents both are academics. She moves to America to learn and experience life there, leaving her 1st love behind. He hopes to follow later. In America she experiences racism, levels of class distinction, what it's like to be 'black' in America, the politics of hair, corruption that is evident in her own country, the plight of finding work in Nigeria etc. Highly recommended.
Joan - THINGS FALL APART - Chinua Achebe.
Village customs, beliefs, traditions and tribal life are all explored in this novel. A family unit in Nigeria, 3 wives, many daughters, only 1 son and a weak father who's an alcoholic and violent. The son, despite his home life grows up ok however an oracle decrees he must be killed by the father. This happens. The book shows the harshness of tribal life and oral traditions. A wonderful book.
Jo - THE HOUSE GUN - Nadine Gordimer.
All about apartheid, intruders, thieves. A son, Duncan, murdered a man. The story looks at the affect of violence in society. Jo thought the book very flat, the story didn't gel.
Tam - HOW BEAUTIFUL WE WERE - Imbolo Mbue.
Fictional story set in an African village. A wealthy, powerful Oil company changes the landscape in their desire to make money. The waterways are poisoned, the environment destroyed. Children die.
The villagers try to fight back using whatever means they can but are no match in a battle against the wealthy oil giant. One educated young woman takes over and leads the fight with some success. A good book, it opens your eyes to the exploitation and corruption of some big business.
Diann - ALL BLOOD IS BLACK - David Diop.
A soldier with the Senegal army kills people in the most horrible ways. A book full of rage, violence and sadness. Diann did not like the content at all.
Pamela - GOLDFISH IN THE PARLOUR - John Simons.
In 2016 Inky the Octopus in a NZ aquarium escapes. In 1873 in a Brighton aquarium it is notices that lump fish are reducing in their numbers but there's no evidences of why. It is discovered that an octopus in a nearby tank climbs out at night, goes into the lump fish tank, eats them then returns to its own tank. Research now shows that octopus are very intelligent and fish feel pain. Thought provoking ideas about how sea creatures are treated by humans.
Kris - FRESHWATER - Akwaeke Emezi.
A child is born with 2 entities inside her. The story is told by both of the spirits that inhabit the child. Depressing, dark and disturbing. Kris didn't finish the book.
Rosemary S - THE DEATH OF VIVEK OJI - Akwaeke Emezi.
LGBTQ themes, set in Nigeria during 1980's and 1990's. About the short, tragic life of Vivek and his cousin. Vivek realises he's not comfortable living as a male. Nigerian culture looked down on the LGBTQ society and used exorcism, violence and cruelty to drive out the devil from anyone from that community. Many secrets were kept, a very complicated story of self acceptance, that of the family and also of the wider community.
Judy D - MY SISTER THE SERIAL KILLER - Oyinkan Braithwaite.
During dinner a woman receives a phone call from her younger sister. The older woman knows exactly what's in store - she'll need bleach, rubber gloves, a strong stomach. Her sister has killed her boyfriend "in self defence". It's happened 3 times now so there's a pattern. "Blood is thicker than water" as a motto works fine until the older sister realises her own love interest (unrequited) is being pursued by her younger sister. Quirky, an easy read.
Lyn - THE PROMISE - Damon Galgut.
Saga about a white SA family living on a farm outside Pretoria during the transition out of apartheid. The death of Rachel brings the family together and it is recalled that her Africana husband (Manie) had promised to give a plot of land and a shack to a long serving maid. Family members recalled the Promise however Manie refused to honour the pledge. A 'curse' seems to settle on the family. The author weaves numerous family tragedies into the saga. The historical background and significance of the events, plus the very descriptive and vividly written prose made for a really enjoyable read.
Pru - JULY'S PEOPLE - Nadine Gordimer.
Set in the future where apartheid has ended, predictions are made about how the country then functions. A man - July - secretly takes the wealthy, white family he has worked for to safety as increasing violence comes closer to their land. The storyline is interesting as now the white family live in a small village, have to forage for food themselves, are not the prominent leaders and have to acknowledge and adapt to different cultural and traditional practices. Pru felt the book provided a brilliant exposure to cultural beliefs and contrasts, was tightly written and considered the difficulties of trying to equalise relationships between the races.
Lesley - THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS - J.M.Coetzee.
A simple story of a young child and a man, strangers to each other, who arrive at a town after spending time in a refugee camp. The child, too young to recall his past, has lost the identity tag he wore and as such has no one to guide and protect him. Simon, also a refugee, takes on the role of trying to find the boy's mother. Simon renames the unusual child David. A strange tale about displacement, searching for answers, relationships all in a rather surreal setting. The people and the setting are all quite bland, the characters unlikeable, the storyline seems to be on a loop (when things don't work out for Simon and David they move to another town to start the process of existing again). Vague references to religion are scattered throughout the book but seem meaningless.
Bev - MAKING WOLF - Tade Thompson.
A young, West African supermarket detective living in London returns home after the death of his aunt. It's a different world he returns to. He tells his family he is a detective, rather than lose face by saying his job in London was in a supermarket. The young man is kidnapped at the wake by rebels and ordered to solve the disappearance of a local man. He quickly realises he is in the middle of a battle by revolutionaries filled with deception and violence. Not recommended.
Rosemary W. - GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER - Bernadine Evaristo.
12 female characters, mostly black, are explored looking at their struggles and lives. Cultural differences, gender identities, relationships issues, living in modern day England the book is an eye opener and dispels some pre conceived notions about differences in people. The book fascinated Rosemary.
Judy A - THINGS FALL APART - Chinua Achebe.
A man wants to be a success, be important BUT he is violent and has a dreadful temper. What is success? He kills his only son to seek importance. His demise is representative of the destruction of culture. The book was OK.
Pat - THE OTHER AMERICANS - Laila Lalami.
A Moroccan immigrant is killed by a speeding car. This incident brings together many characters that are intertwined and affected by his death. Pat found the storyline very credible and very interesting. A novel about people and feelings.
Ed - GINGERBREAD - Helen Oyeyemi.
Trying to help her daughter find new friends and 'fit' in, a mother takes to making gingerbread from an old family recipe. The idea is that it will help break down barriers and show friendship. Ed didn't like the mother or the daughter, and felt she should have left the book on the library shelf.
Our theme for August is - ANIMALS.
Lesley
