Say You're One of Them
by Uwem Akpan
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Book Reviews of Say You're One of Them
Book Review: An amazing collection
Summary: 5 Stars
Uwem Akpan has an unusually privileged perspective: having grown up in Nigeria and traveled around Africa, he knows the depths of that continent's poverty. But Akpan's post-secondary education has been especially privileged, since he has earned various degrees at several US universities.
This perspective allows Akpan to convey an unknown reality to us readers in a powerful, authentic voice that reaches well beyond the surface of our cozy lives. Akpan is first and last a man of hope, a hope fueled solely by his mature and profound faith. His stories have the same Catholic 'punch' as those of Flannery O'Connor, because he has the same honest, open-eyed faith she relied upon. His artistry of hope amidst misery is a great gift to literature, and to each of his readers.
Book Review: Expertly woven tales about realities far removed from those faced by our children in the West
Summary: 5 Stars
Unless one has encountered circumstances similar to those outlined in the stories, it is hard to reconcile the fact that this is a daily occurrence for millions of children. For a debut author, quite simply, Uwem Akpan has woven remarkable tales. For whatever reason, I chose to read the last story, My Parents Bedroom, first. Without a doubt, this powerful story is the best in the collection. The remaining stories hovered around a 7.5/8 out of ten but never took me to the gripping heights of My Parents Bedroom. I am somewhat shocked that this book wasnt given the stamp of approval by more magazines/newspapers and well-known authors. It is a gem of a collection and I hope it garners more publicity because the author truly deserves this.Book Review: Chilling
Summary: 5 Stars
Say You're One of Them Is a collection of three short stories and two longer stories. They center on the horror that is all too common in much of the world, whether it is based in religious differences, poverty, or racial differences. These stories take place in Africa and are told through the eyes of children. The result is heartbreaking, chilling and probing. This is not for those who like light-hearted stories. The prose is beautiful, incorporating many dialects, making them feel more authentic. It cries to us as human beings to remember the poor and have compassion on those who suffer such deep hurts through no fault of their own.Book Review: Fascinating and deeply emotional book
Summary: 5 Stars
When I finished reading this book, my first thought was 'Who will discuss this book with me?' Every page opened my eyes to another world. Every story made me more and more grateful of the evidently plush life I've led as a middle-class American. This is one of those books I want to highly recommend, but as much as it's changed my outlook, I can't recommend it to just anybody. I honestly think everyone needs to read it, but it's graphic nature (at points), and the fact that's it's narrated by children is almost too much to handle some times. I realize it's fiction, but it's probably one of the best fiction books I've ever read.Book Review: Breathtaking, subtle, well-crafted...
Summary: 5 Stars
The devil is in the horrific, subtly introduced details. I found myself having to pay careful attention to the lines as I read this book. The authenticity of the stories, the reality that is so expertly created and brought to life by the author cannot be over stated. I was left absolutely breathless by Fattening for Gabon, and heart broken by the story of children attacked by their own neighbors in Rwanda. Again, it is not often we read stories of tragedy from childrens' perspective, and read it as they would perceive their environment, adults' intentions, and their fate. I felt this book was life changing in many ways.