Great African Reads discussion

Hi guys...sooooo sooo soooo sorry about this being so ridiculously late. i think we could potentially drag Nigeria out for the rest of the year (so much literature to choose from!) but technically Rwanda is scheduled for November and December. of course we can always keep reading from Nigeria, even while picking up Rwanda. We could also just get our feet wet in Nigeria and then feature Nigeria next year as one of our projects.

anwyay, please share your ideas of how we could/should/would like to tackle Nigeria....one official book with lots of side reads? feature an author but do a buddy-read thing where some of us are reading different books? other ideas?

having read quite a lot of fiction from Nigeria Id like to suggest we choose a fiction book, non fiction book/s on sociology or politics or ecen music in Nigeria. Theres so much energy coming out of thisou try it'd be grand to look at it from different angles. however, am open to aall ideas. id still like to jeep rwanda on the map for this year though

Everyone probably has their own interests, so maybe we should just pick two books from Nigeria for this time - one fiction, one non-fiction, as Laura suggested, and consider a bigger Nigeria project next year.

I agree that seems like the simplest way forward. I will also open a suggestion thread for 2015. After I set that up today I'll send out a group message to point everyone toward this thread, that thread, and others...

So which titles would you all like to consider? Remember I will use a random list generator to limit the poll to five books so it's not too overwhelming.

Possible titles to consider for Nigeria:
Lagoon or any others by Nnedi Okorafor
Foreign Gods, Inc.
The Secret History of Las Vegas: A Novel or any others by Chris Abani
any books by Helon Habila

There are of course lots and lots and lots of others, but I was putting forward a few less well known names.

I'm also up fro Chris Habani. Think he's a great writer that needs to be discovered. I'd also like to suggest Wole Soyinka Nobel prize for literature. His 'conversations with Wole Soyinka' seem interesting although perhaps not so recent.

I'm also up fro Chris Habani. Think he's a great writer that needs to be discovered. I'd also like to suggest Wole Soyinka Nobel prize for literature. His 'conversations with Wole Soyinka' seem interesting although perhaps not so recent.

I'm also up fro Chris Habani. Think he's a great writer that needs to be discovered. I'd also like to suggest Wole Soyinka Nobel prize for literature. His 'conversations with Wole Soyinka' seem interesting although perhaps not so recent.

I'm also up fro Chris Habani. Think he's a great writer that needs to be discovered. I'd also like to suggest Wole Soyinka Nobel prize for literature. His 'conversations with Wole Soyinka' seem interesting although perhaps not so recent.

I'm also up fro Chris Habani. Think he's a great writer that needs to be discovered. I'd also like to suggest Wole Soyinka Nobel prize for literature. His 'conversations with Wole Soyinka' seem interesting although perhaps not so recent.

Sorry about multiple posts. My connection is terrible. I wanted to add that I found this top ten list I think interesting and recent http://www.litro.co.uk/2012/11/ambaka.... I'd like to suggest Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani 'I do not come to you by chance'. Seems funny and light hearted for a change and also deals with a topical issue.

I agree with your suggestion to select a couple of books on Nigeria/from Nigerian authors. There are so many to choose from and we have probably read quite a few.

When we get to Rwanda, I have a couple of sugggestions.

I thought this would be an easy country for me to nominate a book - but it turns out I have read so many books from Nigerian writers - and since I like to read along I just do not nominate books that I already have read but - will look through my tbr list (which I really need to organize better) and post a couple of nominations.

Friederike, I will open a thread for Rwanda shortly :)

A couple of suggestions for Nigeria:

A Bit of Difference by Sefi Atta
I like the idea that the storyline is about going "home" after living in the West

Waiting for an Angel by Helon Habila
I liked the idea that the main character is a journalist especially in light of the current world conflicts and journalists

You Must Set Forth at Dawn by Wole Soyinka

i like your choiceS beverly!

Is the Tour train is stuck in Nigeria station?

You trekkers would love Foreign Gods, Inc. I read it in my real life book club, and it was my favorite of the year. It's the best ever "collision of cultures" tale, about a financially strapped NYC cabbie whose Nigerian home village keeps a VIP war god. If only he could get his hands on it and sell it at Foreign Gods, Inc. I read a review somewhere that Okey Ngibe "overwrote" the story. I had never heard of that term, but it's probably true. It gets a bit crazy. Nevertheless, Foreign Gods Inc is primo Nigerian-American fiction.

That being said, I am anxious to read Chris Abani's latest novel The Secret History of Las Vegas. Considering the title, I'm afraid it's not going to be Nigerian enough for the tour.

THAT being said, I really think we should support Nigeria's troubled publishing industry by choosing a Nigerian writer penning from home. Online I found some interesting titles from Farafina Publishing and Cassava Republic. Unfortunately, I also found some indications that these companies may be out of commission at this time. I like the idea of home-grown Nigerian lit.

Soooo...just to clarify. Nigeria is the Sept/Oct tour stop, but we haven't actually selected a book yet. If I am correct...are we still trying to finish the book by the end of October?

Sharon wrote: "Is the Tour train is stuck in Nigeria station?

You trekkers would love Foreign Gods, Inc. I read it in my real life book club, and it was my favorite of the year. It's the best ever "collision o..."

Sharon -

I have read Foreign Gods and really enjoyed it. I recommend it.

Also The Secret History of Las Vegas was my first read of 2014 and I knew then it would be one of my top ten reads for the year!!! But I agree that this book really does not have a Nigerian angle. A lot of very interesting themes and an African connection - just not Nigeria. I hope you get a chance to read The Secret History of Las Vegas - for me it is best work to date.

These are all great suggestions! keep them coming! in a couple of days i'll set up a poll.

i have also read quite a bit from Nigeria, but i have yet to read any Ben Okri...anyone here have recommendations for specific books by him?

Sharon said Soooo...just to clarify. Nigeria is the Sept/Oct tour stop, but we haven't actually selected a book yet. If I am correct...are we still trying to finish the book by the end of October?

Unfortunately that is correct, Sharon...we really dropped the ball. lol. but since we are so lax around here, it's no problem for reading/discussion of our Nigeria books through to the end of the year. Rwanda is slated for the last two months, though, so some of us may feel a little squeezed. :/ again, so sorry about this!

Toyin Falola's memoir of growing up in Ibadan, A Mouth Sweeter than Salt, is simply unputdownable.
For a novel, I'd suggest Chuma Nwokolo's Diaries of a Dead African.

Digging through my to-read list...

A Mouth Sweeter Than Salt (Manu already mentioned this; looks fascinating)
Women Are Different
A Bit of Difference (also already mentioned)
Daughters Who Walk This Path
The Spider King's Daughter
Akata Witch

I have weirdly little nonfiction on my Nigeria list...

I've just read the reviews of Mouth sweeter than salt! I'm hooked already. Thanks for suggesting Manu

I've just read the reviews of Mouth sweeter than salt! I'm hooked already. Thanks for suggesting Manu

My favorite book from a Nigerian author is The Concubine by Elechi Amadi. It really is such a beautiful novel.

Nick

Marieke wrote: "Hi guys...sooooo sooo soooo sorry about this being so ridiculously late. i think we could potentially drag Nigeria out for the rest of the year (so much literature to choose from!) but technically ..."

No worries! This summer has just blown by. Hope you had a great summer and glad to see posts again on this site! Great African Reads has added so many books to my TBR and I'm grateful.

The Forest People by Colin Turnball is a very delightful journey into the world of the Mbuti pygmies of Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) and is highly recommended. An excellent study filled with respect and even affection for these special people.

Hi, All! Looking for another good read this weekend? “A Rainy Season” is a work of African (recent)historical fiction that tackles eight different angles of turmoil in a late 20th century rapidly-changing Nigeria. Just posting for your consideration to enjoy and, hopefully, review Nigerian-Canadian author Nnaziri Ihejirika's debut novel via Goodreads or any other platform. Three signed copies of "A Rainy Season" are also available until October 27th at https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...!

Laura wrote: "Sorry about multiple posts. My connection is terrible. I wanted to add that I found this top ten list I think interesting and recent http://www.litro.co.uk/2012/11/ambaka......"

thanks for this list! i have added most of them to the list in the randomizer (finally getting ready to make the poll!)

Valerie wrote: "No worries! This summer has just blown by. Hope you had a great summer and glad to see posts again on this site! Great African Reads has added so many books to my TBR and I'm grateful."

Thank you Valerie! It really has been a crazy summer for me and i'm really, really trying to get back on track. i am getting pretty excited about these Nigeria choices as a I put the poll together! :)

I put 14 novels into the randomizer that fit our parameters and here are the top five:

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
The Concubine
Foreign Gods, Inc.
Blackbird
Diaries of a Dead African

Looks like a good poll... :)

Marieke thank you! Im yp for diaries of a dead african. sounds hilarious if I go by the goodreads comments and it's easily downloadable in e-format

Laura wrote: "Marieke thank you! Im yp for diaries of a dead african. sounds hilarious if I go by the goodreads comments and it's easily downloadable in e-format"

The poll is here, so please vote!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/9...

goodreads only lets us send out 1000 poll invitations a day and i forgot about that...so 68 people did not get invites. i will be sending out a group message i think to point out the poll and the Rwanda suggestion thread.

Our featured selection is The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives! i read this a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely.

Don't forget you are all welcome to read other books as well, particularly if you have zero interest in this one or can't get a copy.

The Concubine was the runner-up and it was quite close. Since i've already read Baba Segi's Wives, i might try The Concubine. :)

I thought we had three books for non-fiction, but we actually only have two. How do you all feel about holding off on non-fiction since the year is almost over and the plan is to feature Nigeria in 2015?

Marieke wrote: "Our featured selection is The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives! i read this a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely.

Don't forget you are all welcome to read other books as well, ..."

Thanks much - I too have already read The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives and enjoyed it. So I hope everyone who reads it will also.

For Nigeria I will be reading A Bit of Difference by Sefi Atta. I have had this book sitting on my kindle and I am doing the Around the World in 80 Countries challenge and have not done a Nigeria book yet.