I love to read books that are an escape from reality. I love a mystery and I eschew violence for art's sake. So let me introduce you to Alexander McCall Smith's books The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe, a lady of generous proportions who started the agency to help people solve their problems. For Mma Ramotswe there are no global conspiracies, just human heartbreak.
Mma Ramotswe is compassionate but also wise. In Tears of the Giraffe, her fiance Mr. J.L. B. Matekoni adopted two orphans without first discussing it with her. Mma Ramotswe did not throw a hissy fit. Mma Ramotswe, being a student of human nature, understood perfectly that Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is kind but he hadn't the first clue how to take care of a child. Mma Ramotswe decided to take those two children into her own house. So that is how Mma Ramotswe came to have a son and a daughter before she was married.
Some critics wonder if McCall Smith's portrait of Africa is genuine, because the only conflict in the books might be marital infidelity, not civil war or blood diamonds. He doesn't mention AIDS though it's hinted that the two children are AIDS orphans. The news media portray Africa as a broken continent with stories of starvation, disease, war, poverty, and corruption. Why can't there be a gentle beautiful side to Africa too? Somewhere between the two portrayals is the real Africa, a complex place of terrible beauty and pain.
the Friends Chapter 15
15 years ago
2 comments:
I agree with "Somewhere between the two portrayals is the real Africa, a complex place of terrible beauty and pain."
The condition of the story is only the subjectivity and the empathy of the author. Subjectivity is only subjectivity. As for the true cruelty, I do not understand Africa at all because only the person who looked Africa can understand Africa. I know only the information that I obtained from news and a newspaper. But it is true that there are lots of problems in present Africa.
One of all, AIDS is being rampant among in fifteen children. Second of all, about 40 percents of children are suffering of delaying bodily education because of hunger. Third of all, huge number of pirate company push aside to sell copy products in Africa without purpose to develop Africa. Therefore, legal big companies have to be withdrawn from Africa.
If this situation does not finish, Africa can not develop and solve problems. Furthermore, Africa can not use the same usage of Japan and Thailand to be wealthy. The world is becoming that one country can not restore oneself by oneself. I think development countries must cooperate and relieve a poor country. Because the reason is unnecessary strong saves the weak.
To be honest, I do not know the way to resolve African problem. If I know it, I am not here. But I think Africa has much fertile land, so Japan only 38% of calorie base want to get alone with Africa.
It is very difficult to understand a place you've never visited. That's why I think books are so useful. It is through books that I have come to know something about Africa. One book I read, Things Fall Apart, discuss how change comes to this village and how loss of the traditional way of life affects all the villagers. Another book, Cry the Beloved Country, was a very moving account of the injustice of racism in South Africa and why change is necessary. Two different ways of looking at change, the bad with the good.
Post a Comment