Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok I loved this book! I decided to re read it after 3 years and it still as visceral as the first time I read it. This time I took my time and read it everyday for 15 minutes in the morning as part of my morning routine.
What I love about this is the author’s unflinching self portrait of how she thinks and behaves. I am not sure many of us can do that especially in a world filled with digital narcissism.

The premise of the book is that not all children are the same; so what works with one child will not work with another. In the media this book has been demonised for its child rearing principles but quite to the contrary its is not a parenting book. Rather it is a personal journey about a parent who thought she knew it all but learnt a few things along the way.

I would recommend it. It goes to my hall of fame shelf.

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Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

When I read Wolf Hall I gobbled it down much like my 9 year old stuffs chocolate cake in his much barely chews before swallowing. Much to my regret I realized what a wonderful read it was when I had finished. So , when I borrowed the sequel ‘Bring Up the Bodies’ I vowed to take my time, to be a seasoned gastronome of the written word and savor every turn of phrase, prose, ….basically really take my time with it. And , oh boy was it worth it!

Mantels setting of the scenes allows you to feel the fear and terror of being at the whim and beck and call of arguably history’s most interesting king Henry viii. Her portrayal of the somewhat inept king is brilliant. The reason d’etre of Cromwell is as clear as how you would think in your head ( at least it feels like that is how I would think). Her style of explaining complex political intrigues and making them sound normal is unsurpassed. Anne Boleyn plays less of a role in this book and we are introduced to Jane Seymour and an interesting side to Jane Seymour is presented. 

THis has to be the first Man Booker prize winning book (s) that I have liked and loved!

Will I read more Mantel?   YES!!!!

 

Rated 9

Will I add to my personal collection – Yes!

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Powerful. That is the only word I can think of to describe this tome. I havent slept without thinking of this book since i finished reading it a few days ago. This book is a paradigm shifting book. My ideas of Nigeria, Africa, war and peace and colonialism were challenged and ultimately I feel like I have a lot of reading to do. I LOVE LOVE Chimamanda’s style of writing. Will be added to my personal library of African literature.

Rated 9

Makes me want to read:
Harvest of Thorns by Shimmer Chinodya

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I first read of this book in the Guardian newspaper in an article about books nominated fora new book award ( cant remember the name of the award) . Anyway I reserved a book at the library and when I got it…WOW! I could not put this book down. SO incredibly well written with characters so real you feel for them. The best thing about this book has to the new world that Chimamanda opens up. I felt transported to all the places she wrote of to the lives lived by Ifem and Obinze. Their young love so powerful and authentic. Its tragic in turns but there is always a comedic observations written in a stylish prose. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be recommending it highly. I read it a solid 2 days.

It makes me want to read Chimamanda’s other works as well as some of the book that one of the books character’s referes to.

Rated 9