Mukiwa - A white boy in Africa (Peter Godwin)

This is a beautiful story about growing up in Africa and the magic that exists there. In this book Peter Godwin tells his family’s story and the story of Zimbabwe/Rhodesia. Many of us who grew up in Zimbabwe do not have a “historical conscience”, certain things simply were not discussed as we were growing up, and our parents simply assumed that we knew what had happened before. It was great reading the book, reminiscing and putting the pieces together (not necessarily agreeing in all points).

The book can also be enjoyed by non Zimbabweans, the vocabulary and instances that might not be understood by a person who is not from Africa are all explained and the story is told in a funny easy to read way. Although there is war and death, it is a hopeful book.

Midnight's Children

I have only recently read Salman Rushdie for the first time and absolutely loved it. When you read /watch /see something you enjoy that much you have a tendency to tell all your friends about it. When your friends don't share your enthusiasm you are forced to tell people who do want to know even if you don't know them.

Midnight's Children is the story of Saleem Sinai and his family and simultaneously a History of India. Saleem Sinai is born on the stroke of midnight on the 15th August 1947, precisely at the moment India becomes independent from Britain and from there his story and the history of India are one.

To people who grew up in a world where magic does exist, "magical realism" doesn't really exist in the sense that we have no difficulty believing all the things described in the novel, we don't need a label, we believe.

If you like "magical realism", history, travel, religion etc., I highly recommend you read this book! And although I don't usually read books just because they have won a prize, there must be a reason why this book won not only the Booker Prize but the Booker of Bookers and the Best of Bookers.

Enjoy!