Voice of America: Stories - Softcover

Críticas

"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

"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

"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

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

Reseña del editor

“E.C. Osondu is a man with a clear head and a great ear, writing from crucial places.” —Jonathan Franzen, author ofFreedom and The Corrections

“With observant wonder and subtle humor, [Osondu] portrays...our unique capacity for hope and hopelessness rolled together.” —Mary Gaitskill, author ofBad Behavior and Veronica

This collection of vivid, compulsively readable stories marks the debut of Nigerian author E.C. Osondu, winner of the 2009 Caine Prize for African Writing. In the tradition of Wole Soyinka, Nadine Gordimer, J.M. Coetzee, and Chinua Achebe (all patrons of the Caine Prize), Osondu’s stories are wise, soul-stirring, and deeply compelling. In electrifying prose, he articulate the struggles of Nigerian immigrants in America, and refugees, villagers, and ex-patriots in Africa.Voice of America marks the beginning for a brave and remarkable new voice in African Literature.