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Title: Faceless Author: Amma Darko Genre: Novel Publishers: Sub-Saharan Publishers Pages: 233 Year: 2003 Amma Darko's Faceless tackles a society's neglect of its future leaders, the irresponsibility of fathers, the importance of the media in solving problems and the importance of determination in our lives. It blatantly portrays how a larger 'section' of the society is living and dealing with life as if there is no one looking after them. So difficult is life to such individuals that what to eat is as problematic as where to ease; what to wear and where to sleep and even waking up to the morning sun are seen as miracles. It clearly shows the effect of streetism on the society and how decayed and corrupt society has become. The axiom that 'each one for himself God for us all' can clearly summarise the content of this novel, and to some extent, without taking anything from the author, can act as its second title. Fofo was forced out from home by he...

Title: Not Without Flowers Author: Amma Darko Genre: Novel Publishers: Sub-Saharan Publishers Pages: 372 ISBN: 978-9988647131 Year: 2007 Country: Ghana As I stated in one of my postings, I am dedicating my readings to African Writers and as such I have set a target of reading at least two of them every month--not a difficult target if you should ask me, especially knowing that it takes at most three days to complete a 500-page novel; but with work and other activities looming and beckoning I think this is fair target. Besides, it looks as if I have set out to review all the books I read (unintentionally though), which in my opinion is not a bad idea. We (Africans & Ghanaians) must promote our writers and make sure that we help them achieve their dreams. Readers make writers. Where would Sidney Sheldon be if he had no readers or even J.K. Rowling or J.R.R. Tolkien or even Tolstoy? I believe that what the musicians couldn't do the writers could do, judging fro...

This is the latest book I am reading; my second Amma's book and it has not so far disappointed me. I love the passion with which Amma Darko writes her story, the portrayal of a decaying society caught up in the midst of superstition and archaic tradition. She is the new voice in Ghanaian writing and I hope you get the time to read her. I would do a comprehensive review of this novel when I am through but like her last but one novel Faceless , Not Without Flowers tackle Ghana's social issues like no other. She portrays the negative side of the dual community, one that is most often hidden and untalked of; one that would hit every thinking person with a force so huge that it would not leave the reader the same; one that would awaken the irresponsible behaviour and the indifferent attitude of people. Amma is one person I have grown to like within a spate of two or three weeks. She would make you cry, laugh and annoyed in just one paragraph. Hers is a story of life; a story that i...