A Grain of Wheat
Registered by lunacia of Fredrikstad, Østfold fylke Norway on 2/24/2012
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
9 journalers for this copy...
This is a compelling account of the turbulence that inflamed Kenya in the 1950s and its impact on people's lives. Five friends and agemates make different choices when the Mau Mau rebellion erupts in colonial Kenya. Kihika joins the freedom fighters in the forest; Gikonyo supports the rebels, but is arrested and detained; Mumbi, Gikonyo's wife, works to keep family and home together in the village; Karanja chooses to support the more powerful British masters; Mugo ultimately betrays his friends and loses his life in a desperate attempt to stay alive and stay neutral.
I read this book when I did my first year of English at the university. It was a very interesting read, and I felt like I learned a lot about a part of Kenya's history that wasn't very familiar to me.
BOOKRAYThis book wants to travel! This is a bookray, that means that when all the readers on the list are done, the last person is free to forward it or release it as they feel like.
Please
- make a journal entry when the book arrives, so that we know it has arrived safely
- read the book within a month
- write a journal entry to let us know what you thought
- make a controlled release note when you pass it on, using your location as the release place (you the sender) to make the book's travel map consistent. Don't use "posted as bookray" or similar as this will not add to the books map.
Happy reading!
Participants
* Panzeranzi (Sweden)
* ruzena (Finland - ship INTL)
* RonOren (UK - ship UK or EU)
* pam99 (UK - ship INTL)
* okyrhoe (Greece - ship INTL)
* Beitaljawzaa (Switzerland - ship INTL)
* lauraloo29 (Canada - ship ITL)
Sent off by mail to Panzeranzi.
Thank you!
4/5-12
I really enjoyed reading this novel, although it is a painful story in many ways. The author has really captured different aspects of powerplay and the effects of colonialism. Brilliant language!
4/5-12
I really enjoyed reading this novel, although it is a painful story in many ways. The author has really captured different aspects of powerplay and the effects of colonialism. Brilliant language!
Off to VictoriaWagtail!
VW wanted to be slipper, so I'll send it to ruzena as soon as I get the address.
VW wanted to be slipper, so I'll send it to ruzena as soon as I get the address.
The book arrived today. Thank you lunacia and Panzeranzi :)
Excellent read. The story is set in Kenya in 1950's when the British colonial policy raised the rebellion of Kikuyu people as Mau Mau Movement. The emergency state led to operations where Mau Mau was defeated and a remarkable amount of rebels were killed and others were moved to detention camps. The government's strategy was to use Home Guard composed of loyalist Africans who were rewarded for their collaboration.
It is most plausible that the war-like situation and the divide et impera policy leads to the kind of events that are summarized in the fates of the five fictive main characters. The social disorder concerns everyone and feeds more disorder among people. The story grows quite haunting as traitors and those "licking the toes of whiteman" come out little by little. Anyway some hope is given in the end.
This early work of Ngugi already reveals the writer's significance as an African voice of conscience. In addition, his style is enjoyable and his text is catchy. Recommended!
Thank you lunacia for sharing.
-ruzena
It is most plausible that the war-like situation and the divide et impera policy leads to the kind of events that are summarized in the fates of the five fictive main characters. The social disorder concerns everyone and feeds more disorder among people. The story grows quite haunting as traitors and those "licking the toes of whiteman" come out little by little. Anyway some hope is given in the end.
This early work of Ngugi already reveals the writer's significance as an African voice of conscience. In addition, his style is enjoyable and his text is catchy. Recommended!
Thank you lunacia for sharing.
-ruzena
Journal Entry 9 by 
ruzena
at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Friday, June 22, 2012
ruzena at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Friday, June 22, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (6/22/2012 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Have a nice time in Kenya :)
Just arrived; thanks for sending it through, Ruzena. I'm gathering books faster than I can read them at the moment, so this one'll have to go to second place after another ring. I should be getting to it in a week or so, though.
I'm not quite sure what to make of this book.
It was very interesting to read about the mess that happened on Kenya, around the time of the Mau Mau "rebellion" and independence; especially so in light of the recent court decision that the British government was indeed in the wrong - which can't come as a surprise to anyone reading this book. And Ngugi certainly has a good way of describing things - society, people, general feeling in the country.
What threw me, though, is that the books can't really decide whether it needs a plot - sometimes it seems to simply sketch the situation and feelings in the country; and then it veers back to the specific history of Mugo and the other characters.
I struggle with plotless books at the best of times; and I duly couldn't really get into this one. But for some reason, it seemed to get worse when a plot did come into it; like Ngugi knew he was going wrong and consciously tried to correct for it.
Am I being rather harsh on the poor guy? I probably am. This book just didn't really work for me, although I can recognise the quality of the writing. I'm glad I got to try it, so thanks for sharing it, lunacia! Let's hope the next readers will be able to enjoy it a bit more than I could!
Update 16 August: sent to pam99. Hope you'll enjoy it!
It was very interesting to read about the mess that happened on Kenya, around the time of the Mau Mau "rebellion" and independence; especially so in light of the recent court decision that the British government was indeed in the wrong - which can't come as a surprise to anyone reading this book. And Ngugi certainly has a good way of describing things - society, people, general feeling in the country.
What threw me, though, is that the books can't really decide whether it needs a plot - sometimes it seems to simply sketch the situation and feelings in the country; and then it veers back to the specific history of Mugo and the other characters.
I struggle with plotless books at the best of times; and I duly couldn't really get into this one. But for some reason, it seemed to get worse when a plot did come into it; like Ngugi knew he was going wrong and consciously tried to correct for it.
Am I being rather harsh on the poor guy? I probably am. This book just didn't really work for me, although I can recognise the quality of the writing. I'm glad I got to try it, so thanks for sharing it, lunacia! Let's hope the next readers will be able to enjoy it a bit more than I could!
Update 16 August: sent to pam99. Hope you'll enjoy it!
this book was waiting for me when I came home last night - I am halfway through another book and will go on to this one next
I was really interested to read about the Mau Mau rebellion and the struggles of Kenyans against colonial rule; as RonOren says, though, I found the bits of the book where the storyline is stronger (and it becomes more of 'story' than an account of the period) were confusing, and I kept mixing up the characters. Thanks for sharing, though, and I'm pm'ing the next person in the ray now for an address.
on its way to Greece!
Arrived in Athens. Thanks lunacia for including me in the bookray, and pam99 for posting the book to me!
Currently I have 2 BC ring/rays to finish reading, and this one will be next.
Currently I have 2 BC ring/rays to finish reading, and this one will be next.
(reserved for my feedback)
Journal Entry 17 by okyrhoe at book ring/ray, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (12/11/2012 UTC) at book ring/ray, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way by post to Beitaljawzaa. Sorry for the delay.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Happy Holidays everyone!
I was overjoyed to find a package from Greece, half an hour ago in my mailbox. Finally the book arrived! I couldn't find out from my end where the book was, or why it was delayed. Anyway, it is here now. I will start reading it next weekend, as I am busy with a report. Will send it as soon as possible on its way. Big relief! Thanks lunacia.
An engaging read. Complex and symbolic storytelling that captures the grim and turbulent atmosphere of the times: oppressive colonialism, of the independence struggle, the brutality of betrayal in order to survive. No one is a hero. Not a light read, but very compelling.
The book is on its way to lauraloo29 in Canada. Enjoy.
Thanks lunacia for sharing, and thanks to okyrhoe.
Sorry for the confusion. Sent the book by post on the 20th, but only managed to journal today!
Thanks lunacia for sharing, and thanks to okyrhoe.
Sorry for the confusion. Sent the book by post on the 20th, but only managed to journal today!
This arrived today. I am in the middle of a thick book and received another bookring a couple of days ago. I will keep this book moving. Thank you!
I'm having a hard time with this book. Possibly the writing style. If I didn't have 2 other bookrings and a Pile of TBR I would keep at it.
As I am the end of the bookray, I will search for a new home for this book. I may give it another try before I do.
Thank you for sharing.
As I am the end of the bookray, I will search for a new home for this book. I may give it another try before I do.
Thank you for sharing.
Sending as a RABCK to lambygirl. Enjoy!
I was excited to arrive home today and find this book waiting for me. I'm looking forward to getting into it.
Journal Entry 25 by lambygirl at Tourism PG in Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Saturday, August 29, 2015
Released 8 yrs ago (8/29/2015 UTC) at Tourism PG in Prince George, British Columbia Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I have to say that I found this really hard to get through, maybe because I don't know very much about Kenyan history. However, it is an interesting story and worth trying.
