Customer Reviews

An Elegy for Easterly: Stories

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I haven't been to Zimbabwe for over 15 yrs and when I heard this new author of contemporary stories interviewed on NPR I immediately ordered her new book. Her characters and their situations range across the spectrum of means, from the wife of a wealthy politician to a rural woman whose township is reduced to rubble at the hands of a ruthless government. In total, her stories paint a vivid portrait of life in Zimbabwe today. The theme of endurance and resilience is inspiring and also heartbreaking, as the challenges her characters face, very real challenges to the people of Zimbabwe today, are so much more extreme than the Zimbabwe I knew.
The writing is searing, direct and beautiful.

Most readable tales of a troubled country written by someone who obviously knows her subject. A great antidote to the "colonial Brit" tales written by outsiders. If you're a fan of the saccherine ladies' detective stories you should read this so you can put things in proper perspective.

Gappah writes in the wonderfully minimalist style of one of Zimbabwe's classical writers, Charles Mungoshi. Yet, her stories are not memories of an idyllic past but crunching reminders of the present day reality of a once proud, achieving country sunken into the abyss. Gappah's attention to the details of everyday life combine with her gender eye and mocking tone toward political power to make these stories incredibly poignan . I'd call them a pleasure to read, but then how can the tragedy of Zimbabwe provide us with a source of pleasure?

Quite interesting and a humourous reminder to the author's generation olden days in Zimbabwe. It would certain appeal to any Zimbabwean who has emigrated to other countries. One area of concern is the right to use real people's names in her stories. Having grown up in Zimbabwe and knowing the people she mentioned in her stories it sounds too real than fiction.

Very interesting read. Gappah's Zimbabwe is bleak, alternating between the hopeful and the hopeless. This is as close to the truth as I think is possible, which is what makes the stories so interesting and affecting

From the moment I started reading the short stories I couldn't put the book down. The most exciting part was reading about life in Zimbabwe from so many different perspectives. Petina's stories are varied in that some of them had me in stitches while some left me sad and hopeless. Most of the characters show their struggle to survive in Zimbabwe as it goes through a tough political journey as most countries must. I know that life is challenging in Zimbabwe but I would like to see more hope and joy in our stories and have tales that leave smiling and positive about our future.

Petina's writing is the most powerful,evocative,wry,insightful and beautiful I have read. Elegy is an astonishing book. I visited Zimbabwe in 1998 however only spoke with rich safari owners, their staff and poor villagers. Elegy opens up perspectives of Zimbabweans who either have or have had money. Exquisitely written and informative, quite a rare combination.

Anne Stidworthy

The author shows sensitivity, humor and skill in this fine collection of stories about her Zimbabwean homeland. I hope to see more from this talented young author soon.

I loved the book. I hadnt had a good read like that in a long while. Perhaps my bias is because I share a similar background so it was a sort of nostalgic trip into my childhood.

Cant wait for the next book. Perhaps, next time, Petina can treat us with one long story. well done

The short stories are easy to read but not a lot happens. I couldn't really recommend it.