Ways of Dying by Zakes Mda

Ways of Dying by Zakes Mda
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

During South Africa's anti-apartheid movement people died. Everyday mothers lost sons, fathers lost daughters, wives lost husbands, and children lost parents. This novel is set during the last years of the liberation movement when negotiations for freedom were punctuated with weekly battles that included actors from all sides. The main character, Toloki, has taken it upon himself to become a professional mourner. He creates special sounds to lament the death of his employers' loved ones and adopts an ascetic lifestyle he believes suits his profession.

My favorite part of this book is the mood the writer creates. As a reader I felt the looming sense of death and loss that pervaded people's lives. As inhabitants of a shantytown or "settlement," residents had to deal with the frequent demolition of their houses, the violent invasion of hostel-dwellers, and the senseless murder of adults and children. Theirs was a life of uncertainty and danger.

Mda narrates his novel from the perspective of the community (often referred to as "they") who has access to indigenous knowledge, and the main character's inner feelings. It was refreshing to read a novel set in a community that existed on the margins of society. It gave a human face to people so often described as "squatters."I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.


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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novel was a terrific read. It was the kind of work that stuns you and stays with you long after you've read it. The novel opens by introducing us to two boys who are friends. Amir, the main character, is from a wealthy family; and Hassan, who along with his father, is a servant of Amir's family. The book is set in Afghanistan, before the Russian invasion and takeover by the Taliban. The author introduces us to a part of the culture that, no doubt, many westerners such as myself did not know about: competitive Kite flying.

My favorite part of this novel is the way the author explores how the power differential between the two boys plays out in their everyday lives and in their relationship with each other. The story he tells is both painful and provocative. It left me asking several questions: What would I do if I were Amir? Why was Hassan was so benevolent? Why are poor/powerless people admired for their benevolence instead of demanding justice?

My rating for this book is 5 out of 5 stars. The prose was beautiful -- not as many similes and metaphors as other works that I like, but the author's powers of description are top rate. I could feel the cuts in my hand caused by the force of the wind pulling on the kite; the anxiety of a child who wants the validation of a parent; and the pain of a servant whose loyalty is betrayed by his master.


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IQ84 by Haruki Murakami

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this book because I wanted to read an author who was totally unfamiliar to me. Haruki Murakami was born in Japan and his novel is set in Tokyo. Like Orwell's "1984," Murakami sets his novel in that year. And like the world Orwell imagines, the events that take place are out of the ordinary. But that's where the similarity ends. Murakami's main character is a young woman named Aomame, who finds herself in an alternate universe of sorts. Aomame has a special gift that she is called upon to use to thwart the unsavory acts of a prominent religious leader.

As a reader, many times I say to myself "I can see that happening," --- even when I'm reading a dystopia. The story Murakami tells however, was beyond anything I could imagine. Yet it was captivating in the way it wrapped an old tale of "star-crossed lovers" in a new phenomenological narrative.

I love similes and metaphors, and Murakami has some great ones. At one point I had to stop myself from highlighting them on my ereader. Another strong feature of the book are the author's descriptions of his character's facial expressions and vocalized and non-vocalized noises. I felt as though I could see the distorted features of the main character and hear the tone of a grunt made at the back of another character's throat.

Though I do feel that this story could have been told in fewer pages, I would definitely recommend this author to my friends. Overall I give this book 4 stars because I loved the prose and the story was pretty good.


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Swing Time by Zadie Smith

Swing Time by Zadie Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Zadie Smith's Swing Time examines the lives of two girls who meet when their mothers sign them up for dance lessons. Although they both love dancing, only Tracey has the talent to go on to be a professional. The other girl, who is the main character in the novel, has neither the talent nor the physique (she has flat feet!) to make a career out of her passion for dancing.

Swing Time fits into the Coming of Age genre. What I liked most about it-and what I found most disturbing-was its complicated main character. Near the middle of the book I realized that Smith had not given her a name. And as I continued to read, I realized why. In some ways, her life was tragic; not because she couldn't be a dancer, but because of the choices she made. She chose to live in the shadows instead of the sunlight.

It took me a while to write a review of this book after reading it because I did not know how I felt about it. After further consideration, I appreciate Smith's exploration of a kind of anti-heroine. The main character's searching for her "tribe" rang true as something we all do, or have done, in our lifetimes. I give this book 3.5 stars.


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Walking With the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement by John Lewis

Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement by John             Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I assigned this book in one of my college classes a couple years ago. Lewis presents an amazing account of his childhood in Alabama, his work with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and his relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Lewis is an ordained Baptist Minister and believes deeply in non-violent protest as a means of social change.

My favorite part of this book is Lewis's accounting of his first meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr.  Lewis, who was quite a bit younger, had already been active in student protests on college campuses. But meeting King was one of the highlights of his life. He had deep respect for MLK and subscribed to MLK's idea of the 'Beloved Community.'

Lewis's book is honest and open. He writes about internal conflicts within SNCC and the many personal relationships he formed during the movement. After reading this book, I felt more informed about the behind-the-scenes activities and inner-workings of the Civil Rights Movement.
My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars.



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Americanah by Chimamande Ngozi Adichie

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story is about identity and belonging. It's about the journey to find your authentic self; to live a life of meaning and truth. The setting of the book is 1980's Nigeria, and the main character, Ifemelu, is part of the country's growing middle class.  Adichie narrates this story from the third person omniscient point of view, which allows the reader access to the thoughts and feelings of the characters.

I think the strongest part of this book are the chapters about Ifemelu's 13 year stay in America as a student and worker. While becoming acclimated to American culture, Ifemelu remarks upon many "Americanisms" that she finds odd, quirky, or disturbing. She ends up writing about her observations in a succesful blog targeted at non-American blacks (Africans & Caribbeans). Her blog posts are insightful. Because of her long stay in the U.S., her friends designate her an "Americanah" when she returns to Nigeria.

This book is part immigrant story, part self-realization story, part love story. As in Purple Hibiscus, Adichie's use of language, as well as the story itself, make this an enjoyable read. The book is full of colorful characters and places. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.





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1984 by George Orwell

1984 by George Orwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 Can you imagine a government so obsessed with control that they monitor your every word and movement? Can you imagine a government so intent upon keeping and growing their power that they devise ways to control the minds of their citizens? Can you imagine a government so convinced of their perfection that they alter or erase the past to support the current reality they project? In his dystopian novel 1984, George Orwell does just that.

This novel is magnificent for the way it draws you in by its believable characters and engrossing story. The pace of the novel is perfect. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. I could not put it down. What I like best was the author's description of how "doublethink" required a person to hold contradictory ideas within himself/herself while totally believing and defending the one idea espoused by the government, but then being able to seamlessly retrieve and believe the alternate idea when necessary.

As an aspiring writer, I wonder what Orwell's process was like writing this book. Did he have it all mapped out before he started? Did he unearth the fossil/plot (as King talks about in his book On Writing) as he went along? Did he feel pain and terror in his heart as he wrote it, the way I felt when I read it? My rating for this book is 5 out of 5.



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On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a bible for aspiring writers like myself. I am grateful Mr. King took the time to write it and that I read it before reading any other books about the writing process (besides Shrunk & White and everybody's read that right?). King demystifies writing, while at the same time letting you know there is a sort of magic to it. One of the things I did immediately after reading the book -- really before I finished it -- was to turn of my "glass teat" (this is what King calls the television). It was easy for me to do this because somewhere inside me I already knew it needed to be done.

Of the many statements King makes and pieces of advice he gives, the one most inspiring to me was that with hard work, a competent writer can become a good writer. I know I am at least competent; Mr. King says I can be good! That is enough for me.

King writes about the importance of a daily "strenuous reading and writing program." He even gives his readers "permission" to do all the reading and writing their heart desires. I like that he said this. And I agree with him that four to six hours a day of reading and writing "will not seem strenuous if you really enjoy doing these things and have an aptitude for them."

My rating for this book is 5 stars.


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