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FKnabe

FKnabe

I read a wide range of books, non-fiction and fiction. I am particularly interested in international literature, with African authors being one of my current priorities. I also follow new authors and new books by established authors.

In non-fiction I specialize also on international issues - currently Africa & oil as well as other...more »
  • Ottawa, On, Canada
  • member since Friday, November 16 2007

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Public Notes

  • peter b

    peter b says

    I don't mean to criticize him. It's a good book. It just seems to me that it's mostly of topical interest--a commentary on a particular socio-political circumstance. The characters didn't seem to have a lot of depth to me. Not even Vikram himself--except at the end when he's struggling to figure out what to do. It doesn't seem to me to approach the thematic depth of the great writers. Who would I rate above him? Soyinka. Coetzee. Mahfouz. Among the younger writers, maybe Abani or Mda. But all the same I'd definitely recommend Vikram Lall to anyone wanting a handle on Mau Mau and the post-independence cycle of corruption in Africa.

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • peter b

    peter b says

    Great, glad you like him. I do too.

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • peter b

    peter b says

    Hi,

    I enjoyed Vikram Lall too. It's not great literature, but it has a more nuanced take on the way Mau Mau affected various segments of the population than you usually get. And the portrayal of how corrupt political systems function was very revealing.

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Buecherwuermchen

    buecherwuermchen says

    Hallo, Pippi Langstrumpf hab ich mit meinen Kindern gelesen. Das haben wir jetzt fertig und haben "Die kleine Hexe" angefangen. Ich selber hab als letztes "Sophie's Welt" gelesen und fand es super interessant was das philosophische angeht, aber nicht ganz so toll was die Geschichte angeht. Aber ich glaub so ein Buch mit dem Inhalt ist schwer auf allen Bereichen perfekt hinzubekommen. Aber ich wuerde es trotzdem weiter empfehlen. Jetzt les ich im moment "Familienkonferenz" von Thomas Gordon um meinen Job als Mutter etwas zu verbessern, haha. Ich hab vor kurzem "World without end" gelesen, das waren ueber 1000 Seiten. Da braucht man keine Pistole unterm Kissen, wenn man den Klopper auf dem Nachttisch liegen hat ;o) Wie geht es Dir?

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Buecherwuermchen

    buecherwuermchen says

    Ich hab uebrigens in den letzten Monaten auch einige Buecher mit dem Thema Afrika gelesen. Unter anderem Winnie Mandela, ein Buch ueber eine Nomadenfrau, den Roman "Unter der Sonne" glaub ich, bin mir grad beim Titel nicht so sicher. Wie du siehst, eher die Frauenliteratur, als die politische, aber dann kann man das eine vom anderen beim Thema Afrika ja gar nicht wirklich trennen. Seit wann bist du denn in Kanada und woher kommst du in Deutschland? Gruesse aus Arizona!

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • ami_85

    ami_85 says

    hehehe da hast du mich erwischt! ich wohne in indien und habe die letzten 7 jahre Deutsch gelernt, und davon die letzten 2 jahre habe ich MA gemacht (in germanistik) und danach noch eine lehrerausbildung an dem Goethe institut hier in bombay geemacht, und seit febraur unterrichte ich Deutsch am goethe institut. o ich liebe die deutsche sprache, obwohl ich sie nicht so gut beherrsche...und die deutsche literatur und kultur mag ich auch sehr. du bist unglaublich, wieso liest du soo viele buecher? denn jeden tag steht ein neues buch in deinem shelf und ich beneide dich fast...

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • ami_85

    ami_85 says

    ganz schoen! ein heikles thema, wenn wir uns auf deutsch schreiben waere, ob wir uns duzen oder siezen, wie Sie wissen, das Sie ist also fuer formelle Bekanntschaften, aber ich bevorzuge das freundlichere DU, und wieso koennen Sie deutsch, wenn Sie gerade in Kanada wohnen, und sagen Sie mir wenn meine Fragen zu weit gehen und Sie es nicht so moegen, nun dann bis naechstes mal, viel vergnuegen beim weiterlesen! :)

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • ami_85

    ami_85 says

    well, right now i am reading a geschichte der deutschen Literatur- der 20. Jahrhundert, nun, dass ich weiss dass Sie Deutsch verstehen waere es eien tolle IDee auf Deutsch zu schreiben, so wuerden wir beide davon profitieren :) also, NACHKRIEGSZEIT is my big obsession, its somehow got all my attention, though i havent read much, soem classics and lyrik usw, i reiterate, its nachkriegszeit for me all the way, though one recent book was enchanting and a fabulous read, es heisst die vermessung der welt, very interesting and engaging, i like critical as well as rein literary stuff...now i am mixing both languages but i am sure it does not bother you, oder? ;)
    have a nice day, since you are on theother side of the globe!
    bis zum naechsten mal!!

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • ami_85

    ami_85 says

    your name suggested as much, but i thought that you read only translations, as i found german works in english.
    its interesting to know you are reading something fro mthe 30s since i myself am very interested in the nazi time literature and the one immediately following it. the usual nach kriegs guys...you know boell, and the like...
    do tell me what your newwet find is about...:)

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • ami_85

    ami_85 says


    well, iread german lit in german, and just realised you read translations, so our discussions woulb be interesting as they will entail interpretation of another kind, anyways looking forward to it!

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • ami_85

    ami_85 says

    hi,
    got your note. i have been readingf german literature for just three years, but i enjoy it. i am going to check yourlist,but could you tell me what kind of, orrather what books did you enjoy reading the most? it surely would lead to some points of discussion, :)
    gruesse,
    ami_85

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • beachlover20855

    beachlover20855 says

    Hi -
    I have posted a suggested reading schedule for Wizard of the Crow and suggested month to start. Please review and let me know your thoughts.
    Take care

    posted 6 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Kathryn R

    kathryn r says

    Just finished The Constant Gardner; picked it up after reading your review. Thank you.

    posted 6 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Kathryn R

    kathryn r says

    Thank you for your World Lit posting regarding the other Out Of Africa group.

    posted 6 months ago. ( send a note )
  • tapbirds

    tapbirds says

    Greetings! I requested your Shelfari friendship after seeing your recent note on the World Lit group and appreciated the information you provided on African authors (Helon Habila, Zakes Mda, Aminata Forna, Miriam Ba). That was extremely helpful! I'm almost finished reading "Half of Yellow Sun" and find it to be both engrossing and informative. I learned more about the tribal distinctives (Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba) from Adichie's novel than I did from reading Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" or Wole Soyinka's works (albeit Achebe and Soyinka are truly great writers). Thanks again for your suggested reads. Sincerely, Scott

    posted 6 months ago. ( send a note )
  • GEZE 2S

    geze 2s says

    Hi FKnabe,
    Since you like African lit. may I suggest "LEMONA"S TALE" by Ken Saro Wiwa I'm sure you knew of him It's not a long book to read but I think you will find it very interesting.
    happy reading.

    posted 7 months ago. ( send a note )


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