Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away

by Christie Watson | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9781590514665 Global Overview for this book
Registered by HI77 of Fort Myers, Florida USA on 6/21/2013
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4 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by HI77 from Fort Myers, Florida USA on Friday, June 21, 2013
An unexpected wheel turning,

down falls the world
in moments like raindrops.

Journal Entry 2 by HI77 at Fort Myers, Florida USA on Friday, June 21, 2013

Released 10 yrs ago (6/21/2013 UTC) at Fort Myers, Florida USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Happy Summer Gift Giving of 2013!! :)

My goal this summer is WORLD DOMINATION! :D

Ok, ok. So maybe I'm just trying to take over the whole of society. :)

Alright! Alright! You got me! I'm just kicking a few books around for the summer! Sheesh! Talk about stomping on my cheerios! :P

Hope this book is the start of a great summer of reading!! :)

Journal Entry 3 by wingJ4Shawwing at Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Saturday, July 13, 2013

Received this book from HI77 as part of the 2013 Summer Gift Giving it's been on my wishlist for about 2 years!

Thank you so much for such generosity in sending me a Wishlist Book, I am extremely grateful to your kindness!


About the Book:
Winner of the 2011 Costa First Novel Award


When their mother catches their father with another woman, twelve year-old Blessing and her fourteen-year-old brother, Ezikiel, are forced to leave their comfortable home in Lagos for a village in the Niger Delta, to live with their mother’s family. Without running water or electricity, Warri is at first a nightmare for Blessing. Her mother is gone all day and works suspiciously late into the night to pay the children’s school fees. Her brother, once a promising student, seems to be falling increasingly under the influence of the local group of violent teenage boys calling themselves Freedom Fighters. Her grandfather, a kind if misguided man, is trying on Islam as his new religion of choice, and is even considering the possibility of bringing in a second wife.
But Blessing’s grandmother, wise and practical, soon becomes a beloved mentor, teaching Blessing the ways of the midwife in rural Nigeria. Blessing is exposed to the horrors of genital mutilation and the devastation wrought on the environment by British and American oil companies. As Warri comes to feel like home, Blessing becomes increasingly aware of the threats to its safety, both from its unshakable but dangerous traditions and the relentless carelessness of the modern world. Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away is the witty and beautifully written story of one family’s attempt to survive a new life they could never have imagined, struggling to find a deeper sense of identity along the way.

About this author:
Christie trained as a paediatric nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and worked as a nurse, educator and senior sister, for over ten years before joining UEA for her MA in Creative Writing, where she won the Malcolm Bradbury Bursary. Christie lives in South London with her Nigerian Muslim partner, and their large dual heritage, multi-faith family.

Journal Entry 4 by wingJ4Shawwing at Bayles, Victoria Australia on Monday, February 23, 2015

Released 9 yrs ago (2/24/2015 UTC) at Bayles, Victoria Australia

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MY REVIEW
Isn't it amazing that you can forget what it is you enjoy so much.
It has been ages since I read a book set in Africa...why?
I loved this story. Everything in it was alive.
"I let my eyes cry" what a truly beautiful way with words this author has.
I read this feeling the pain, struggle, confusion and dust and dirt.
Blessing was the perfect voice to tell this tale, which had me close to tears on more than one occasion.
Truly loved it.


This book has been played in the Australasia Wishlist Tag Game

I hope it enjoys its new home, and continues to travel.

Journal Entry 5 by tantan at Townsville, Queensland Australia on Friday, March 6, 2015
Thanks J4Shaw - just arrived today after taking rather a long time to get here. I'm looking forward to this.

Journal Entry 6 by tantan at Townsville, Queensland Australia on Monday, January 1, 2018
I really loved this book, although as frequently happens, it suffered a little from long interruptions in my available reading time. A coming-of-age story set in the Niger Delta, against a backdrop of the impact of oil extraction in Nigeria. Beautiful, lyrical writing.

***

I'll offer this in the Oz VBB.

Journal Entry 7 by tantan at Townsville, Queensland Australia on Sunday, January 28, 2018

Released 6 yrs ago (1/29/2018 UTC) at Townsville, Queensland Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Requested on the Oz VBB. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 8 by wingjeniwrenwing at Greigs Flat, New South Wales Australia on Monday, February 5, 2018
Thankyou arrived today in the post and the previous journal entries are very positive so happy to have this one to add to my mountainous tbr :)

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