Sozaboy (Longman African Writers)

Rating:
Summary: interesting and quite revealing
Review: Ken Saro Wiwa was one of the rising stars of Nigerian Literature coming after the legendary triumvirate of Achebe,Soyinka and John Pepper Clarke-Bekederemo till his voice was cut down inhis prime.The setting of the novel is an African Country which he does not mention though it is obviously Nigeria.It tells a harrowing tale of a soldier who joins the war not understanding what he is fighting for.The narrator is a naive apprentice driver who ends up in prisoner of war camps,refugee camps and witnesses the wanton destruction finally becoming disillusioned he walks away from it all only to discover the loss of all he holds dear.The language in which it is written is actually a form of speaking common in NIGERIA it is a beautiful mix of corrupted English words transposed with direct translations from African languages.There is a glossary that will be usefull to those unfamiliar with this.

Rating:
Summary: The beauty of the book lies in what is not said.
Review: The skill with which Ken paints his characters, using very few words, and fewer adjectives is unsurpassed