Quills of Desire

by Binwell Sinyangwe

Woza is a very ambitious, highly intelligent student, who is in his final year at school, and determined to follow his brother's example and go to university in the UK. Temperamental, idealistic and passionate, there are many pitfalls on the road to success, as he provokes the hostility of the headmaster and the jealousy of less able colleagues. Finally they get the better of him and Woza has to try and adapt either to a world he despises - a world of poverty and underprivilege - to a world where traditional customs and values prevail.

Genres: Zambia, African Literature, Literature

171 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Binwell Sinyangwe (born 1956) is a Zambian novelist writing in English.

He studied industrial economics in Bucharest.

Reviews

[Kasonde]

A bittersweet tale of hopes dashed and the tension between duty to one's traditions versus following your dreams. Captures scenes from Zambia in the 70s and 80s beautifully, both village scenes and boarding school. Written in English, this novel comes from one of Zambia's greatest.

[Tumelo Moleleki]

A tragic story of the loss of oneself through the loss of a dream. A vision. A mistake he was unable to live down or live through followed him relentlessly. Wiza, bright and ambitious, took something for granted and gave triumph to those who did not want him to succeed.

I was not able to sympathise with his plight because he took a lot for granted in the way he made decisions. He was well aware of his weaknesses and yet that knowledge and awareness did not serve him well in the end.

In the end he was a selfish person and his story testified to that through and through.

A great story told well.

[David Heyer]

dissapointing.
no depth in characters.

[Sean Paul]

This is a very nice book but I like a happy ending 😭😭😭

[Africa BookChallenge]

The latest entry for The Africa Book Challenge - Binwell Sinyangwe's Quills of Desire is now available. Click the URL on the profile page to learn more about this philosophical exploration of whether success can be built purely on the basis of self-determination.

[Guyyes Kabambala]

Ambitious man with intelligence

[Tiina]

See oli üsna huvitav lugemine ühe noormehe elust Sambias. Wiza elu suureks eesmärgiks on saada hea haridus, minna välismaale ülikooli ning abielluda targa ja haritud naisega. Ta on nutikas ning esialgu näibki, et saatus laseb ta elul soovitud teed minna. Paraku on saatus aga salakaval ning unistusest võib ühe apsuga ilma jääda. Selles loos kirjeldatakse peamiselt koolielu ja see aitab ka läänemaailma lugejal haridust ehk veidi rohkem väärtustada.

See oli huvitav, aga samas see mulle eriti ei meeldinud. See ei kütkestanud eriti ja ei kutsunud lugema, kuigi lõpus hakkas jutt minu jaoks jällegi voolama.

[Wáýné Mâtale]

No full copies please help,.......

[Kondwanizimba]

How can I open the book and read

[Valentine Mbewe]

I mean now

[Edna Liyungu]

Amazing app love it!!

[Ba Bluəstar]

💯

[Kays Kings]

I would like to read

[Peter Petros]

It's best

[Isaac]

Good book

[Vegas Caleb]

Wow what a great story

[Nancy Yowela]

True destiny can be won or lost in a secon