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A Fragile Hope
These are poignant stories of love, betrayal, dreams and tribulation, corruption and redemption. Whether we're reading about the Hong Kong girl who reconciles with her estranged father following a chance encounter with an African musician, or the hangman whose life is torn apart by demons from the past, these stories take the reader on a journey that is as emotional as it is culturally rich.
121 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
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September 12, 2008
Some pieces are set in Kamoche's native Kenya, others concern Kenyans abroad — in Hong Kong, China, London and Thailand. One takes the point of view of a Hong Kong girl in Denmark whose life is changed by an African musician.
What stuck me most was the emotional power of the collection. In each story A Fragile Hope takes a single relationship or incident, and expands on it, following the repercussions to their natural conclusion. A desperate man smuggles heroin out of Thailand, a cold-blooded executor is too scared to chop down a tree, a chauffeur has an affair with his employer's wife. Each character hopes for something. Sometimes they get what they want, sometimes they don't, sometimes they do but they regret it later.
Ken's writing is unpretentious and direct. It's a comforting voice that contrasts the deeply uncomfortable subject matter. Corruption frequently rears its head in these stories, as do deception, greed and betrayal. What hope can you have in world like this? One character has the answer: 'it is wisdom I yearn for.'
What stuck me most was the emotional power of the collection. In each story A Fragile Hope takes a single relationship or incident, and expands on it, following the repercussions to their natural conclusion. A desperate man smuggles heroin out of Thailand, a cold-blooded executor is too scared to chop down a tree, a chauffeur has an affair with his employer's wife. Each character hopes for something. Sometimes they get what they want, sometimes they don't, sometimes they do but they regret it later.
Ken's writing is unpretentious and direct. It's a comforting voice that contrasts the deeply uncomfortable subject matter. Corruption frequently rears its head in these stories, as do deception, greed and betrayal. What hope can you have in world like this? One character has the answer: 'it is wisdom I yearn for.'
Displaying 1 of 1 review