This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
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Journal Entry 1 by hobbit from Surabaya, Jawa Timur Indonesia on Monday, April 17, 2006
 A story by an author from Mali.
Wangrim is a rogue and an operator, hustling both the colonial French and his own people. He is funny, outrageous, corrupt, traditional, and memorable. Ba's book bridges the chasm between oral and written literature. The stories about Wangrim are drawn from oral sources, but in the hands of this gifted writer these materials become transformed through the power of artistic imagination and license.
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Journal Entry 2 by hobbit from Surabaya, Jawa Timur Indonesia on Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I never came to like the main character of this book with his slippery morals and greedy ways. And I was sorry that his family was not portrayed other than a few passing mentions. But I did enjoy the fact that little poems and folk stories and traditional customs were interwoven into the story, giving a feel for the culture.
Here's an excerpt, showing one way that traditional stories were included in the narrative:
...shouldn't I rather offer my thanks to the powers above, comparing myself to the frog in the fable?
One day, according to the talk, Niedjugu the termagant found a poor, thirsty little frog who was striving ineffectually to get water out of her brimful pot. The poor animal was hoping that a few drops might spill over and dribble into his throat. Instead Niedjugu grabbed the little frog, lashed it with the evil ejaculations of her cutting tongue, and sent him flying, closing her rosary of insults with the words: 'Go to the devil, and burn forever in hell with your unquenchable thirst, you horrible batrachian!' But you see, the termagant had cast away the frog with such violence that he had ended up in a large pond afloat with juicy aquatic leaves from which sprouted yellow, white, and blue flowers. In fact, that pond had insects enough to feed a whole colony of frogs.
Hasn't the same thing happened to me? To have had a chance to leave Yaguwahi just as I was beginning to fear some denunciation after having accepted so many bribes must be seen as a piece of good luck!
This was quite a long book and the translation felt a bit difficult sometimes, but I'm glad to have read it. The author was born in a city which was part of several countries during his lifetime but is now in Mali. He traveled through western Africa, working as a historian and folklorist. I'll count it as my book from a Mali author in the Olympic Challenge.
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Journal Entry 3 by hobbit at The lobby of the Saratoga Hotel and Conference Cen in Saratoga, New York USA on Monday, February 16, 2009
Released 2 yrs ago (2/15/2009 UTC) at The lobby of the Saratoga Hotel and Conference Cen in Saratoga, New York USA WILD RELEASE NOTES:
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this at the Dance Flurry on Sunday morning, in the hallway with all the fliers for various events. It was gone when I walked through later. I hope it's enjoyed.
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The Fortunes of Wangrin
