Great African Reads discussion

Alexandra Fuller's Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight is absolutely gripping, but also funny and enchanting, which relieves some of the nervousness felt in following her family's experiences. Peter Godwin's When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa is a stunning piece of writing--not surprising, as he has written for National Geographic and the NY Times Magazine. His tale wraps up his own family's secrets and crises into the politics of Mugabe's Zimbabwe. I couldn't put down either book.

My husband started Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhoodwith a very negative attitude, as well he might,as a black African. But by the end of the book, he was commenting on how the life these people led would turn any person bitter. He actually said he liked the book.

I have read and loved both of the books Ruthmarie mentions. I also read Mukiwa by Peter Godwin and Scribbling the Cat by Alexandra Fuller. Scribbling was a very disturbing read -- at least that was my reaction to it. If you liked Don't Let's go to the Dogs, then you should also try Rainbows End and Twenty Chickens for a Saddle. They are also in a similar vein.

Wendy, your sentiments about Scribbling the Cat match mine. Thanks for the additional titles.

I also want to give a few stars to The Book of Not, which is Tsitsi Dangarembga's follow-up to Nervous Conditions.

I read "Don't let's go to the dogs tonight" some time last year and while I can't say that I 'enjoyed' it in the sense I might enjoy a novel, it was certainly a gripping and enlightening read. Have been meaning to read "Mukiwa" for some time now as it's been sitting on my shelf for at least a couple of years.

Thanks for the other recommendations, Wendy - I've heard a lot about "Scribbling the cat" but haven't been able to get my hands on it yet.

Has anybody been to Zimbabwe?

I have stepped across the border from Zambia, but that's it! Anybody traveled within Zimbabwe?

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zimbabwe from 10/99-6/00 -- was evacuated from my school (a rural secondary school where I was teaching English) during the tension leading up to elections.

Later, while I was living in South Africa (9/05-9/07), I was able to go back to Zim twice. Once for work and once to visit Victoria Falls, which I hadn't seen while I was in Peace Corps.

What do you want to know, Muphyn? :)

I read and loved both Mukiwa and When a Crocodile Eats the Sun. On the one hand, I think Godwin is a little impressed with himself, but on the other hand, he has a right to be: he's a very good writer.

I enjoyed Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight less, but only because I thought Fuller used her primary school child voice too much. I'm not that interested in primary school children. :) Still, I liked it. I thought Scribbling the Cat was the better of the two, though I agree with Wendy that it's disturbing.

Katy, I love your description of Godwin. I think I felt some of that too. I liked Rainbow's End: A Memoir of Childhood, War and an African Farmtoo. I disliked a book in the same vein by a different author Casting with a Fragile Thread: A Story of Sisters and Africa. I've reviewed both. I also was not aware ofThe Book of Not: Stopping the Time. Iloved Nervous Conditions so will try to find that one.

Andrea, do you mind sharing a bit about why you disliked Casting w/ a Fragile Thread? I read it, and though I don't think it was as good as others I have raed, I wouldn't say I disliked it. Just wondering if I missed something. Glad to know I'm not the only one who found "Scribbling" to be disturbing.

I was really disturbed by the "victim" mentaity at the end of the book, esp. It's been quite a while since I read it, but I remember the scene after the car wreck that kills the writer's sister. The nanny who was also in the car had used her own blanket to cover the sister and had been seriously injured herself. She comes home to her hut from the hospital and doesn't have any blanket. The author goes to see her and sort of seems to imply that it's all very sad, but no covering is forthcoming for the poor woman who after all did her best to save the author's dying sister. She is just sort of forgotten about. It seemed to me to represent a point of view that was repugnant. But I'd need to get the book out and go back to it to be sure. I'll try to look for it later in the week.

Hmmmm . . . it's been a while since I read it as well. I'll have to go back and re-read that part too. If your recollection is correct, then I agree w/ your assessment. We'll have to compare notes once we've both had a chance to check.

Hello everyone,

This is to introduce my novel, A Heart to Mend, to this group. The book is about two people, Edward and Gladys, who meet and are attracted to each other almost immediately, but have difficulty in resolving their feelings, especially because of Edward's past and other twists. The concept for "A Heart To Mend" is from the theme of unconditional love which has always interested me. I also felt that there were not were not enough romance novels set in contemporary Nigeria, and that I could do something to redress that.

Since it was first published in December 2009 in the United States, A Heart to Mend has received lots of attention including reviews by Nigerian Writer Nze Ifedigbo and offer of being published in Nigeria as reported in the national newspapers.

You can read chapter one of the book on Freado, see the book trailer video on Youtube, become a fan on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. More information can be found on my website, and the A Heart to Mend Blog

The following is a link to a radio interview with Anjuelle Floyd Author/MFT on Book Talk, Creativity and Family Matters

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