Citizen Ochonu, Oga Harrow,
Interesting choices, many thanks for sharing. I posted the same on Facebook and I have been getting some pretty interesting responses. It is fascinating reading the reasons for the individual choices. The choices are so individual and personal. If I had the energy I would compile all the responses in an essay. I am thinking of my own choices. Right now, I am not feeling very positive vibes about Nigeria, I might choose the farcical over everything else, you know, How to be a Nigerian by Peter Pan Enahoro, This House has Fallen Again by Karl Meier, and I Do Not Come To You By Chance by Adaobi Nwaubani, LOL, LWKMD... Just kidding, just kidding, let me think some more...
Moses, I don't think Helon ranked them in any order. Kenn, I actually think it is an interesting exercise, not one of canonization or ranking. Everybody seems to have their own three books. I son't know that I would have chosen any of Soyinka's novels or memoirs, I don't do Okri much, but I can see why The Famished Road shows up in the lists.
Anyway, many thanks for sharing!
- Ikhide
From: kenneth harrow <harrow@msu.edu>
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wed, August 18, 2010 1:05:07 PM
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Helon Habila's Book Choices
hi ikhide
this is like africa's 50 best book game; i hate this canonization. not least because it freezes something living into a Classic that we treat with Awe. some of my criticisms of soyinka on this list met that same attitude, a "how do you dare question the Great One." i've always wanted people to remain people, not be Great Ones, and i've always appreciated meeting "great" writers or critics who've known how to keep their humility. i could offer tons of examples of those who have not, but an example of one who has is Appiah.
i wander.
why not.
Arrow of God is much more interesting, when reread and reread, than TFA. TFA is an institution; Arrow a novel that welcomes complexity and depth of readings
Man Died? never. the obvious choice is Death and the King's Horseman. I'd love to know if there is another WS choice for people out there. There was a time when i wouldn't have hesitated at saying The Road, and i still love it, nostalgically. But there is something really significant about Jero which might eclipse the others.
Ben Okri? why not; Famished Road seems obvious. But have you read and reread Stars of a New Curfew?
Lastly, i know this is not a universal sentiment, but Graceland and Virgin of Flames stand out there with my favorites. i love the cover of Virgin. i love almost everything about that brilliant book, its prose, sensibilities, originality, its painting of painting, its notion of what a life on the margins has to do with the inexplicably sublime.
beat that one
another to remember: Purple Hibiscus; my students favorite, hands down.
i would not appreciate an all-male list; and although it gets me down, i recognize the impact Joys of Motherhood has had
i loved Sozaboy, more and more as i taught it; especially especially for that broken thing he calls rotten english. is there better than that? i doubt it
ken
At 05:22 PM 8/18/2010, you wrote:
Folks,
I am curious: What three books would you choose to capture Nigeria's 50 years of existence? Helon Habila, speaking to the BBC chose Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, The Man Died by Wole Soyinka, and The Famished Road by Ben Okri. Very Interesting choices there. Would you have made the same choices? What would your choices have been? Please share.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/2010/08/100803_strand_read_my_country.shtml
- Ikhide
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Kenneth W. Harrow
Distinguished Professor of English
Michigan State University
harrow@msu.edu
517 803-8839
fax 517 353 3755
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