Brutal Reality in Modern Day Africa
This is one short story in Uwen Akpan’s short fiction collection titled Say Your One of Them
Jigana, an eight-year-old boy whose family lives in a makeshift shack in the outskirts of Nairobi, narrates the story. They are dirt poor and send their 12-year-old daughter out on the street to sell her body to feed the family. They also want to send Jigana, as their eldest son, to school. Short on food, the mother gives her children kabire (glue) to sniff to curb their appetite. “She and Baba hardly ever took kabire. Kabire is for children only.”
It is not an easy story to read and does make the reader feel really uncomfortable. However, it tells a story that must be told. It is well written and gets the point across.
5/5
Also reviewed by:
Note to my fellow bloggers who also reviewed this book: If you would like me to link your review at the bottom of my review, please leave a comment with the link to your review.
Good review, Teddy! You and I are once again on “the same page!”
Thanks Wendy! Though we both agree, I was at a loss for words. I thought you did a better job. I was really impressed with your review!
Teddy,
Great review, and I’m in the process of reading the book myself – so when I review it, I”ll link to you. Thanks.
Hi, Teddy! This looks like a book I would like.
Check my blog for an award you’ve received! 🙂
Lezlie
Aw, Teddy *blushing*
Wow! sounds like gritty stuff. Have you read the whole book, or just this story? if just this one, will you read the rest?
Wow. I’ve read a few books about life in Africa, and they’ve all been rather hard reading. This sounds like it is very good though. Never been a big short story fan, but maybe I will try this one!
Andi and Linda,
Now that I read this story I do plan to read the rest of the book as soon as I can get a copy. I read this story on the New Yorker Magazine’s website. Andi, I look forward to reading your review.
Lezlie,
Thanks so much!
Stephanie,
You can get the short story for free on the New Yorker’s website. If you like it then you can get the book. I use to be like you and not like short stories. However, I am in a couple book clubs that read them occasionally and I have come to appreciate some of them. It really depends on the author, some rally have a knack for the genre. I would also highly, highly recommend Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. It was this book of short stories that made me enjoy the genre. I love that book so much!
The daughter isn’t sent out to prostitution, she does it despite her mother’s protest. He uses characters of such a young age to emphasize what war does to the human spirit.
Say “You’re” One of Them
Akpan is incredibly prejudice in his writing. He is subtle, but it is clear that he is pro-Christian and portrays everyone else has murders, rapists, etc.
Anonymous,
I don’t see what you see and I’m a non-christian myself.
Oops my comment did not post-I am sending you another one.
Having recently lived in Mozambique, I know this story is far too real. There are way too many tummies growling in Africa, and this story desparately needs to be told…
Thanks for the review! I really enjoy books that reveal little-known things about cultures so this one sounds right up my alley!
This review makes me want to go buy the book. I could not imagine living in a family like this.
Even though you say that it is not a easy story to read~It sounds like something I would like to read about as it does sound interesting!
Thanks for the review!!
I love reading books centered around Africa. This book looks like a “must read”!!
Great review! This sounds like a really nice book. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com
I posted a comment on your review. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com I follow through google friend.
Esme, I don’t understand your comment.
Winning Readings, it certainly does need to be told.
Melanie, I enjoy those kind of stories too.
Rebecca, me either.
Deb K, it is very interesting!
Wanda, I do too!
409cope, thanks. You need to go back to the gioveaway post to say that you posted on my review post.
Teddy,
Thanks so much for directing me here! The brutal reality of this story was almost difficult to read at times. I plan to space the rest of them out over the next several weeks.
JoAnn, I found it difficult to read at times too. It was heartbreaking. I plan to read the rest of the stories as well. I think spacing them out is a really good idea.
Unfortunately, it is a sad fact of life in too many countries!