Today Oprah announced the latest book in her book club and its Say You’re One Of Them by Uwen Akpan.
It first came out in June of 2008. I have had this on my TBR pile since the fall of last year. It was actually part of a book win that I never got to read. Perhaps I will make it a point to take it out and read.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Each story in this jubilantly acclaimed collection pays testament to the wisdom and resilience of children, even in the face of the most agonizing circumstances.
A family living in a makeshift shanty in urban Kenya scurries to find gifts of any kind for the impending Christmas holiday. A Rwandan girl relates her family’s struggles to maintain a facade of normalcy amid unspeakable acts. A young brother and sister cope with their uncle’s attempt to sell them into slavery.
Aboard a bus filled with refugees—a microcosm of today’s Africa—a Muslim boy summons his faith to bear a treacherous ride across Nigeria. Through the eyes of childhood friends the emotional toll of religious conflict in Ethiopia becomes viscerally clear.
Uwem Akpan’s debut signals the arrival of a breathtakingly talented writer who gives a matter-of-fact reality to the most extreme circumstances in stories that are nothing short of transcendent.
Do you think you will be reading this one?
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I just read it and I think it’s an important book, but it’s a slow read and you can’t be distracted while you’re reading it.
I will probably read this one. I did pick it up in the bookstore today but, we had to leave sooner than expected and didn’t make any purchases – until the next visit – I have two gift cards waiting to be used!
I usually do not have any luck with Oprah’s books…. I actually gave up on her selections a long time ago – however this one looks to be my ind of book and she may have just redeemed herself. 🙂