Each year, since 2013, I have always set a
target for myself when it comes to books to read. I resolve, each year to do
better than the previous year’s target. Since 2013, I have achieved this feat
not with ease judging by the numerous activities one has to juggle along with
reading.
I look at 2015 with a sense of disappointment
(failure was the word I wanted to use but it’s me being too hard on myself). I
say disappointment because I did poorly as far as reading novels was concerned.
I read a total of Eight (8) books in 2015. 8 BOOKS! (I wish you could see the shame on my face). I however, read in addition few non-fictional
work including academic papers and articles shared by friends online.
Here are the books I read:
FICTION
WE NEED NEW NAMES - NOVIOLET BULAWAYO
We Need NEW Names by Zimbabwean author revolves around Darling and her friends living in Paradise and later went to the US where she came of age. The story touched on teen pregnancy, rape, activities of NGOs. W hen Darling finally visited the US, she realized the cultural shock - actions of her cousin and school life.
The novel was a present from my brother, Moshood Hamza on my birthday. A big surprise from him.
THE OLDMAN
AND THE SEA – ERNEST HEMINGWAY
I know how much Ernest Hemingway is adored
within the literary circles. He’s a cult figure. And the first of his book I
have read was The Oldman and the Sea. The inspiration to read this simple, easy
to read-the language is ordinary with a poignant message about life- came by after
watching the Antoinne Fuqua directed and Denzel Washington starred action
thriller The Equalizer. The movie
seems to draw inspiration from the novel.
The Oldman and the Sea touches on life and
ambition/desire and how we sometimes lose it when we achieve it due to our
desperate attempt to protect it. A good book to read.
CHANGES: A
Love Story - AMA ATA AIDOO
I bought the book as a present for a friend
but I ended up reading it before giving it out to her. I couldn’t help myself
since it was one book a friend described as ‘one to read’. The story is a true reflection of Ama Ata
Aidoo’s strong views on feminism, women’s independence vis-à-vis the patriachical
Ghanaian society.
One of the standout quotes in the text is ‘Love is not safe; love is dangerous; the
last man any woman should think of marrying is the man she loves…’ A very debatable view point, methink.
THE
BEAUTYFUL ONES ARE NOT YET BORN- AYI KWEI ARMAH
Ayi Kwei Armah is a revered figure within the
African literature circles and this novel and his other works clearly proves
why (I hear Hamza Mooshod scream YES). Deep thoughts, prophetic predictions,
grief and pain; these are all found in this well woven story that is The
Beatyful Ones Are Not Yet Born.
A good man who became corrupt when he entered
politics, ending up a fugitive when his government was overthrown in a coup is
the theme of the story. The savior of this politician was his poor in-law who
was treated with contempt by his mother-inlaw for his steadfastness- not to be
corrupted despite a glaring opportunity to easily become a victim. It is one of
the books you must read by all means.
SO LONG A
LETTER – MARIAMA BA
A brilliant story told by Mariama Ba through
Ramatoulaye’s letter to her friend Aminatou capturing the position of woman within the
African society in broader terms as well as the direction of her (Ramatoulaye)
life and how the few who are brave enough to take charge of their life are
regarded.
I had to rush read this small book (84 pages)
which I borrowed from my good friend Hamza Moshood since he needed to read for
a paper. So Long A Letter is a book I would be reading again this year. The
issues tackled are still relevant in our society.
MANUSCRIPTS FOUND
IN ACCRA-PAULO COELHO
The reason I bought this book, despite
recommendation from someone I consider a friend, was because of the title.
Unfortunately, this novel wasn’t set in Accra (as in Ghana). This novel by the
Brazilian author is a philosophical writing about how one could live a
fulfilling life.
A priest who has seen death approaching chose
his final days to teach his townfolks especially the youth about how to keep
the traditions of their town and the nuggets of life from destruction.
THE GREAT
GATSBY – F. SCOTT FITZGERALD
The Great Gatsby was one book I revisited this
year. Considered one of the best among the Scott Fitzgerald collections, The
Great Gatsby is set in the jazz era of the American history where debauchery
and money met at a crossroad.
J. Gatsby lived for the green light and the
day it dimmed, he died; murdered by a man who was made to think he was coveting
his wife. A beautiful story of an
untimely and underserved death of a man with a good heart.
NO LONGER AT
EASE – CHINUA ACHEBE
No Longer At Ease is the second installment of
the ever popular Things Fall Apart. Obi
Okonkwo upon his return to Nigeria with his degree got a good government job
and it was not long before his ‘innocence’ was robed. A sad end of a young returnee determined to
cause a change in his homeland soiling his hands with corruption.
NON- FICTION
THERE WAS A
COUNTRY –CHINUA ACHEBE
This one by Chinua Achebe has been sitting among
my books for two years. Finally, I made time to read about Nigeria, as a
society and country; the ethnic tensions, the political system and who it seeks
to benefit the most. It is an engrossing read despite the criticism that Achebe
painted his Igbo clansmen as the good ones and victims of a Northern progrom to
diminish their influence in Nigeria.
ISLAM –
KAREN ARMSTRONG
This
book was a gift from Amma Konadu (one of the few ferocious readers I know).
Karen Armstrong is an authority on Islam and this book explores the history of
Islam, the Shia and Shi’te dynamics and well as the Ahmadi subject and more
importantly how the Shia and Shi’te nexus has become an acrimonious one in the
sphere of global politics (Iran and Saudi Arabia as the primarily players).
FROM
COMFLICT TO CONCENSUS? ELITE INTEGRATION AND DEMOCRACY IN GHANA – ANJA OSAE
This was an academic research paper supporting
the notion that elite integration is what sustains the growth of democracy.
That is how the elites in the various political camps despite their different
political ideologies unite with each other when it is most important as well as
the relationship they have with the ordinary voters (citizens) to forge a
formidable democratic society.
THE
SOCIOLINGUISTIC OF AKAN PERSONAL NAMES – KOFI AGYEKUM
Kofi Agyekum (Opanyin Agyekum) is a foremost
linguist and in this presentation gives a detail analysis of how the Akans name
their children, importance of names, circumstances under which names are given
to children and what the effect of these names are on the bearer.
He also makes the case of how the introduction
of Christianity and Western education impacted on how parents name their kids
and more importantly how the concept of a parent (father) naming a child after
himself is a colonial or western concept.
ETHNICITY
AND DEMOCRACY – ALEXANDER KAAKYIRE FRIMPONG
This was a research carried out by the author
in 2004 after the General Elections exploring the question of advantages of ethnicity
and voting trends in determining how a candidate wins an election(s). The
research was necessitated by the voting pattern of the people of Central Region
who heeded to the ‘Adze Wo Fie Oye’ (I’m a son of your land so vote for me)
slogan that the late Prof. Mills used in 2004, helping him clinch the 2004
Presidential Elections. An interesting analysis and conclusions.
As to how many books I would end up reading is
one I have not decided on. But, I know I will beat my 2015 efforts. I will
definitely make time to read more than I did last year. And the subjects surely
would be very diverse-more about politics, religion and some autobiographies.
Also, I’d read more female African writers and anything that falls on my path.
And yes, I will be blogging more on this
platform than I did last year. My other blog took more of my time which was not
very cool. Managing two blogs isn’t easy. Lastly, I’m planning to go back to
writing poetry again. My confidence has been given a boost by a friend I met
who made me vow to him I would be writing and publishing my poems more this
year.
Before I end let me share with you something
Matt Haig, a writer said about reading.
‘Read books. Always read books. Everytime you
can. It makes the world better. It is how humans merge. Empathy. Reading is
love in action’
‘