Voice of America: Stories - Hardcover

Osondu, E. C.

3.66

195 ratings by Goodreads

9780061990861: Voice of America: Stories

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0061990868 ISBN 13: 9780061990861

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2010

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An acclaimed African writer offers a debut collection of stories set both in Nigeria and the United States, which moves from the fears and dreams of boys and girls in African villages and refugee camps, to the disillusionment and confusion of young married couples living in America. 30,000 first printing.

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Review:

"Osondu looks at the human condition in all its poignant absurdity; with observant wonder and subtle humor, he portrays our capacity for heartbreak, resilience, love, courage, sorrow, and most of all, our unique capacity for hope and hopelessness rolled together."--Mary Gaitskill

"A man with a clear head and a great ear, writing from crucial places."--Jonathan Franzen

A man with a clear head and a great ear, writing from crucial places. --Jonathan Franzen"

His characters may dream about America, but E. C. Osondu s bracing portrayal of life in Africa is the heart of this debut story collection. --"The New York Times""

Osondu looks at the human condition in all its poignant absurdity; with observant wonder and subtle humor, he portrays our capacity for heartbreak, resilience, love, courage, sorrow, and most of all, our unique capacity for hope and hopelessness rolled together. --Mary Gaitskill"

E. C. Osondu has written uncannily direct stories with nothing posed about them. This is acollection of real power, surprise, and harsh beauty. --Amy Hempel"

A big-hearted story collection. . . . Meticulous and energetic, these stories brim with stubborn hope sprung free from life s dark realities. --"Elle""

Osondu s excellent short stories, set in both Nigeria and the U.S., reveal the vast cultural chasm that persists between our countries. . . . These richly shaded tales explore old ways and new, wealth and poverty, myth, and misapprehension. --"Booklist""

Compelling. . . . Osondu s direct and humorous insights and poetic descriptions create a captivating portrait of time and place. . . . Whereas the stories set in Nigeria have a fablesque quality, the American-set tales are poignant studies of the immigrant experience. --"Publishers Weekly""

Tinged with hilarity. . . . Osondu juxtaposes the richness and desperation of life on the ground in Africa with the actualities of the American dream. . . . He goes beyond mere examination to achieve artistry. . . . This book is essential. --"Library Journal""

From the Back Cover:

An electrifying debut from a winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing

E. C. Osondu is a fearless and passionate new writer, whose stories echo the joys and struggles of a cruel, beautiful world. His characters burst from the page—they fight, beg, love, grieve, but ultimately they are dreamers. Set in Nigeria and the United States, Voice of America moves from the fears and dreams of boys and girls in villages and refugee camps to the disillusionment and confusion of young married couples living in America, and then back to bustling Lagos.

In "Waiting," two young refugees make their way through another day, fighting for meals and hoping for a miracle that will carry them out of the camp; in "A Simple Case," the boyfriend of a prostitute is rounded up by the local police and must charm his fellow prisoners for protection and survival; and in "Miracle Baby," the trials of pregnancy and mothers-in-law are laid bare in a woman’s return to her homeland. Each of the eighteen stories here possesses a voice at once striking and elegant, capturing the dramatic lives of an unforgettable cast of characters.

Written with exhilarating energy and warmth, the stories of Voice of America are full of humor, pathos, and wisdom, marking the debut of an extraordinary new talent.

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