Thoughts, Plans, Reality

My desire was beyond reason:  to read seven books packed in my suitcase, for this too-short 2010 World Cup holiday in South Africa.

1)  My brand new purchases:
  • African Roar, a fiction anthology drawn from the very best stories published from 2007-2009 in the StoryTime weekly literary ezine dedicated to publishing African writers.
  • The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
  • Away by Amy Bloom.
2)  My 'started but not finished':
  • Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Love Invents Us by Amy Bloom
3)  And two of my favorite re-reads:
  • Drown by Junot Diaz
  • Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri.
What was I thinking?  Our days and nights here in South Africa have been filled with remarkable experiences, some startling in their immediate lessons, others to be processed and reprocessed, and then embraced for a lifetime.  Maybe I'll do some reading on the flights back...

Mama Shujaa.

Comments

  1. Yes, that was a coincidence. You have 'The God of Small Things' in your suitcase. It's beautiful, but oh, ever so painful.

    Many thanks for your comemnts and wish you luck with your reading. :-)

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I’m completely envious. I thought of you as we watched England v. Slovenia this morning. It was a bit of a split on watching this versus the US game, but as a US/UK family we follow English football more than American (unless our kids are playing!) Amazing goal today. It was interesting reading your last post about the Johannesburg we don’t see on TV.

    I love your reading list. The God of Small Things and Interpreter of Maladies are two of my favorite books. I quit Away without finishing it. I never really attached to the main character although the writing was very good. Half a Yellow Sun is on my to read list. It’s better that you used your time to see the sights. These good books will travel.

    I’m like you, lugging around a suitcase of books. I’m tempted by the Kindle now that the price has dropped below $200. Given the number of new releases I read, I could pay for it in a year or two.

    Safe journey home!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful collection of books in your suitcase!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You must be having a great time. And yes, what were you thinking?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I didn't finish Half a Yellow Sun either. When I tell writer friends that, they look at me as if I am crazy/slightly retarded, but I just couldn't get into it! Happy reading x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and comments.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Mama Shujaa,
    Why on earth would you be 'reading anything' when the whole world is dancing in a trance down in SA?
    Knock it off, just rant on the F---- football, that's all I want to hear live....
    I watch every game, listen to the talking heads and jump on line to catch up with the sports writers. Make my day! Jilani...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey Jilani,

    So right you are! No time for reading right now!

    Holland vs Spain. My money is on Holland! Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

    Mama Shujaa.

    ReplyDelete
  9. What were you thinking is right! Read on your flights; while there, experience!!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Swallow Me

See the World, No Visa Required

Kilimanjaro