Hope you're all having a great week?
It's still cold over here, even though it's much warmer than yesterday (was 2 deg F).
It's been a while since I read any novels. I used to be one of those people that spent hours in the toilet.....totally engrossed in a novel. Anyways, I've been seeing lots of recommendations on a couple of books and I decided to order some of them....and I hope they are really as good as some blog writers have made them out to be.
This first one is by a London Born writer.....
I first came across this second novel on nairaland, its by a Nigerian writer. In case your wondering what Aireginan means .... Airegin is Nigeria spelt backwards. So instead of using Nigerian Dream, she used Aireginan Dream.
The next two books are by the same author, who's also Nigerian.
The last one is also by a Nigerian.
Seems like a lot to read. Have no clue how long it's going to take me (well actually that will depend on how interesting they are).
I'm off to go read {will start with the shortest one :-)}, take care people..
24 comments:
I have just finished reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's "Half of a Yellow Sun" I tell you, it's a great book. I couldn't stomach Uzodinma Iwela's "Beasts of no Nation" however. In as much as the writer seeks artistic liberty through some contrived grammatically awkward English, quite unlike Nigerian Pidgeon English, I think it is overdone and comes out as very pretentious and difficult to read.
I am currently reading "Everything Good will Come" by Sefi Attah. I am half way through and I highly recommend that you get your hands on a copy if you yearn for a portrait of Nigeria in the early 1970s and 1980s.
@ Veracity
I haven't even gone to the 3rd page on "Beasts of no Nation" (It's the shortest out of the 5), and I can see what you're talking about....I don't want to pre-judge it yet, but it would have been better if it were in English, pidgin english or a mixture of both.
I'll just put it down and read it much later....(don't want to spoil my reading appetite so soon).
I guess since I have two of Chimamanda's book, I should start with one of them.
Purple Hibiscus, awesome. Never loaning it out! You should add Chris Agbani's "Graceland" to your list. It's based in Maroko about a boy named Elvis. Go figure!
hmmm i absolutely can not understand folks who read in the loo for ages...!
i keep hearing about "Half of a Yellow Sun"....will have to check it out.
is the weather any better where you are?
I actually read and LOVED the "Beasts of No Nation". ...I think out of boredom I have read the book thrice, after I read the average fiction 10 times though...LOL
But nice and thanks for showcasing the Nigerian novels, I might probably hunt for those on amazon!!!
I wanna readdddddddddd....(but I can't really go all out right now)...I guess I shd just be patient and wait for a very long vacation...oh well! *sigh*
Lolll @ reading in the loo...it's not the loo that keeps u in there, it's the book right? Shd I say 'experience'...euuuwww...lemme not expose...errrrmmm...(exit)
I wish I had the passion of reading again. Since I stepped into College, I lost it.. So bad..
Bumped into ur blog
i've read purple hibiscus...and uv probably read/heard the reviews...i thorougly enjoyed it...haven't read the rest but would definately get to it.
Sup nilla, nice blog.......................l have already read beast of no nation right before it came out. Uzodimmima iweala is my blood cousin and l must confess a funny writer. The book beast of no nation would remind any one of the movie blood diamond. Very real, immaginative and very interesting. I am yet to read purple hibiscus, l heard it is preety good as well.
Hmmm.. i haven't read any of them... but now that I know Naijadude has one... i'll probably borrow it from him and come back and tell you what I think
LOL.
NaijaDude read Beasts of No Nation thrice. LOL. he must have something y'll don't have.
I have not read any of those books, but I will very much love to.
@ Lala
I've read a quater of "Purple Hibiscus", and I'm loving it already...
@ Belle
Yes, the weather's much better..
@ Naijadude
I'm holding you to your words on "Beasts of no Nation", will read it last.
Thanx..
@ Jaycee
I feel you.
@ Lee
Time will tell....you'll probably be passionate again in the future.
Thanx for stopping by.
@ exschoolnerd
I'm loving it already..
@ Yankeenaijachick
Thanx
I'm also going to hold you to your words, like Naijadude..haven't seen blood diamonds yet too..
@ ONB
I await your return Missy, when you finally get to read it.
@ Vera
LOL....he probably does :-)
I'll add "Everything Good will Come" and "Graceland" to my future reading lists..
I love reading novels, any novel at all. will see if I can get any of the ones u've listed here
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Finally we're getting a horde of Nigerian writers. Can I say I'm glad?
Very soon I hope we'll see a book of poems by Nilla or Mack?
I've read Purple Hibiscus and I think its very good but I'd also recommend (very highly) the London-based Helen Oyeyemi's "Icarus Girl".
For that novel, they paid her an advance more than any Nigerian had ever received. That includes Professor Wole Soyinka. He said so himself. And Helen wasn't 22 yet at the time.
Its about a young Nigerian girl and her ogbanje/emere/abiku friend.
Worthwhile reading, believe me.
Purple Hibiscus is a must read. I was thinking about it the other day and when it came down to it, I found a similarity between it (PH) and the naija blogging community. It exposes a lot of the "in-home" atrocities(may be too strong a word) that go on in Nigeria...many of them carried out in the name of religion/morality. hmmph! I need to grab my copy of HOAYS.
..and yes Laspapi is speaking the truth...Helen Oyeyemi's Icarus girl is the shiznit..LOL...so imaginative mehn...it centers around a little girl and her imaginary friend and then manages to intertwine the abiku concept...aaaah!!!
nehoo...Ms. Oyeyemi is coming out with another very soon..can't wait.
by the way...great blog!
It will take you as long as it takes to pass that awesome supper you have each night. Don't mean to be vulgar but it's the truth because i find myself doing the same thing, enjoy!!!
I've read Purple Hib and i thot it was great. I am yet to read the rest but not enthusiastic about Oknojo-Iweala son's book!!
With regards to Helen Oyeyemi's Icarus girl, it was not that great. I could not help but feel i had seen that story somewhere before!
@ Queen
You're welcome
@ Azuka
I'll buy a book of poems by Mack anytime.
@ Laspapi, Ceecy29 & my talking beginnings
Re: Icarus girl,
You've confused me.
Re: Purple Hibiscus,
I'm halfway through and still loving it.
@ Ceecy29
Thanx
@ Blublood
You're crazy...lol, but it's taking me way longer.
Trust me, nilla, Icarus Girl is an extra-ordinary book. The story's been seen somewhere before? That's easy- Its the story of every African Child. The story that kept you awake in the dark as a child. Its a folk tale told by a brilliant prose writer.
You love language? It'll make you appreciate the new wave of Nigerian writing.
looks like a great list. Most of these are on mine as well, although i haven't gotten to them yet. I second the nominations for Icarus Girl. Helon Habila's new novel Measuring Time is also supposed to come out next month.
I have read the Aireginan Dream and it is great. It's a page turner and restored my hope in my country. I recommend it to everyone
The title is a very rediculous title. This author needs to evaluate he or herself.
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