Maps (1986) (edit title/settings)

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Liked It Rated 4 stars “This story by Somalia author Nuruddin Farah is an excellent introduction to the heartaches and ensuing struggles currently devastating northeast Africa. This story is the first in Farah's “Blood in the Sun” trilogy. It takes place during the Somalia and Ethiopia conflict over the Ogaden region...” see full review » see other reviews »

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  • Rated 4 stars

  “This story by Somalia author Nuruddin Farah is an excellent introduction to the heartaches and ensuing struggles currently devastating northeast Africa. This story is the first in Farah's “Blood in the Sun” trilogy. It takes place during the Somalia and Ethiopia conflict over the Ogaden region in 1977. The main characters are an adopted orphan (Askar) and his adoptive mother (Misra); the latter is of questionable national and ethnic background. These characters symbolize the angst of the region’s conflict. Just what determines nationality? Where does one’s loyalty lie? What do boundaries on maps convey? This is perhaps best characterized by the following quote from the novel, "The question is, does truth change? Or do we? Do we, men, women and children change? Or does truth?” This novel is a stark reminder that these questions are not easily answered. Farah won the coveted Neustadt Award for Literature in 1998.”

  tapbirds wrote this review Tuesday, November 27, 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No