As the opara (eldest son) of the family, Kingsley O. Ibe has certain responsibilities: he must make his parents proud, study hard, and become a great man. But times are hard in Nigeria and in spite of Kingsley’s degree in chemical engineering, he cannot find a job. In spite of Kingsley’s father’s great knowledge, hard …
Category Archive: India
Dec 05
The Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda
Not exactly my kind of book. The Savage Fortress was inspired, writes the author, “by the real Savage Fortress–a maharajah’s palace near Varanasi, India–as well as his life long fascination with the goddess Kali.” So, this Hindu goddess: And this rather medieval looking maharajah’s palace: And the tag line is: Heroes aren’t made. They’re reborn. …
Jan 13
One Amazing Thing by Chitra Divakaruni
In addition to The Canterbury Tales (which appears in my novel) and Wuthering Heights, I was drawing on works such as The Decameron, The Arabian Nights, and the Indian Wise-Animal tales, The Panchatantra. Just before beginning my book, I reread Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto because I really liked the feel of that novel. ~Chitra Divakaruni …
Dec 21
Saraswati’s Way by Monika Schroder
Twelve year old Akash sees patterns of numbers in his head. The village math teacher can only take him so far in math, bu he puts an idea in Akash’s mind of winning a scholarship to a school in the city. So Akash prays to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, to make a …
Sep 14
BBAW Interview Swap
Swapna Krishna of S. Krishna’s Books is a 20-something reader and book blogger from Washington, D.C. Since she’s about the age of my Eldest Daughter, it was a blast to swap interviews with her for Book Blogger Appreciation Week and get some reading recommendations from the younger generation. We don’t know each other at all, …
May 12
Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden
A coterie of Anglican nuns comes to a remote Himalayan village to establish a convent, school, and hospital fro the improvement and benefit of the natives. Instead of making any impression at all on the villagers, the nuns themselves are changed and brought to confront their deepest fears, desires, and inadequacies. Simple enough to summarize, …
Jan 13
Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins
I had been saving the ARC I received of Mitali Perkins’ new YA novel Secret Keeper for a treat and because I thought that a review closer to the time of publication would be more helpful to readers. In December I succumbed, and read it. Such a powerful story! It’s something of a romance, and …
Jan 11
To This Great Stage of Fools: Born January 11th
Alan Paton, b.1903, d.1988. Mr. Paton is the South African author of at least three novels: Cry, the Beloved Country, Too Late the Phalarope, and Ah, But Your Land Is Beautiful. All three are well worth your reading time. Previous Alan Paton birthday posts: Alan Paton and Cry, the Beloved Country. Alan Paton’s other two …
Nov 16
Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins
Monsoon Summer is light reading for the teenage set, but it’s good, decent, well-constructed, light reading, with even a few details and episodes thrown in to provoke a bit of thought. Jazz Gardner is fifteen, the daughter of an ethnic Indian mother, who was adopted from an orphanage in India as a young child. Jazz’s …
Nov 06
World Geography Week 12: India
Music: Felix Mendelssohn—Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture Mission Study: 1. Window on the World: India 2. WotW: Sri Lanka 3. Bold Bearers of His Name: Pandita Rambai 4. WotW: Bhutan 5. WotW: Gonds Poems: My Poetry Book: When It’s Time to Play Science: Electricity Nonfiction Read Alouds: Friends of India–Hill This one is a missions books …
CYBILS
Preschool Curriculum:
Click on the pic to check it out:
180
Link to the Saturday Review
Subscribe/Save
Recent Comments