chirundu.com v2.0 » Book Review

Book Review: Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace

Chirundu Jason — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 07:38:17 +0000

Out of Shadows is Jason Wallace’s first novel and is set in Zimbabwe in the 1980s, just after the war for independence.

The main story revolves around a young English boy called Jacklin who, because of his parent’s decision has to move from his home in England to the newly independent Zimbabwe where he is shipped off to boarding school.

His father encourages him to see the new regime as the start of a hopeful future for racial tolerance. But at school he is torn between his black friends and his sympathy for the colonial whites after witnessing the compulsory land seizures by Robert Mugabe’s government.

As the violence and corruption increases and where his generation are now growing up where the hope for change has long since passed, Jacklin eventually finds it all impossible to ignore. He is thus forced into making a decision which has consequences far greater than he could have ever foreseen…

Out of Shadows is a thought-provoking, intriguing, moving and sometimes disturbing novel about coming-of-age, race, bullying and the need to belong in a place far removed from what you know. It explores the question of how different people react to the political changes around them.

About the Author

Jason Wallace has obviously used many of his own experiences to write Out of Shadows. He was born in Cheltenham in 1969 and spent his early years growing up in south-west London until his family moved to Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe as a child, he went to a tough, but excellent boarding school in the aftermath of the war for independence.

Where to Buy Out of Shadows

Amazon, in the UK and US have paperback versions and it is also available in electronic form as a digital Kindle Book version:

UK
Out of Shadows on Amazon.co.uk

USA

Out of Shadows on Amazon.com

More Reviews of the Book

Below are a few of the things that other people have been saying about the novel:

“Out of Shadows is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read . . . At times chilling and dark, yet strangely hopeful, Out of Shadows is one of those books that I know I’ll revisit in the future . . . I can’t recommend it highly enough.” (Jenny Davies, wondrousreads.com)

“Jason Wallace is a writer to follow – there will hopefully be many books to look out for in the future. In spite of my reservations this is a book to be read, to bury a past that has no place in the new Zimbabwe that remains to be built.” (The Zimbabwean)

(Out of Shadows is) a provocative story, powerfully written. Some may find the themes difficult, the climax shocking, but Wallace has produced a first novel where all the heat and intensity of an African nation in flux burns on every page. He’s a definitely a writer to watch in the future. (The Scotsman, Keith Gray)

Excellent. The latest lacerating addition to the boarding-school-as-living-hell genre…read on if you have the courage. The author attended a similar establishment at the age of 12,and gives every indication of knowing exactly what he is writing about. (Independent on Sunday, Nick Tucker)

“This is one of those rare, outstanding books that when you come to the end you know with certainty you will return to it again. It is also a book that is so hard-hitting and thought provoking you feel compelled to tell everyone you know to read it!” (Browns Books for Students)

“An extraordinary coming-of-age novel… a startlingly original debut… Charting the change from childhood to adulthood against growing political discord gives the novel a sense of urgency, and the book’s intensity, drama and pace leaves a lasting impact.” (The Bookseller)

“Beautifully written.” (Ruth Swindon, Independent on Sunday – Hit List)

Write a Book Review

If you have read this book or any other book relating to Zimbabwe or Africa and would like to review it on Chirundu.com, please contact me as I would love to be able to include it on the site.

New Book: Blood Sweat and Treason by Henry Olonga

Chirundu Jason — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:36:41 +0000

A new book by Henry Olonga has just been released, called Blood Sweat & Treason tells the story of his childhood in Zimbabwe, of his gradual realisation that he was living in a dictatorship, of his battle to reach the very top as a black cricketer and how he sacrificed his position to do something he hoped would make a difference.

For those of you who don’t know Henry Olonga, he was actually born in Lusaka, Zambia but played cricket for Zimbabwe. He made his Test match debut against Pakistan at Harare in 1995 aged just 18 years and 212 days, making him the youngest player to represent Zimbabwe.

A right arm fast bowler, he holds the record for the best bowling in a one-day international by a Zimbabwean, with figures of 6/19 against England at Cape Town in 2000. He was also the first black cricketer to play for Zimbabwe and is the third Zambian-born Test cricketer after Phil Edmonds and Neal Radford of England.

Black Armband Protest
Henry Olonga along with Andy Flower made international headlines when during the 2003 World Cup they wore black armbands to protest against the “death of democracy” in Zimbabwe. Widely praised for his bravery, the act ensured that Olonga played no meaningful part in the remainder of the competition and was later branded a traitor, sentenced to death in his absence and forced to dramatically flee his homeland and his family.

Where to Buy Blood, Sweat and Treason

Currently available in Hardcover it is available online through Amazon, in the UK and US

UK
Blood, Sweat and Treason on Amazon.co.uk

USA

Blood, Sweat and Treason on Amazon.com

Write a Book Review

If you have read this book or any other book relating to Zimbabwe or Africa and would like to review it on Chirundu.com, please contact me as I would love to be able to include it on the site.

Book Review: Bulu: African Wonder Dog by Dick Houston

Chirundu Jason — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 04:50:52 +0000

Bulu is the true story of a courageous Jack Russell terrier-mix dog. Born on a crocodile farm in Zambia’s untamed South Luangwa Valley, he seemed different from his littermates. Too quiet. Unresponsive. Nobody wanted him. He was finally adopted by two retired police officers from England-Anna and Steve Tolan who had left their home in Great Britain to follow a dream. To build and run a wildlife education centre for the children of Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley, to teach them about the value of wildlife and how to conserve this last great African wilderness.

Because many thought the Tolans were a bit different, too, this peculiar puppy suited them perfectly. They named him Bulu, or “wild dog” in the local Nyanja Language. Living with Anna and Steve in the bush, Bulu not only found his voice, he also found his calling as a foster parent to the orphaned baby animals-including warthogs, monkeys, baboons, elephants, and a buffalo-cared for by the Tolans.

But Bulu’s protective nature led him into terrifying situations in the wild. It’s a miracle he survived! But survive he did, disarming people with his wacky ways and nurturing once-unwanted creatures like himself until they too could be set free.

This story for both adolescent and adult readers written by Dick Houston has deftly captured the Tolan’s enormous task of moving countries, climate and lifestyle. It is packed with vivid descriptions of adrenaline encounters, and illustrated throughout with black and white photographs but at it’s heart it is an adventure story that touches on a variety of African wildlife issues and features lots of adorable, orphaned baby animals! Lassie meets Born Free!

Dick Houston

Whilst Dick Houston was born in Ohio, he has spent most of his adult life in Africa as a safari guide, conservationist, teacher, and writer. On top of this he has taught English in the United States, Venezuela, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa.

As well as Bulu: African Wonder Dog, he has written on Africa topics for Smithsonian, the New York Times, and Los Angeles Times. He wrote of his adventurous life in the critically-acclaimed Safari Adventure [Penguin USA, 1991]

Dick is also the President and co-founder of Elefence a small group of “elephant warriors” on a mission to resolve Elephant – Human conflict in Africa.

Dick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and history from Kent State University; and a Master’s Degree in English from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

He has received the Roger T. Beitler Award from Kent State University for Arts & Humanities (1992); and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Edinboro University for Arts & Humanities (1994)

Charity

A portion of book sales will be donated to the Chipembele Wildlife Education Center (Zambia) operated by Bulu’s “parents”, Steve and Anna Tolan.

Where to buy Bulu: African Wonder Dog

Amazon, in the UK and US have hardcover copies of the book and in the US, you can also buy a digital Kindle Book version:

UK
Bulu: African Wonder Dog on Amazon.co.uk

USA

Bulu: African Wonder Dog on Amazon.com

South Africa

Bulu: African Wonder Dog on Netbooks

Write a Book Review

If you have read this book or any other book relating to Zimbabwe or Africa and would like to review it on Chirundu.com, please contact me as I would love to be able to include it on the site.

Book Signings

Meet Author Dick Houston and have him sign your copy of Bulu: African Wonder Dog!

Saturday, July 10
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Books A Million
3230 Westgate Mall
Fairview Park, OH 44126
216-706-5018

Saturday, July 17
2:00 –
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Legacy Village
24519 Cedar Road
Lyndhurst, OH 44124
216-691-7000 ext. 1441

Saturday, July 24
11:00am –
Wooster Book Company
205 W. Liberty St.
Wooster, OH 44691
330-262-1688

Book Review: Blood Lily by Mason Cranswick

Chirundu Jason — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 02:56:12 +0000

“Scott is facing bankruptcy amid the turmoil that grips the financial markets of 2008. He is saved when money is transferred to his account from an unexpected source. We flash back to war-torn 1970′s Rhodesia where Scott is growing up as a privileged white boy alongside his best friend, Simba, a black boy, on his parents’ farm…”

Blood Lily by Mason Cranswick is “a sweeping tale of naivety, treachery, war and genocide, of love and friendship… and ultimately of hope and regeneration”

The book mainly revolves around the fictional relationship between two boys born in Rhodesia (now Zim) and one that many who grew up in Africa may be able to relate to: One boy is the son of a white farmer and the other is the son of a black domestic worker on the same farm and at the core of the novel is a message of hope and promise for Zimbabwe.

By Ingrid La Trobe on Amazon: “The two boys grow up together as best of friends, with the black servant and her son regarded as part of the wider family circle on the white man’s farm. But therein lies the problem in this relationship and the wider society of Rhodesia, as such a paternal outlook fails to provide the basis for true equality and shared aspiration for all the country’s people. Cranswick’s story takes us through the years of civil war in Rhodesia into the tragedy of life today in Zimbabwe, and there is plenty of excitment and drama to keep one engaged, in what is ultimately a story of betrayal, redemption and Africa’s endurance despite the folly of man. ”

Chirundu.com: An easy to read and well written book that every Zimbabwean or anyone interested in Zimbabwe should read. Even though it is a fictional account, it portrays a part of our history in a wonderful story of how in the end, friendship can conquer all. Blood Lily was hard to put down and leaves you with mixed feelings of some sadness for the past, but also of hope for the future.

Mason Cranswick

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Mason Cranswick received an MBA from Cambridge University (Magdalene College) in 1995. Prior to that he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in the UK, after obtaining a degree in commerce from Rhodes University, South Africa. Like many Zimbos. Manson is a keen sportsman and has played international rugby for Zimbabwe Schools in 1984 and, as an amateur boxer, was a Cambridge University Blue and captain in 1994/95. He now lives in Cape Town in South Africa.

Charity

A contribution of one British Pound will be made to Zimbabwean Pensioners (M’dala Trust) for every ebook sold anywhere in the world outside South Africa. For all South African online sales and sales to readers made directly from the Publisher’s or Author’s office (not including retail outlets such as bookstores/shops etc) a contribution of R15 per book sold will be made to M’dala Trust. On top of this Manson has said that he will for the first five thousand books sold in South Africa make an additional personal contribution of R2,000 for every thousand books sold anywhere in South Africa to the Zane High Density Areas Medical Appeal, that is working in the communities in the high-density areas surrounding Harare and other major cities.

Where to Buy Blood Lily

Amazon, in the UK and US have paperback copies of the book and in the US, you can also buy a digital Kindle Book version:

UK
Blood Lily on Amazon.co.uk

USA

Blood Lily on Amazon.com

South Africa

Buy Blood Lily from the Publishers Website