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Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Book 24 (2012) Kennedy's Brain ** by Henning Mankell
A crazy meander, not nearly as good as Mankell's The Eye of the Leopard. But for the story about AIDs in Africa, I could not recommend it at all.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Book 90 The Eye of the Leopard **** by Henning Mankell
I am a fan of Mankell's Kurt Wallander mystery series, and this is my first non-Wallander book. A very tense and dark book, impeccably written, and unique for providing insight into post-apartheid Zambia, a must read for that reason. The story is always compelling, always real, and really heats up in the last third, when the plot lines are at last resolved.
The neighbouring white farmers, the black farm employees and their families, the local shaman and controller, the black activist reporter from the city, the very helpful white UN worker, and the Indian merchant are tied together with various levels of necessity, fear, blackmail, friendship, and duty.
Mankell switches back and forth to the protagonist's childhood in Sweden, which one tends to read quickly, so as to get back to the riveting characters, living with suspicion, periodic violence, isolation, and the overarching the motive of business and profits, on Hans Olson's egg farm.
The neighbouring white farmers, the black farm employees and their families, the local shaman and controller, the black activist reporter from the city, the very helpful white UN worker, and the Indian merchant are tied together with various levels of necessity, fear, blackmail, friendship, and duty.
Mankell switches back and forth to the protagonist's childhood in Sweden, which one tends to read quickly, so as to get back to the riveting characters, living with suspicion, periodic violence, isolation, and the overarching the motive of business and profits, on Hans Olson's egg farm.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Book 50 Dreams from My Father **** by Barack Obama
An amazing book, original and fresh look at race in America. Obama's life story up until he became a senator. A clear insightful look at the boy, the youth, the young man, who could have ruined his life many times, or followed the path of his family members, for the most part, not successful, with many problems of their own making and imposed by circumstances. His portraits of his grandparents, father, and many other family members are full of insight. The only blurry figure is that of his mother.
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