Customer Reviews

Long Train to the Redeeming Sin: Stories About African Women

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My only complaint is that this book is too short. My girlfriend was given this book as a gift and didn't feel like reading about women in Africa, so I picked it up and I couldn't put it down. Man, it's powerful. It's about all these different African women in different parts of Africa and it tells a lot of things about black women that I never thought about. A lot of it was sad and lot of it was anger at black men and the white race, but the lives of these women is so interesting that I did not mind that. Warning, this book is not for young people, because the sexual themes are graphic and there is a graphic castration of a white man.

As a white man in Iowa, I just want to say that Black Women are beautiful.

Sudanese-American writer Kola Boof is a vibrant and, occasionally, strident voice in afro-centric literature. LONG TRAIN TO THE REDEEMING SIN: Stories About African Women is an eclectic collection of poems and short stories that spans from the historical, to the mystical, to modern day Africa. The characters and plots are moving and relevant to the thoughts and issues of women on the African continent, but they are equally relevant to African-American women in helping us to understand the effects, both positive and negative, of American culture on African women as personified by the story entitled Black America Diva Girl. Further, Ms. Boof exploits the myth of the superiority of Anglo characteristics in Day of Vow where we meet the beautiful and tragic Zorina who questions "...if she was good enough to demand to be treated with affection and tenderness."

Ms. Boof's writing bubbles like a fountain with energy and, sometimes, incredible rage and grief. Although, the text could still use a good editing for typos and grammar errors, her skill as a storyteller is not to be denied. This book is insightful and innovative. Every woman, regardless of race or culture, should read it.

If you have read books at school like I had to by Langston Hughes, James Baldwin and people like that then you will not be disappointed with LONG TRAIN TO SIN. I never heard of Kola Boof six months ago, but now she's one of my 3 favorite authors.

I personally enjoyed her novel "Flesh and the Devil" better than this one, but these short stories are solid and the presentation is tight. This is more the kind of book they make you read in English or History class, but it's not boring and its different, so I have to give it a str8 up five stars.

The author of the book is African, she is posed nude on the back cover of the book and she is very smart and beautiful. If you don't have a problem with that and if you have ever loved Alice Walker, Gloria Naylor or Toni Morrison--then you will L-O-V-E this book.

First let me say that it took me 3 weeks to find this amazing book! Amazon.com was not selling it at the time that I was searching for it and hearing a lot about it from friends at Howard University in D.C. It's a hard book to describe, because although the subtitle says "Stories About African Women", I thought it was really a book about "ALL" black women--everywhere in the world. It told their history and talked about very personal issues that traditionally and exlusively have belonged to sistas. I loved the book. It starts off in ancient times with a great story called "The Lioness", which shows how black women had to shape the humanity of men into any humanity at all--it also shows the unique beauty of our ancestral women. Then there's just one great story after the other--"Boy Magic", "Black America Diva Girl" (which by itself is worth the price of the book), "Own Me Night" (A truly SEXY story), "Nile River Bride", "Remember Son" (which made me cry), and "DAY OF VOW"--the final story, the longest one and the one that made me have nightmares for days!! I loved it. It's one hell of a book. I liked hearing the viewpoints of so many bold, daring African women (especially Minx Nehesi--the Ethiopian supermodel who came to life in the story THE MAGIC WAND). I liked learning the history of African women throughout the world, and more than anything, Kola Boof just writes with a special poetic quality that doesn't bore the reader and captivates the imagination. It was really a great, great book. But it is shocking, and the subject matter is not for children or teens. Also, many of my black brothers who have borrowed the book felt at times as if the author was unfair to black men and that she attacks black men. I am a black man and I didn't feel that way at all, because I knew what the author was getting at. She was pointing out that we Black men have to learn who our black woman is and what she's been through--and that we need to be her friend and brother in a spiritual sense, so that we can all love one another. It's a beautiful, painful, violent, incredibly touching book. I loved every page of it.

I would never have chosen to read a book like this but I'm glad my Political Science professor made us read it.

The stories of the African women in this book have touched me greatly being that I'm a white male with little knowledge about the details on issues like female genital mutilation or colorism among Africans. I felt very moved by the stories "Boy Magic" and "Day of Vow" in particular and I enjoyed the exploration of why they circumcise the females in the first story "The Lioness". Overall the book made me very curious to seek out and date a black girl now because I never thought of their beauty in such magical terms as Kola Boof describes their beauty. I had to give the book five stars because it is rare to find a book by an African woman who is so proud to be African and writes so poetically about black women's lives.

I felt great respect for black women all over the world after I finished reading this book. Kola Boof is a very prolific writer and very different from other black writers.

The Long Train To The Redeeming Sin by Kola Boof is an interesting and
eclectic mix of short stories and poetry that are pro-Africa and pro-woman.
Boof, a Sudanese-American woman, writes in story teller's fashion and
weaves tales that transport readers to Africa.

The stories are folksy and could easily make the transition to verbal telling
because they are charismatic and richly layered. Many of the stories speak of
the relationship between Black people and Mother Africa and make comparisons
between Black people born in Africa and Black people stolen from Africa
generations ago.

Equally as interesting as the stories is Boof, herself. From her introduction
to her author interview at the end to her semi-nude photo on the book cover,
readers will find themselves searching for validation of truths in Boof's
characters and from Boof herself. Boof tells compelling tales that if the
reader looks closely will hit home, time and time again.

Reviewed by Diane Marbury (HonestD)

This is a book with its feet in the earth and it's soul in the clouds. The eyes of the book are directly connected to the sun!

As a woman from Northern Sudan, I cannot pretend that I don't find the author Kola Boof deeply disturbing and even scary, because she has expressed so much disdain for Muslims and Arabs. But I cannot deny the power of her writing or the passion of her beliefs. I was literally swept away by them and hated when the book ended. I look forward to her next one and I pray that she will come to love her father's people, us the Arab Islamics. Keep up the good work Kola.

Many in the media, including the New York Times, have been calling Kola Boof "the African Garbo".

I disagree. I see her work and provocative persona to be more in the tradition of the great blues singer Bessie Smith.

Readers of this powerful, ugly, coarse and beautifully magical short story collection will agree that Kola Boof is a blues writer. The fact that she's from Africa, but very much American makes her art all the more thrilling and unique. As a black woman, I found great validation and inspiration from reading this poignant collection. I advise anyone who comes across this book, but especially black women, to pick it up immediately. It's more than worth your time.

Some of us (see Laurie posted a review!!) have also read advance copies of Kola Boof's full length novel "Flesh and the Devil". I also give that book five stars and encourage people who are looking for something new, strong and meaningful to purchase that daring, HOT novel.

Kola Boof's work is very groundbreaking and I love it that's she's so underground.

Thank the powers that be!

I'm a white woman in love!

This is my favorite short story collection EVER. And I'm not even a "Sista". Sorry all. I love this book and I so admire Kola Boof's valiant struggle. I have been a fan ever since I saw her on FOX NEWS and read about her online. She is such a gifted artist and a brave political thinker. I am so awed by her life story and her determination to be herself.

WARNING: As herself--she is not like any other type of black woman you have ever read. She is from Africa. Her books make you uncomforable. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. She poses naked on the back of all her book covers, so let that be a warning. She is NOT the status quo type of author. She's kinda "touched". She wants to abolish men's religions and start a women's religion!

But I love this book of stories so much. I can't wait for her novel "Flesh and the Devil" to come out next month. I hear its pretty wild, and although I've warned that she cuts White Women a new "a--ole" in that book, I still gotta read it. I love you Kola if you read this. It's Laurie at Stanford University!!

Your books tell it like it is. They entertain and they are so incredibly different from everything else on the market. You have no competition, because you are one of a kind. A true African goddess. Please come to Stanford University when you start doing readings!!

I give this short story collection 5 stars. MY FAVORITE STORIES in the book are "Day of Vow", then "Black America Diva Girl", then "The Lioness", then "Boy Magic". Each one of those stories would make a good movie or a good novel all by themselves.

ENJOY!!! But beware. It's the strange world of Kola Boof!!!

I am not a black woman, but I agree with RAWSISTAZ.

This book was so good. It reminded me of Jean Toomer's "CANE" or something Sylvia Plath would write.

I am so disgusted to learn that this book was forced out of print by Muslim fundamentalists in Morocco and I pray that Kola Boof can soon find an American publisher for her work. She is a controversial woman, but she really needs to be heard. My daughter and my son both read this book and they loved it as well. Very strong writer!