false 54 36 30 true 5886503 read 1 true 38654 currently-reading 5 true 38653 to-read 7 false 39813 stay-at-home-in-bed-books 2 false 39821 half-read-n-abandoned http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57241298 River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze (P.S.) by Peter Hessler
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57044744 to: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress: A Novel (Paperback) by Dai Sijie
bookshelves: stay-at-home-in-bed-books
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57044687 to: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Hardcover) by Junot Díaz
bookshelves: stay-at-home-in-bed-books
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31339679 to: A Civil Action (Paperback) by Jonathan Harr
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31339633 to: Uncle Tom's Cabin (Paperback) by Harriet Beecher Stowe
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28317828 Le baobab fou (Vies africaines) by Ken Bugul
bookshelves: to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28317470 to: Life Turns Man Up and Down: High Life, Useful Advice, and Mad English (Hardcover) by Kurt Thometz
I can't say that I've read through the entire collection of Onitsha market literature yet - that will happen slowly, one at a time most likely. But, I think the book should really be taken in it's parts, starting first with the author's awesome introduction, a 40 page essay surveying history of slave-trade, colonization, and independence of Nigeria, along with market literature and development of unique pidgin English in this part of the world. I learned a ton and I think that this intro stands on it's own, though once you've read it you'll certainly want to dive into the market lit itself. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28317114 to: Blade Among the Boys (African Writers) by Onuora Nzekwu
Read this one side-by-side with The White Man of God. Though this takes place in Nigeria and that across the border in Anglophone Cameroon, the themes are similar. Christianity and tradition blending awkwardly, competing, or clashing violently...and how all this affects a boy coming of age in the midst. With this book, my only complaint is what feels like an abrupt character-shift mid-plot, which seems to serve the plot and political point, but feels jarring as a reader. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28316840 to: The Old Man and the Medal (African Writers Series) by Ferdinand Oyono
A good, quick read that will illuminate bits of Cameroon's traditions and colonial history if you haven't read much out from here. No doubt this book was timely and hard-hitting in it's day...but, as literature goes, it's a bit heavy handed for my taste with caricatures instead of characters. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28316607 to: White Man of God (African Writers Series) by Kenjo wan Jumbam
Ah, the White Man of God. A must-read for anyone spending time in or curious about the Northwest Province of Cameroon...or anglophone West Africa...or anyone with questions about the role of Christianity vs. tradition in Africa. Not for anyone who might get offended at some critical questioning of Christianity...

For most of the time I was reading this book, it was my main topic of conversation with anyone I could find to talk about it with...not hard since it's required reading in Cameroonian secondary schools. My only gripe is the last chapter and ending, which feel a bit abrupt and not quite the resounding punch that this book deserves. ]]>