This author delves into profound human themes, using rich and evocative language to explore the complexities of identity, memory, and social justice. Her insightful essays and literary works have graced prominent global publications, showcasing a remarkable ability to connect personal narratives with broader societal concerns. Through her writing and advocacy, she strives to illuminate marginalized voices and foster meaningful change.
A stunning new collection of essays from the award-winning author of Happiness, The Window Seat explores border crossings both literal and philosophical, our relationship with the natural world, and the stories that we tell ourselves.
The memoir offers a deeply personal narrative that transitions from an idyllic childhood to a harrowing reality. It explores the complexities of family and identity against a backdrop of political turmoil, providing an illuminating perspective on trauma and resilience. Through vivid storytelling, the author reflects on the impact of these experiences, making it a powerful and thought-provoking read.
"First published in Great Britain in 2013 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc"--Title page verso.
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 1969. On a hot January evening that he will remember for decades, Elias Cole first catches sight of Saffia Kamara, the wife of a charismatic colleague. He is transfixed. Thirty years later, lying in the capital's hospital, he recalls the desire that drove him to acts of betrayal he has tried to justify ever since.Elsewhere in the hospital, Kai, a gifted young surgeon, is desperately trying to forget the pain of a lost love that torments him as much as the mental scars he still bears from the civil war that has left an entire people with terrible secrets to keep. It falls to a British psychologist, Adrian Lockheart, to help the two survivors, but when he too falls in love, past and present collide with devastating consequences. The Memory of Love is a heartbreaking story of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
This collection showcases the five short-listed stories for the BBC National Short Story Award, highlighting both emerging and established British authors. The narratives delve into the complexities of human relationships, focusing on themes such as splintered families, enduring love, the contrast between public and private lives, and the experiences of outsiders. Each story offers a unique perspective on the dysfunctionality and resilience inherent in human connections, making for a thought-provoking read.
Abie follows the arc of a letter from London back to Africa to a coffee plantation that now could be hers if she wants it. Standing among the ruined groves she strains to hear the sound of the past, but the layers of years are too many. Thus begins the gathering of her family's history through the tales of her aunts.
Forna's voice is relentlessly compelling, her ability to summon atmosphere extraordinary, her sympathetic portrayal of traffic wardens, street performers, security guards, hotel doormen a thing of lasting beauty. It is as if the author has privileged access into multiple spheres of existence, learning the secret languages of each, conferring dignity and consequence on these figures who often pass unseen and unrecorded in our accounts of contemporary life Observer
