Everyone of my friends recommended this book, I recommend it to everyone else. The story of a family and the different characters that exist around th...moreEveryone of my friends recommended this book, I recommend it to everyone else. The story of a family and the different characters that exist around them. A time of war and strife, deep dark despair of starvation and tribalism. Isn't always tribalism in Africa that always leads to war? Colonial histories, inequitable resources? It is a sad book filled with despair and I felt their pain through Chimamanda's words. She is a brilliant storyteller. Read this.
"War is ugly. Somethings should never be forgotten."(less)
This book resonated with me because this is the same struggle that I have, finding a balance between what the bible says and what I believe as an Afri...moreThis book resonated with me because this is the same struggle that I have, finding a balance between what the bible says and what I believe as an African. We gave up our customs for the sake of Christianity, was this a worthy sacrifice? Did we give up our customs, part of our identity unnecessarily? Would they exist side by side? Have we tried to look for a balance?
I felt the book very deeply because you could feel the helplessness of the people living in a country that has stopped functioning, where basic rights are forgotten and the government does not work for the people but for its own personal agendas. I am "Amaka" I want to be her at least..never being silent when rights are trampled on. Being opinionated. I could write so much about this book... brilliantly written book. An absolute masterpiece.(less)
**spoiler alert** It is almost a year since I started this book. We battled for months and months, I think I have won. This is not a book to be taken...more**spoiler alert** It is almost a year since I started this book. We battled for months and months, I think I have won. This is not a book to be taken lightly...and it is not a book to be taken too serious. There are passages of complete and utter clarity followed by pages of inscrutable situations. Ben Okri said the key to the book was in the first passage.. "In the beginning there was a river. The river became a road and the road branched out to the whole world. And because the road was once a river it was always hungry."
The stories are a study of Nigeria against America, lots of African's yearn for a better life abroad. The detail and realism of her stories is incompa...moreThe stories are a study of Nigeria against America, lots of African's yearn for a better life abroad. The detail and realism of her stories is incomparable. I enjoyed the characters in her stories...all flawed. Although a lot of her characters walk away from situations, or run away.(less)
An absolute joy to read. I doubt one can remain unchanged by Mariama Ba's words. She speaks the language of the soul. Brilliant addition to my favorit...moreAn absolute joy to read. I doubt one can remain unchanged by Mariama Ba's words. She speaks the language of the soul. Brilliant addition to my favorite books.(less)
The book is set in West Africa in a time of awakening for the African workers of the region. The story follows several strong characters and shows dif...moreThe book is set in West Africa in a time of awakening for the African workers of the region. The story follows several strong characters and shows different ways in which they deal with the strike...it is a courageous tale of courageous people. The spirit that moves within this story fills me with hope that suffering creates strength to withstand anything...and eventually welcome celebration. Loss is part of life..
A beautiful study of the human spirit of endurance, and hope. Eternal and everlasting hope.(less)
I struggled to finish this book before the year ran out. Okri has beautiful language granted; but he can be a little verbose. There are passages that...moreI struggled to finish this book before the year ran out. Okri has beautiful language granted; but he can be a little verbose. There are passages that are so beautiful that they made me cry. The story was a little out there (magical kingdoms and tribes). For lovers of language and musical language then Okri is a must-read. (less)
**spoiler alert** “Ouleymatou had become his true soulmate, the woman in whom he recognised the extension of himself. She was, as Mabo Dialli so right...more**spoiler alert** “Ouleymatou had become his true soulmate, the woman in whom he recognised the extension of himself. She was, as Mabo Dialli so rightly sang, at one and the same time his roots, his stock, his growth, his flowering. They were linked by their childhood, spent in the maze of dusty streets. Most important they were linked by their common ancestors, the same skies. The same soil! The same traditions! Their souls were impregnated with the sap of the same customs. They were ecited by the same causes. Neither Ousmane nor Ouleymatou could disclaim this commom esscence without distorting their very natures. Cultural heritage was taking its pitiless revenge. It was reclaiming its due and revealing to Ousamane the end point of his flight.”-Mariama Ba, Scarlet Song.
The book explores a mixed race marriage and brings to light the cultural differences between an African and a European. What it is to be African is described so richly in Mariama Ba’s words. I wondered whether all the people in mixed marriages go through this; giving up your culture for the sake of love. Is that too big a sacrifice for the sake of life. Is there a compromise? Can there be a compromise? Would I be willing to give up my culture for love? [I wrote this on my blog ages ago after I read the book http://corvinus.tumblr.com/post/11587...](less)
Brilliant read. A book infused with so much African spirit I am steeped in it. The sayings, the flow of the story. The narrator is an African storytel...moreBrilliant read. A book infused with so much African spirit I am steeped in it. The sayings, the flow of the story. The narrator is an African storyteller, I felt like I was sitting by the fire listening to this man weave this beautiful story.
He speaks the truth, he understands the dictators of Africa. Brilliant political satire. (less)
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