2016 Calendar (in message 1)

[Betty]

CALENDAR -- CALENDAR -- CALENDAR -- CALENDAR

√ = book is part of the 80% Challenge.

"Fafnir", a selection of literary excerpts on the subject of money,
by James Yagley, December 31-January 10

√ Things Fall Apart (Nigeria) January 3-23

√ Death and the King's Horseman: A Play (Nigeria) January 24-30

√ Death Of an Ancient King (Africa) January 31-February 20

√ The Meursault Investigation (Algeria) February 21-March 6, moderator: Don

√ Season of Migration to the North (Sudan) March 7-21, moderator: Dioni

√ The Spider's House (Morocco) March 22-May 2

The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk / Palace of Desire / Sugar Street (Egypt)

Background:
http://www.aucpress.com/t-aboutnm.asp...
http://www.sam-network.org/video/trib...
(If you read the one-volume edition of The Cairo Trilogy, then you might want to work out the way for counting three books out of it!)

√ 1. Palace Walk May 3-June 20

√ 2. Palace of Desire June 21-August 1

√ 3.Sugar Street August 2-September 2

√ The Fishermen (Nigeria) September 3-October 4

Two novels by José Eduardo Agualusa (WordsWithoutBorders Interview):

√ The Book of Chameleons (Angola) October 5-22, moderator: Jenny (Reading Envy)

√ A General Theory of Oblivion (Angola) October 14-22

√ Ancestor Stones (Sierra Leone, West Africa) October 23- November 24, moderator: Maggie

√ The Poisonwood Bible (Belgian Congo) November 25-January 23, 2017 (date liable to change), moderator: Maggie

African Safari short stories from Ernest Hemingway: "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" and "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" (Africa) January 24-30, 2017, readable from Wikilivres, "The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway".

[[deleted user]]

Asma Fedosia wrote: "I've been busy, serendipitously finding two books for Africa 2016. One is a collection of stories whose parameters are the countries of North Africa. The other one is Nigerian and is longlisted for..."

Cool. Looking forward to your list. I'm reading The Meursault Investigation set in Algeria as a response to Camus' The Strangernow and it is living up to the hype: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015... ; http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/boo... and; http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/opi...

[Betty]

Don, actually, I've found several books from African literature; they are sort of a longlist before a shortlist. The Meursault Investigation which you read and which carries on from Camus's The Stranger sounds good. Would you call it a sequel to Camus's book?

[[deleted user]]

Asma Fedosia wrote: "Don, actually, I've found several books from African literature; they are sort of a longlist before a shortlist. The Meursault Investigation which you read and which carries on from Camus's The Str..."

Asma, no, its not really a sequel, its more like Grendel - telling the story from a marginalized character's perspective - in this case Meursault's victim's brother. The author has said that he wrote it not so much to respond to Camus but to use Camus to work out his own path. At any rate, imo he clearly has read and thought through Camus' body of work, not just The Stranger, and makes reference to all of it throughout. I'm looking forward to your lists!

[Betty]

Don wrote: "...its more like Grendel - telling the story from a marginalized character's perspective - in this case Meursault's victim's brother...."

Thank you, Don, for the analogy between the Beowulf and Grendel narratives and the The Stranger and The Meursault Investigation ones. Quite an idea for a reading group.

[Betty]

Don wrote: "...I'm looking forward to your lists!"

Here is one of them. Enjoy.

*
Ways of Dying Paperback – August 1, 2002
by Zakes Mda

*
Weep Not, Child (Penguin African Writers) Paperback – June 5, 2012
by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o (Author), Ben Okri (Introduction)

*
Anthills of the Savannah Paperback – February 4, 1997
by China Achebe

*
God's Bits of Wood Paperback – August 11, 2008
by Sembene Ousmane

*
Season of Migration to the North (New York Review Books Classics)
by Tayeb Salih

*
Changes: A Love Story 1st Edition
by Ama Ata Aidoo

*
Euphoria Paperback – April 14, 2015
by Lily King

*
One Day I Will Write About This Place: A MemoirOne Day I Will Write About This Place: A Memoir Paperback – September 4, 2012
by Binyavanga Wainaina

*
Mother to Mother (Bluestreak) Paperback – September 15, 2000
by Sindiwe Magona

*
Without a Name and Under the Tongue Paperback – February 13, 2002
by Yvonne Vera

*
The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales (2nd Edition)
by Bessie Head (Author)

*
A Walk in the Night and Other Stories Paperback – January 1, 1968
by Alex La Guma (Author)

*
Song of Lawino & Song of Ocol Reissue Edition
by Okot p'Bitek (Author)

*
The River Between (African Writers Series) 1st Edition
by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o (Author)

*
A Long Way Gone Paperback – August 5, 2008
by Ishmael Beah

*
The Lion and the Jewel (Three Crowns Books) 1st Edition
by Wole Soyinka (Author)

*
Modern African Drama (Norton Critical Editions) 1st Edition
by Biodun Jeyifo (Editor)

*
I Will Marry When I Want (African Writers) 1st Edition
by Ngugi wa Thiong'o (Author), Ngugi wa Mirii (Author)

*
July's People Paperback – July 29, 1982
by Nadine Gordimer

*
The Joys of Motherhood Paperback – May 17, 1979
by Buchi Emecheta

*
Waiting for the Barbarians (Penguin Ink) (The Penguin Ink Series) Paperback – Deckle Edge, June 29, 2010
by J. M. Coetzee

*
Houseboy (African Writers) Reissue Edition
by Ferdinand Oyono (Author), John Reed (Translator)

*
The Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry: Fifth Edition (Penguin Classics) Paperback – September 14, 2007
by Various (Author), Gerald Moore (Editor, Translator, Introduction), Ulli Beier (Editor)

*
Teaching the African Novel (Options for Teaching)
by Guarav Desai (Editor)

*
No Longer at Ease Paperback – September 16, 1994
by Chinua Achebe (Author)

*
The Thing Around Your Neck Paperback – June 1, 2010
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Author)

*
Wizard of the Crow Paperback – August 28, 2007
by Ngugi wa Thiong'o (Author)

*
The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born (African Writers Series) Paperback – October 23, 1989
by Ayi Kwei Armah (Author)

*
Butterfly Burning: A Novel Paperback – September 12, 2000
by Yvonne Vera (Author)

*
Petals of Blood Paperback – February 22, 2005
by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o (Author), Moses Isegawa (Introduction)

*
The Dilemma of a Ghost and Anowa 1st Edition
by Ama Ata Aidoo (Author)

*
Funny Boy (Harvest Book) Paperback – June 19, 1997
by Shyam Selvadurai (Author)

*#

[[deleted user]]

Asma Fedosia wrote: "Don wrote: "...I'm looking forward to your lists!"

Here is one of them. Enjoy.

Thank you Asma! Fantastic list. I want to read them all. I've read three - the Season of the Northern Migration, Joy of Motherhood, and July's People, which were all great. Really looking forward to this.

[Betty]

Let not the first list be the last. I can't but peak into this African reading list after mining the Australasia one about The Luminaries.

http://www.historicalnovels.info/Afri...

So neatly set out, I can't but want to read as many as possible.

[Suzann]

Asma, looks like a fabulous list--all the more interesting since I will visit South Africa in September. Here are some Africa books recommended to me, although I haven't read them for a personal recommendation: (Several are other books by the authors you list above.)

No Turning Back Beverly Naidoo
The whale Caller Zakes Mda
Rumors of Rain & Dry White Season Andre Brink
Red Dust Gillian Slovo

My Traitor's Heart Rian Malan
The Country of Men Hisham Matar
The Bride Price Buchi Emecheta
Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian, the only Arab to win a Nobel
I've read the Cairo Trilogy, but there might be one that stands alone.

Things Fall Apart Achebe
Half a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Adichie

[[deleted user]]

Asma Fedosia wrote: "Let not the first list be the last. I can't but peak into this African reading list after mining the Australasia one about The Luminaries.

http://www.historicalnovels.info/Afri...

So neatly..."

+1

[[deleted user]]

Just in case anybody has not seen a map of Africa showing how much of the rest of the land mass of the world would fit inside....http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...

Yet, one of the development economics 101 facts that also amazes me is that is has less coast line than Europe. Africa, with a land mass of 30,368,609 km2 (11,725,385 sq mi)has a coastline that is 26,000 km (16,000 mi). In contrast Europe, which covers only 10,400,000 km2 (4,000,000 sq mi), has a coastline of 32,000 km (20,000 mi)due to its many indentations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geograp... The relative lack of access to water transportation is thought to have had major implications for trade development and thus culture. Fascinates me at least.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

All of Africa? We could spend an entire year in Egypt! Or Nigeria! Or is that what we're discussing? I'm in an African lit group in GR which I've been neglecting.....

[Betty]

Suzann wrote: "...I will visit South Africa in September. Here are some Africa books recommended to me..."

Thanks, Suzann. In my reading, Agaat was a very good book about South Africa.

[Betty]

Don wrote: "...a map of Africa showing how much of the rest of the land mass of the world would fit inside....http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic......"

Thanks for the pictorial geography. Incredible!

[Betty]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "All of Africa? We could spend an entire year in Egypt! Or Nigeria!...."

Jenny, this period is information-gathering, or woolgathering, until the basic outline of something emerges.

[Betty]

Don wrote: "+1"

+1+

[Susan]

I'm very excited for Africa 2016. There is not much that I like reading more than African literature.

[Wanda]

How wonderful! I have been drawing up my own list of "A Year of Reading Africa" and a separate list of "A Year of Reading India." The separate lists will allow me to read one or the other or travel back and forth between the countries. Some of the aforementioned titles appear on my Africa list. Now, I will have the added benefit of sharing my Africa experience with all of you. Woot!

[Mekki]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "All of Africa? We could spend an entire year in Egypt! Or Nigeria! Or is that what we're discussing? I'm in an African lit group in GR which I've been neglecting....."

African RENDANG STEW Challenge anyone?

[Betty]

Susan wrote: "I'm very excited for Africa 2016. There is not much that I like reading more than African literature."

The fiction and nonfiction, which I have read from African writers and from others, are memorable. I will definitely extend the breadth of my reading in 2016.

[Betty]

Wanda wrote: "...Some of the aforementioned titles appear on my Africa list. Now, I will have the added benefit of sharing my Africa experience with all of you. Woot! ..."

Writings about Africa have fascinated me since college and those about India much earlier from the story about the Taj Mahal.

[Betty]

Mekki wrote: "African RENDANG STEW Challenge anyone?"

Recipes to create/eat with reading the Challenge books--

blog = http://globaltableadventure.com/count...

book = Life from Scratch: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Forgiveness

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

[Mekki]

Asma Fedosia wrote: "Mekki wrote: "African RENDANG STEW Challenge anyone?"

Recipes to create/eat with reading the Challenge books--

http://globaltableadventure.com/count...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wik..."

Wow. Thank you , Asma

[Betty]

You're welcome, Mekki. By the way, the Man Booker shortlisted book hinted at in a preceding post, is The Fishermen, but you already know that!

[[deleted user]]

Asma Fedosia wrote: "Mekki wrote: "African RENDANG STEW Challenge anyone?"

Recipes to create/eat with reading the Challenge books--

http://globaltableadventure.com/count...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wik..."

Yum. Thanks. Must try. How about a little music to go with dinner? A very few of my favorite artists:

Oliver Mtukudzi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcnQR...

Suzanna Owiyo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbccu...

King Sunny Ade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQBq2...

[Betty]

Don wrote: "...A very few of my favorite artists: Oliver Mtukudzi...Suzanna Owiyo...King Sunny Ade..."

Thanks, Don, lucky you if you heard those musicians in person.

[Wanda]

Asma Fedosia wrote: "Let not the first list be the last. I can't but peak into this African reading list after mining the Australasia one about The Luminaries.

http://www.historicalnovels.info/Afri...

So neatly..."

Oh, I love that site. Together with Bookssetin.com, I am able to find set just about anywhere.

Books Set In - http://www.bookssetin.com/BookSearch....

[Betty]

Wanda wrote: "...Together with Bookssetin.com, I am able to find set just about anywhere http://www.bookssetin.com/BookSearch .... "

That site about Historical Novels is neat stuff. Thanks about reminding me of Books Set In. It's hard for me to keep track of all the resources. I've used BSI at Around the World in 52 Books and found readings through it. Its catalogue has likely expanded more since then.

[Betty]

A Mozambican novel translated from Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) Africa--The Tuner of Silences.

[Melaslithos]

Talking about Africa and cooking, I moved lately, and amidst all my packing/unpacking, I found this:
Cooking the East African Way. by Bertha Vining Montgomery & Constance Nabwire
I had completely forgotten I bought that book, but it was nice surprise. Now, I need to unpack all my cooking ustensils and try some of the recipes.

[Betty]

Melaslithos wrote: "...amidst all my packing/unpacking, I found this:
Cooking the East African Way. by Bertha Vining Montgomery & Constance Nabwire...it was nice surprise..."

Cooking the East African Way is one of the series "Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks". Besides East Africa, there is one for North Africa, for West Africa, for South Africa, and for international regions and countries. This book is one for cultural immersion when the reading year in Africa begins.

[Betty]

In a few months, we will begin the year in African literature. I will have a few surprises from month to month. The initial selection for January 2016 will be Things Fall Apart, the literary classic by Chinua Achebe . I will reveal the next one in a couple of weeks!

[Suzann]

Asma Fedosia wrote: "I've been busy, serendipitously finding two books for Africa 2016. One is a collection of stories whose parameters are the countries of North Africa. The other one is Nigerian and is longlisted for..."

Could that Nigerian author be Chigozie Obioma who wrote The Fisherman? Previously long-listed for the Mann Booker and suspected to be on the list again.

[Betty]

Suzann wrote: "Could that Nigerian author be Chigozie Obioma who wrote The Fisherman? Previously long-listed for the Mann Booker and suspected to be on the list again. "

Obioma's work made the shortlist of five as well. Will it emerge victorious on October 13, 2015?

[Betty]

Selection #2 during 2016 Reading about Africa is the play Death and the King's Horseman: A Play by Wole Soyinka

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Here are the countries in Africa I have yet to read something from (including book titles that I already own for some of these):

Algeria – The Lovers of Algeria (to-read)
Angola
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo Demo. Rep. of the – Song from the Forest (to-read)
Congo Republic of the – Song from the Forest (to-read)
Cote d’Ivoire
Dijibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ghana - Wife of the Gods (started)
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Lesotho
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Namibia
Reunion
Sao Tome and Principe
Seychelles
Somalia
Sudan – Season of Migration to the North
Swaziland
Tanzania
The Gambia
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Western Sahara
Zambia

I'm getting closer!

[Betty]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Here are the countries in Africa I have yet to read something from ...:Algeria – The Lovers of Algeria (to-read)
Angola
Burkina Faso..."

Wow, Jenny, thank you for the list. How can one year of reading do justice to this array? A possibility is North, East, South, West. I anticipate that we will recognize several countries from your list.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I guess I'm just sharing what I personally will be looking for in our African year! I'm slowly trying to read a book from every country....

[Sue]

I missed this discussion! I have to hop on board. I'd also like to suggest the book Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor. It is very powerful, set in Kenya.

[Betty]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I guess I'm just sharing what I personally will be looking for in our African year!..."

I'm looking forward to the African year and am hoping to learn a lot about African culture and history.

[Sue]

This sounds like a great opportunity for some new reading experiences.

[Betty]

Sue wrote: "I missed this discussion! I have to hop on board. I'd also like to suggest the book Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor. It is very powerful, set in Kenya."

A must read!

[Betty]

Sue wrote: "This sounds like a great opportunity for some new reading experiences."

Posts and lists by Don, Suzann, Mekki, Melaslithos, Wanda, Jenny, you and me have widened the choices. I want to ask everyone for the one African book s/he plans to read in 2016. Do you have one, as 2016 is an opportune time for reading it.

[Lagullande]

Asma Fedosia wrote: " I want to ask everyone for the one African book s/he plans to read in 2016. ..."

Hi Asma. My African plan-to-read would be The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma (Nigeria).

If I could only have one African book at all, it would be The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (Congo), but I have read it already (5 stars).

[Melaslithos]

I must admit that African litterature is complete unknown for me. So I have absolutely no preferences and ideas on what we could read. I'll be looking forward to the discovery next year!

The only few things I've read on Africa were written by Western people (Kessel, Blixen, etc.)

[Melaslithos]

If you want a few recommendations of French authors on Africa, I loved The Roots of Heaven. Romain Gary is one of my favorite authors.

I also like very much Death Of an Ancient King and Il Est Minuit Dr Schweitzer, but I'm not sure if there's an English translation for this last one.

And then, there are the more well known authors mentionned above, but I don't think you need my recommentation for those.

[Wanda]

Hello, Asma.

A few books which appear on my TBR Africa/2016 list include:











If I were to select just one, it would be difficult. The Last Brother, A Bend in the River, and In the Country of Men are top contenders.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

The ONE book? Ha.

I know for sure I will read The Book of Chameleons by José Eduardo Agualusa, set in Angola.

[Betty]

Lagullande wrote: "...My African plan-to-read would be The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma (Nigeria)...."

As Jenny mentioned above, Egypt and Nigeria are sources of much literature. The stack of Nigerian and West African books is growing tall for next year.

[Betty]

Melaslithos wrote: "...I'll be looking forward to the discovery next year!..."

Me, too! I haven't studied and read African culture and literature as much as I have wanted. The books about Asia/Oceania have raised my consciousness about the cultures of Indonesia, Australia, and more.