petals of blood by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

their has been a murder in the kenyan region of ilmgorog and the police gather up 5 suspects to question. they start asking things about the mau mau uprising. this was the uprising against the british to gain independence.

This book is a great read because it talks about the history and culture of the kikuyus in kenya and how the managed to rebel against the british forces.

The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi is a very gripping and frightening book about the future. This story is set in the 23rd century, in Thailand where global warming has caused the oceans to rise, flooding many cities. All of the fossil fuels stores have been depleted causing the population to use springs that have to be wound tightly by hand or by Megodont (a giant mammoth-like creature). The food stocks are depleting at an alarming rate and this is causing the fear-level to rise.

t is called the Windup Girl because they have altered the DNA of some people so that they are like living machines. They have been altered to have perfect eye-sight, to have perfect skin, and to be loyal. They are viewed with respect in Japan for they are a novelty but in Thailand, they are viewed with contempt because they are one more mouth that the country has to feed.

This book shows us what could be the future of our society, completely depending on research to keep our civilisation fed and to stop it from dying from terrible diseases.

I really enjoyed reading this book because it opened my eyes to what could very well be our future. This book is very drastic and shows us clearly what Paolo Bacigalupi's vision was.

Hemingway and London Overboard

The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway was recommended by one of my good friends who had just recently read it. I thought it was a good idea to try it out so I went to go pick it up, when while I was on the ladder fetching it, I found a book called Sea-Wolf by Jack London. I am familiar with London and I have read some of his works before, so I figured I would go ahead and give it a shot. 

I finish The Old Man and The Sea very quickly as it is after all a very short yet it was a lovely read. I love the relationship The Old Man had with the little boy and with the sea. I felt compassionate with the Old Man, and the way he spoke enhanced this feeling. 

The Sea-Wolf by Jack London, which I just started (chapter 3 currently), is captivating in a nervous way. I have a weakness for this kind of detailed, sentimental style, yet the sailors give a roughness to the plot. 

Forgotten Voices of the Holocaust

This book is an emotional collection of experiences told by survivors and witnesses of the holocaust. Lyn Smith had researched for 25 years, recording the history of what had happened in the years of 1939 to 1945. This documented book of the holocaust shows the different perspectives of how the Jews, Poles, homosexuals, and more were treated. Men, women, and children were being tormented. Their lives had become chaos. They were scarred for life. In the book, a large amount of the children, then young, would talk about the very first day their happy lives were stolen and replaced by hatred and anger. But most of all, it was filled with sadness and fear. There was no way of hiding. Having to see so many people die in front of your eyes, your friends, your neighbours, your family. The things that the Nazis had done were inhumane, making their victims monstrous as well. Full-grown and educated adults were acting like animals over a piece of bread and the children were beginning to become disgraced by their own race. Children of both sides were also hugely affected. Some German children were even taught to harass the Jewish children in their class. Teachers were    Children had their childhood taken away, people were being torn apart from families and friends became rivals. Even though all this was happening, there were still kindness expressed even with the smallest gestures. This is a very heartfelt documentary.

Laughter In The Dark

Infidelity is a vastly known issue that modern people now are frequently conflicted with. In this novel, Vladimir Nabokov depicts one of the most crucial causes to tragedy. The protagonist of this twisted story, Albert Albinus, is a rich and married art critic. He lives with his wife, Elisabeth and their young daughter Irma in Berlin. Although Albinus remains loyal to Elisabeth, he knows that he is not in love with her anymore; the thrill had worn off. He soon finds himself in love with a young woman names Margot.

Young and beautiful, Margot Peters is a young usherette at the Argus cinema. She has never been quite successful in her relationships with men. Albinus loves Margot but does not know that the love is not returned nor would it ever be. Though Margot seduces Albinus without failure, Margot has other plans in mind with the advantage of her new claim of wealthy and connected Albinus. Her desires to be a film star are hidden from Albinus. She manages to lead him onto the path where he leaves his family behind and is led blindly into Margot's plot. To be safe, devious Margot does not create possibilities of losing her presently fabulous life by staying lovelessly faithful to Albinus. All until Axel Rex came back from America.

Axel Rex is an unsuccessful American movie producer and a cunning rival of Albinus (who does not exactly know) for Margot. He is willing to win back Margot and eventually does. This book is a work of twisting affairs and complexion. It will entangle you into the suspense and cruelty.

The Books.

This term I have been craving something different. Something that could send shivers down my spine, and keep me awake throughout the night. I wanted something with unexpected twists and turns, but I also wanted to something soothing and comfortable. So once I had an idea of what I wanted, I went ahead to the library.

The first book I picked up was 'Out of Africa' By Karen Blixen (or Isak Dinesen). A book my gran told me I had to read at some point in my life. Just within a couple of sentences I was already in trance. It is written so pleasantly and descriptively it just makes you want to sit there and imagine this wonderful world, that I one day hope I can discover for myself.

I also found a book called: The Life of an Unknown Man by Andre Mankin. Which Mr. Berube recommended. I have not come far yet, but I can already tell by the style of writing and the setting that it is a kind of love story, but it is definitely not a traditional one. I know something plot twisting is going to appear out of the beyond.

Steppenwolf By Herman Hesse is magical. Purely enchanting, it has some kind of force and allurement. I love the way it is written, and how I can just sit there an indulge. I find it to a certain extent relatable and a piece of amazing poetic writing. It is a classic that everyone has to read!

The most remarkable book which I have picked up is definitely; Senor Vivo & The Coca Lord by Louis de Berniéres. I asked for the most excruciating, blood hungry, explicit, luridly descriptive and torturous book that I could get. The book is rather special. As it gives away so many rather weird details. It is also quite confusing. But it is genius. I love it. It is nothing that I have read before. For some reason I am completely tangled up in this mystery of love and burning desire and hatred and torture and death.
This book really gives me all I want. A new kind of knowledge and a different kind of presence.

A play which, may was a little far of what I was looking for, but I gave it a try. The play is 'The Importance of Being Ernest'. I also got a few other copies of plays, such as An Ideal Husband, and Journeys End.

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

The Girl in Translation is a narrative story about a Chinese girl, Kimberly Chang and her mother who immigrated from Hong Kong with the help of her Aunt Paula. Aunt Paula had married Bob, an American man who brought her to America. Kimberly's mother chose to marry her love (a Chinese man), but she was stuck struggling in China. Her father passed away when she was young. Finally, Kimberly moved to New York City (or so she thought.)

As excited as she was to see the Empire State building and statue of liberty, her dreams were crushed when she found out that she would be living in Brooklyn, in an illegal apartment. Along with struggling in English and working in a factory to help pay of the debts to her aunt, Kimberly over exceeds in school. She receives a full scholarship to a elite prep school and eventually a scholarship to Yale.

As she faces hardships, Kimberly grows stronger and brighter. She meets new friends, struggles with bullies, develops relationships, and follows her dreams.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska is split up to two parts -- before and after. Referring to before and after Alaska has past away. The main character Pudge (Miles) is from Florida, and is sent off to Culver Creek boarding school, the same school his father attended. At his old school, Pudge was very awkward and unsocial and he was curious to know how his future would turn out. Pudge's specialty is knowing famous people's last words. When he arrives at school, he meets his roommate and soon to be best friend, the Colonel (Chip). Immediately, Pudge also became friends with the infamously troubled, beautiful Alaska Young.

As the year passes by, not only does Pudge become close with his new friends, but he also tries new things, particularly the things you try in high school that you don't want your parents to know. He starts smoking by pure pressure, and also begins drinking. He also begins sexual relationships, which he never had at home. Suddenly, one night when they were playing a prank on "The Eagle", otherwise knows as the dean, they get a little bit too drunk, and Alaska runs off and gets killed in a car crash.

Afterwards, Pudge and the Colonel are stuck, speechless for months. Finally, when they decide to climb out of their shell they so greatly buried themselves in, they try to find out what Alaska was after when she drove on. They had many predictions, they thought that she ran off to her boyfriend in collage, or was mad because she had cheated on him. After months of investigation, they finally find the answer, relieved but still holding a piece of Alaska with them.