Great African Reads discussion

It's back on track for the tour - so here's the chance for all to read the groups Tanzania choice: Desertion
by Abdulrazak Gurnah

Just ordered it. Looking forward to reading this. Thanks to everyone for getting us all back on track again!

I am expecting my copy in a few days...

I also just ordered by copy and it should be here in a few days....

Regrettably it doesn't seem to be available through kindle. Other books of his are.

Margaret wrote: "Regrettably it doesn't seem to be available through kindle. Other books of his are."
@margaret Yes, that's unfortunate - we should probably take that into consideration when choosing the last books on the tour.
If you can't get a copy of Desertion, you could read another more available title and join the discussion with your input about that one :)

I just ordered my copy, too. I probably won't be able to read it for a while, though.

Thank you

Margaret, I enjoyed Desertion so much, I'll probably read another book of his...do you know which one you are likely to read? I could try to read the same one.

I have read all his books. I grew up in Zanzibar and am about Abdulrazak's age and know all the places that he mentions in his books about the island. He is a gentle, marvellous writer and should have earned more fame for his books.

@Anne That sounds great! Makes me want to get started, and my copy arrived yesterday!

Marieke I have downloaded Memory of Departure I think it is the first book he wrote. So I will be reading that. It also sounds interesting and has two good reviews on Kindle.

I'll try to get that one, Margaret!

Margaret wrote: "Marieke I have downloaded Memory of Departure" Great to have another parallel read by the same author - should be interesting to hear if there are similar themes.

I lost access to my old account and ended up having to make a new one! My copy's arrived and I'm going to get started tonight. It's late, but the novel looks really exciting and I can't wait to get started.

Sofia wrote: "I lost access to my old account and ended up having to make a new one! My copy's arrived and I'm going to get started tonight. It's late, but the novel looks really exciting and I can't wait to get..."
Great to have you back - I was wondering what happened, but you're here, and ready to read!

Anne wrote: "I have read all his books. I grew up in Zanzibar and am about Abdulrazak's age and know all the places that he mentions in his books about the island. He is a gentle, marvellous writer and should h..."

Oh wow, would love to hear your thoughts on this book. He's a lecturer at my undergrad uni and sometimes I'm tempted to go back there to study their MA in postcolonial studies.

Anetq wrote: "Sofia wrote: "I lost access to my old account and ended up having to make a new one! My copy's arrived and I'm going to get started tonight. It's late, but the novel looks really exciting and I can..."

Yes! :) Happy to be a mod again, if you require me to!

I'll message you!

Sofia wrote: "I lost access to my old account and ended up having to make a new one! My copy's arrived and I'm going to get started tonight. It's late, but the novel looks really exciting and I can't wait to get..."

Glad that you're okay. I was wondering where you disappeared to. That's technology for you...

I received my book.
The print is really small :)

Was able to read the first chapter last night.

Still hoping to get round to By The Sea at some point, but might join you guys (a bit later) for this one!

I have finished Part 1 of Desertion.

This is my first Abdulrazak Gurnah book - though I have a copy of Paradise sitting unread on one of my shelves.

I am trying not to read reviews about this book so it unfolds for me without learning spoilers before I get there in the book.

How are we going to discuss this book? By parts, as a whole??

Either is good with me - so feel free to start with part 1 if you like. (maybe use the spoiler-tag if it feels needed?)

I am looking forward to everyone's thoughts on Desertion and Abdulrazak Gurnah.

Here are my thoughts on Part 1:
- While I suspect that this is a book that is best discussed as a whole instead of in parts/chapters, I thought that since the book is divided into three parts, that I would pause for a moment and collect my thoughts so far.
- I wondered since this book was divided into three parts does it follow the three movements in a sonata? This thought came from recently reading a book that it.
- After finishing Part 1, I felt like the author just left me hanging out there and did not do a good job of letting me know where this storyline is going.
- At the end of Part 1 (view spoiler)[ I learned who the narrator is, but not why & what he is narrating, but do learn that in further parts will learn about how different women affected the men in the story. (hide spoiler)]
- I liked the character of Hassanali and his practical reality. How he was conscious of the customs of the time but would bend them in practical ways (eating the meals with the women of his family).
- I liked the character of Rehana.
- "There is luck in all things, as there was in this first arrival, but luck is not the same as chance, and even the most unexpected events fulfill a design." (page 3) - I thought this quote at the beginning set the tone for the events in Part 1 (and probably one of the themes for the book)
- Also liked the last sentence in Part 1 - "It is about how one story contains many and how they belong not to us but part of the random currents of our time, and about how stories capture us and entangle us for all time." (p. 120)

I think that the themes of colonialism and loss are found throughout Gurnah's novels. Perhaps I can explains some aspects of this since I lived in Zanzibar as a (colonial) child from 1956-1964 and left during the bloody revolution. Zanzibar before the revolution was a mix of many cultures. Rich with this diversity. Stone Town, the capital of the main island (Zanzibar Island) was a wonderful place to grow up. To call it a paradise may not be too far fetched. However, the lead up to Uhuru or independence was called the 'war of words, war of stones.' when the emerging political parties fought for dominance. Old wounds were opened. Independence lasted 1 month before the newly UN approved state of Zanzibar was overwhelmed in what many now call an invasion. It was one of the first genocides in Africa when thousands of mainly Arab Zanzibaris were murdered. The new regime became a cruel dictatorship. Leaving the island was forbidden, but all who could do so fled (often by boat during the night to the close by mainland). Families were wrenched apart. This sense of loss and sadness is felt by thousands who had to leave. Only after about 1995 did the regime relax somewhat. If you have any questions about the history I will do my best to answer from my perspective. (The issue of slavery is one of the themes that recurs in Zanzibar).

https://www.academia.edu/4148664/Zanz...

Anne wrote: "I think that the themes of colonialism and loss are found throughout Gurnah's novels. Perhaps I can explains some aspects of this since I lived in Zanzibar as a (colonial) child from 1956-1964 and ..."

Anne-

Thanks for this insightful information.
While each country is unique in their history. I am always amazed how universal the themes in history are.

Beverly wrote: "Anne wrote: "I think that the themes of colonialism and loss are found throughout Gurnah's novels. Perhaps I can explains some aspects of this since I lived in Zanzibar as a (colonial) child from 1..."
Did you see that Gurnah has just brought out another book called Gravel Heart?

I received my book today. Hope to start reading it soon.

I've been out with pneumonia, but since I'm better now, I came back to this book.
Not really spoilers below, but if you want to read this with an open mind - stop reading! I may not give away the plot, but it might spoil your read anyway?

I have read Part I - and while I liked the characters from the shop, I found it a little confusing at times, or more accurately; deliberately not helping the reader:
Not until the middle of the second chapter was there an indication that this was taking place around 1900, and (maybe because of this geographical reading) it took me even longer to realise they were not living in Tanzania, but in Kenya north of Mombasa.
And the last chapter "An interruption" there is suddenly a narrator, no longer all-knowing, but a narrator full of maybes and unclear suggestions of how things might have happened, possibly.

I am hoping the next part picks up and has some real-time action - because my biggest problem with this novel so far is the lack of action! Almost everything so far has been told as mere 'descriptions of things that happened in the past', and I like my books to have characters who act and make me want to know what happens after this... Even though the characters have acted, the narrative form of mere description makes me start googling the Battle of Omdurman, Abyssinia, Rimbaud (had no idea he was in Africa!) and Ramses II aka Ozymandias. I am an impatient reader and this descriptive lack of action makes me bored - so I'm really hoping there will be the book equivalent of live action in the next parts!

On the plus side the characters are likeable, well the locals anyway the self-assured colonial overlords are almost a caricature in their opinions. And it did make me google quite a few interesting things - I had idea Rimbaud was in Africa, or that Shelly had written a sonet about Ramses II, also I may have to read up on the Abyssinian Empire as it might clear up some of my confusion over Haile Selassie's semi-divinity (I am also reading Beneath the Lion's Gaze

Sorry if I've puts anyone off - let me just add, that I am a reader who has no desire to ever read Proust, as I am aware of my limitations re: lack of action - so maybe the more refined reader will be happier with Part I. Also there is still two more parts to go!

I finished it. Still not a fan, even if there was more real-time action in the other parts - still too much "tell" and no "show" for my taste.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...

Another reader's review said it very well: "If you like plot driven books, you should definitely not read this one. Gurnah relies on apparently mundane conversations and incidences to weave together an intriguing tapestry that doesn't come together fully until the end, if then."

The story didn't really work for me - but it did make me google quite a few very interesting things - and that's a tick for Tanzania in my reading Africa challenge, so there is that :)

I just ordered this book... hope I'm not too late!

Anetq wrote: "I've been out with pneumonia, but since I'm better now, I came back to this book.
Not really spoilers below, but if you want to read this with an open mind - stop reading! I may not give away the p..."

After reading part one - I have been out of town and do not have the book with me so I have gotten behind - will catch up when back home later this week.

But I am hoping for something to hook me into the story with some intrigue and action either with plot and characters.

Dana wrote: "I just ordered this book... hope I'm not too late!"

It is not too late.

Dana wrote: "I just ordered this book... hope I'm not too late!"

It's never too late to join in.

Back at home so hope to be able to pu Desertion again - hoping to finish part 2 shortly.

Question to group - those who have read other works by Abdulrazak Gurnah how does Desertion fit into his body of work?

Are his books similar in style?

Do you have a favorite?

I'm in Rehana's chapter in Pt 1 right now. I agree with Anetq's point about Gurnah's style. Perhaps this is because I just started watching Game of Thrones, where every detail affects the plot directly. Gurnah describes the setting in excessive detail. While I do enjoy learning more about daily life and Muslim culture, I think it should be blended in, like a good smoothie. Too much milk and all the fruit is drowned out!

Edit: I do think it's worth reading! Didn't mean to completely pan the book.

Edit 2: Finished Rehana and am a bit through An Interruption. You get to know Rehana and her previous relationship misfortunes here. Overall, Part 1 slowly but surely introduces you to the shop characters (Hassanali, Rehana, Malicka). Each character's personality is quite distinct. Hassanali seems pretty high-strung and has a strong sense of duty/responsibility (taking care of the shop no matter what). Rehana has a stronger will than Hassanali, or at least is very quietly stubborn. We haven't seen from Malicka's point of view yet, so we get indirect descriptions of her youth, general cheeriness, energy, etc.

Just received this today! Eager to dive in.

Jennifer wrote: "Just received this today! Eager to dive in." Happy reading! Looking forward to hear what you think of it.

First - let me apologise for promoting my own novel. However, if anyone is tempted to read more about Zanzibar - Gurnah's home, please consider reading my novel, Zanzibar Uhuru - an historical novel covering the history of these islands since the 1964 revolution. You might find the book of interest.

OK - I am really having a hard time settling into this book.
So after finishing Part One, I have decided to put this book aside - as it is not holding my attention.

I do want to read a book by Abdulrazak Gurnah, so will read Paradise which has been sitting on my shelf unread for several years.

Hopefully, this book will be more my cup of tea.

Beverly wrote: "OK - I am really having a hard time settling into this book.
So after finishing Part One, I have decided to put this book aside - as it is not holding my attention."

I had the same kind of problem - so I look forward to hearing if you like Paradise better!

Hi,

I am a book lover and I have this kind of desire to read a book from every country in the world.

In that sense, I think the best option is to talk with people from that countries and ask them to suggest me the best books and writters (not in a comercial perspective, but with a good story and that help me to understand/know the countries and their cultures a little bit more).

This way, I would like to ask you: which books from Tanzania do you can suggest me?

Thank you so much!

Only reading this now, with 3 years of delay... but I must say that I enjoyed reading this book, unlike many others. I did like the atmosphere of the book and the tragic love stories.

I must say that I was a bit surprised by the sudden interruption by the narrator after part 1, but soon enough I was carried away by Amin and Jamila's story in part 2.