Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Traveling to Africa ... by book!



Since I can't afford to take a real African safari this summer, I thought I'd do a bookish one and read my way through several African countries. Here are some of the books I thought I'd start with and the countries where they take place:

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solder by Ishmael Beah
(Sierra Leone)

Small Country by Gael Faye
(Burundi)

A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson
(Kenya)

Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
(Nigeria)


Are there any other good books set in Africa that you would recommend? I'd really like to read There Is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene, which is set in Ethiopia, some time in the near future, but I haven't checked it out of the library yet. I thought I'd see if I can get these other books read first. Let me know if you have any other suggestions!

Happy Reading!


32 comments:

  1. I haven’t read many books set in Africa. That’s definitely a gap in my reading that I need to fill.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. I know what you mean. I've been trying to read more widely, too.

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  2. What an interesting list of titles! I'm eager to hear what you think of these. One that draws my attention is the bird guide--I imagine it will be full of wonderful photos! But I'm intrigued by the other titles as well. :)

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    1. I just started the bird guide book and it's a fiction story without any color photos, but it does have a pencil sketch of a local Kenyan bird at the beginning of each chapter, which is fun. :)

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  3. Ooh, this is such a neat idea! I haven't read many books set in Africa, but that's something I'd love to remedy.

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    1. It's fun to dip into other countries and cultures every once in awhile. Africa and Asia are probably the two places I've read in the least.

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  4. I think this is a great idea and all of your books sound interesting! I have read a few books set in Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, but Burundi would be a new country for me to read about. Enjoy your bookish safari!

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    1. Thanks, Helen! I haven't read anything set in either Sierra Leone or Burundi, although I have read several books set in Kenya and Nigeria. :)

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  5. I love this idea! I want to read more science fiction set in Africa.

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    1. That would be fun! I wish I knew of some. :)

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  6. This is such a cool idea! Hope you enjoy these books and I'm curious to know what you'll think of them. :)

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  7. I recommend Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi fur Uganda. It is a family saga across centuries. I've not read it yet but I have a copy ready on my pile to read from Zambia, The Old Drift by Namwalli Serpel. For Zimbabwe you could try The Book of Memory by Petina Gappah or We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo. Finally, I read this year American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson which is set in part in Burkina Faso. For Nigeria I recommend anything by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi.

    Sounds like a fun project. I hope you keep us informed of your progress! :D

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  8. I lived and worked in North Africa from late 1992 through early 2002 and can tell you that it is like another world when compared to sub-Saharan Africa. But don't forget about Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia if you want to get the whole picture.

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  9. Reading is a great way to "tour" places you can't actually get to. And sometimes reading about the location spurs on your determination to make a trip happen. Wonderful idea, Lark! :)

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    1. Books are a good way to 'travel' when you can't afford an actual trip. :)

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  10. What a cool reading challenge! It sounds like so much fun.

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    1. It's a way to travel without leaving home. ;D

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  11. Hi Lark, I love these kind of lists. I have one in which they name a different novel for each of the 50 states and when you get to Delaware its not that easy to find a novel to go with the state so glad I have the list!

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    1. I should read a book for all 50 states some time. But when I do, I'll be sure to get that list from you! :D

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  12. I've been to a few parts of South Africa and loved the country. I think my travel days are over though so like you, I'll need to travel through my books! A Long Way Gone was pretty shocking for content. Have you tried Waris Dirie's Desert Flower, Slave by Mende Nazer, Anna Wafula Strike's In My Dreams I Dance and Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali? Here is a link to books set in South Africa too.
    https://taleaway.com/books-set-in-south-africa/

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    1. I've read Infidel, but not the others. That's so cool that you got to travel to South Africa! There's so many places I'd love to see. If only I had the money. :D

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  13. Any by Buchi Emecheta--all were excellent. For the white colonial/independence experience see the books of Alexandra Fuller (I recommend the audios. Current day (or reasonably so) We Need New Names or Little Bee. Lower River by Paul Theroux. Colonial period: Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Apartheid S.A. Kaffir Boy and its sequel and the classic Cry the Beloved Country. Post-colonial: Sugar Cane With Salt. Classic: Things Fall Apart. Or for fun read Alexander McCall Smiths' wonderful No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (read them in order). Also you could try the blog https://ayearofreadingtheworld.com/

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    1. Awesome recommendations! Thank you so much. Emecheta's books sound especially good. :D

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  14. I wanted to recommend Kintu, which I am currently reading, but Ruthiella was faster.))) I also liked Die Again by Tess Geritsen, which partially set during a safari in Botswana, really quick read))

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    1. Thanks, Julie! Kintu must be good if you and Ruthiella both recommend it. :)

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  15. This sounds like such a good idea! I'm definitely looking forward to what you read (& I just read about the fist two).

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