I enjoy a good old controversy, and maybe there’s one about to generate.
Check out this long-awaited review of BREATH OF AFRICA in an e-zine of great repute and thousands of followers – Travel News. (You may have to register in order to read it).
Here’s a taster:
“The entire book will satisfy neither Kenyans, nor Colonial survivors if they read it: they both surely are the only authentic judges.”
Julia Laurence doesn’t mince words, and she says what she thinks. Thankyou, Julia. I appreciate that many will hold your views. But I know that others think differently.
What do you think?
Jane Bwye 
That depends entirely on what aspect of the book is being judged! Is it well- written? Is it believable? You don’t have to be a native or ex resident of Kenya to appreciate those. As you are witness, Jane, my novel is about magic but you don’t have to be a practicing witch to enjoy it.
You’re right, Ailsa! Now that I’ve slept on it, I see that the review was based only on a couple of aspects. Thanks for your valuable comment.
I might be wrong, but I doubt that Jane would have written the book with the thought to keep Kyneans or Ex-Colonians happy. If she did, the book would have been wishy-washy, which it’s not! Jane tells a story which has been by her own admission, “forty years in the making” and even though it is probably every writer’s dream to be accepted by all, it will never happen. She had a story to tell and she had the will-power to write it and stick to the job. “Breath of Africa” is at the end of the day fiction. If the Kenyans want history or the Colonians want fact, they should go to the non-fiction section to find some satisfaction. 🙂
You’re spot-on, Maretha! Thank you for that.
I’m getting maturer and maturer by the day – and you are so right, Maretha. I didn’t write it to keep Kenyans and ex-Colonials happy. In fact, I’ve wondered with some trepidation what their reaction would be. This is my first answer from the negative end of the spectrum – good for the character, and hopefully good for exposure!
What book would satisfy Kenyans and ‘Colonial survivors’ that’s a novel? This is a novel that’s set against a BACKDROP of pivotal years of Kenyan history.
Reblogged this on aurorawatcherak and commented:
A well-written book that takes you into the world of Africa so evocatively that I felt as if I was walking in the tall grass with the lions stalking me. Do check it out!
Thanks so much for the comment and the re-blog, aurorawatcherak!