Library Additions
Quotes for Friday will be back next week; haven't marked enough lines for a serving this week. In its place, I would want to share my newly acquired books with you instead.
It has been a month since I shared my list of acquired books on this blog. The reason for the time lag being that I have acquired fewer books over this period. However, there is a person out there who has been sending me some of the books on my challenge list. And I have recently some books from her. Thanks very much for your kindness.
- Mad Libs by Roger Price and Leonard Stern. This is a workbook of grammar. After having the fun, I'd work it out with my son. Don't you just love it when a child you don't know send you a book? This is why I am against any sort of book burning. I am beginning of forming an online movement (if one has not already been formed) about Bloggers Against Book Burning. Let me know what you think.
- The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer. This book is on the list of Top 100 Books Reading Challenge.
- The Burger's Daughter by Nadine Gordimer. This is also my my Top 100 Books Reading Challenge. Gordimer is one I have read only in short stories. I am therefore happy to have received two of her most sought after books. She will be the fourth Nobelist I would read after Soyinka, Morrison and Coetzee.
- Sula by Toni Morrison. It looks like I am an aficionado of Morrison even if I am yet to read her entire Oeuvre. I started collecting her books after I read Beloved and Song of Solomon.
I also picked up a book and had it autographed at the Writers Project of Ghana's last book reading for the year:
- Journey by G.A. Agambila. I don't know when I am going to read this book. The way I see it, it might take a while or perhaps Kinna would once again rescue me with her Ghanaian Literature Week.
My new job sometimes take me to other African countries. Late October I was in Zambia and I have decided to pick a book or two from every country I visit, if possible by authors in that country. However, the ones I picked in Zambia were not written by Zambians. I discovered that local or African-Books are expensive than foreign ones:
- Speeches that Changed the World by Cathy Lowne (Compiler). This book contains speeches since the days of Julius Caesar that have shaped the world; or changed it.
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. This is not strictly on any challenge list; though the book is one I have been looking out for after reading Orwell's 1984 and Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.
In effect, these are all the books I have received or purchased since October 18, 2011. Have you read any? What is your opinion?
How fun that work had you in Zambia, I hope you had a fantastic time there. I've not been, but one day hopefully... :)
ReplyDeleteSome great new books there - I hope you enjoy them all.
it is always a joy to add a book to the growing mountain.
ReplyDeleteI started Burger's Daughter last year, Nana, and was enjoying it although I was trying to read too many other books at the same time. Hopefully I'll return to it sometime in 2012. In the meantime, happy reading to you--looks like a nice assortment of books you've picked up!
ReplyDeleteI am a firm believer in one book at a time. I cannot read more than one at a time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list of books, and I really love Mad Libs! Glad that you have some generous friends who are happy to send you books! I can only imagine how happy it makes you!
ReplyDeleteI love it when you tell us about your new purchases - it is interesting to hear what people are thinking? I think you will LOVE LOVE LOVE Brave New World
ReplyDelete@Zibilee, I was really happy whenever i receive books from friends.
ReplyDelete@SN: I hope so...
ReplyDeleteOf these, I have only read Brave New World. I didn't like it as much as either 1984 or the Handmaid's Tale, but it's still worth reading alongside them :)
ReplyDeleteI guess these are the trilogy of the dystopian sub-genre that are of necessity must be read together. Guess most who have read one have also read either of the remaining two.
ReplyDeleteOh, have fun reading Brave New World! I find it difficult to take very seriously, but I do remember chuckling over some of his ideas, like the Malthusian belt:)
ReplyDeleteMost dystopians are superficially difficult to believe but if one think about certain governments, certain researches, certain advancements in science, all the world needs is a willing dictator. Haven't read BNW so I can't tell what's in it but regarding 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale, we are living them presently, if only mildly.
ReplyDeleteYou should enjoy Sula. Oh, I'm so behind on my reading of Gordimer. I'm yet to read A Brave New World. Perhaps we read it together? Zambia, huh? Of all the Southern African countries, it reminds me the most of Ghana.
ReplyDelete@Kinna, I hope to. Everything Morrison is a must read for me. Perhaps we could arrange a time to read Brave New World, though I don't think it is a scheduled book for me this month.
ReplyDeleteYes we work in Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania and four other countries including Ghana. I spent only three days there...
"Burger's Daughter" is a very good book. I'm sure you'll like it. "Brave New World" is also a must read.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you were in Zambia. Too bad it was only for 3 days. Better luck next time.
@I'll read one of Gordimer's after what I'm currently reading.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your thoughts on Sula. I read it in college, but don't remember much about it.
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