In this video interview with waterstones blog, she discusses how the writing of her first novel was like. Apr 03, 20 taiye selasi the debut author of the eagerly anticipated novel, ghana must go, writes about her shame at her family history and how she learned to be herself in africa published. This is the story of a family of the simple, devastating ways in which families tear themselves apart, and of the incredible lengths to which a family will go to put itself back. Ghana must go is at once a portrait of a modern family, and an exploration of the importance of where we come from to who we are. Ghana must go by taiye selasi posted on may 8, 2018 by damien leave a reply when i took advantage of a free saturday between two work weeks in ghana to explore elmina and cape coast, on the coast west of accra, i was surprised by the amount and the size of the funerals i could see from the road or in the towns. Selasi s novel is a story of immigration, family, the long term ramifications of choices made, and an attempt to peer beyond the stereotypes of africa and africans. When 53yearold kweku sai keels over from a heart attack in his elegant backyard garden, the news quickly travels all the way from ghana to america, wreaking havoc on his estranged adult children. Taiye selasis debut novel ghana must go is our waterstones eleven choice for april. Mar 21, 20 in taiye selasi s debut novel, ghana must go, the death of the patriarch is the catalyst for the sai familys reunion and regeneration in selasi s accomplished debut novel. When kwaku sai drops dead from a massive heart attack, he is living in ghana.
The novel follows the sai family as they come to terms with their father kweku sais death, and as they work through family troubles. Electric, exhilarating, beautifully crafted pdf, ghana must go is a testament to the transformative power of unconditional love, from a debut novelist of extraordinary talent. In the wake of kwakus death, the family gathers in ghana at the home of their mother, fola. Mar 22, 20 ghana must go by taiye selasi extract in this extract from the authors novel about a family torn apart by events, a student encounters us misconceptions of africa taiye selasi. Ghana must go by taiye selasi extract books the guardian.
Ghana must go is a brilliant and eloquently written novel that explores the meaning of a family unit and the crisis of unknown identity. A renowned surgeon and failed husband, he succumbs suddenly at dawn outside the home he shares in ghana with his second wife. The book will appear in 15 countries, including the netherlands, in the translation ghana ga weg. Electric, exhilarating, beautifully crafted, ghana must go follows the sais journey, moving with great elegance through time and place to share the truths hidden and lies told, the crimes committed in the name of love. A buoyant and rapturous debut novel the wall street journal about the transformative power of unconditional loveelectric, exhilarating, and beautifully crafted, ghana must go introduces the world to taiye selasi, a novelist of extraordinary talent. Oct 08, 2015 ghana must go the title referring to both the expulsion of ghanaian immigrants from nigeria in 1983 as a result of a boom and bust in the oil industry, and the distinctive white, red and blue travel bags they used to transport their belongings tells the story of the sai family. Taiye selasi the debut author of the eagerly anticipated novel, ghana must go, writes about her shame at her family history and how she learned to be herself in africa published.
The suggestive title refers to the expulsion of ghanaians from lagos in 1983, and the book is first of all an immigrant story. A renowned surgeon and failed husband, he succumbs suddenly at dawn outside his home in suburban accra. Mar 10, 20 the suggestive title refers to the expulsion of ghanaians from lagos in 1983, and the book is first of all an immigrant story. With mesmerizing craftsmanship and massive imagination she takes the. The sex lives of african girls, selasis fiction debut, appeared in best american short stories 2012. The title comes from a nigerian phrase from the 1980s regarding incoming ghanaian refugees, moving away from the political unrest that dogged the nation. Apr 03, 20 taiye selasi s debut novel ghana must go is our waterstones eleven choice for april. Taiye selasi beautifully, and almost poetically, tells the story of the sai family, piecing together years of hardship into a reflection of kewku, the father, and the legacy he leaves. Novelist taiye selasi coined the word afropolitanism eight years ago to refer to educated, multilingual, multiethnic africans living around the globe. Ghana must go was a tough read because 1 the authors style is poetic and not always forwardmoving, 2 the character focus shifts without warning and it takes time to determine who youre reading about, and 3 it is extremely painful. Ghana, on page one is followed by an impressionistic account of his lifeglimpses of childhood and parenthood, moments of shame and bad decisions, regrets, ironies and final thoughts. Selasis use of imagery and flowing language made the book come alive for me. The bag got its name from a point in history when a lot of ghanians fled to nigeria to escape uprising.
By the time the surviving five convene at a funeral in ghana, we are invested. A family prospering until the day father and surgeon kweku sai is victim of a grave injustice. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Waterstones has also provided an intriguing sample chapter from selasis debut novel ghana must go, set. As farreaching as the novel feels, at its heart it is the story of one family.
A buoyant and rapturous debut novel the wall street journal about the transformative power of unconditional love electric, exhilarating, and beautifully crafted, ghana must go introduces the world to taiye selasi, a novelist of extraordinary talent. Waterstones has published a list they call the eleven, which consists of their favourite debuts of 20. Introducing a powerful new novelist whose evocation of an unforgettable african family is testament to the transformative power of unconditional lovekwaku sai is dead. Family sagas generally start with a joyous birthor, as in the case of taiye selasis debut novel, an unexpected death. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Go search todays deals best sellers customer service find a gift. Discover book depositorys huge selection of taiye selasi books online. Ghana must go by taiye selasi is an extraordinary work of literary fiction.
It shows us an african family that has succeeded in the conventional. By the time the surviving five convene at a funeral in ghana, we are. In a sweeping narrative that takes readers from accra to lagos to london to new york, it is at once a portrait. Ze maakte haar fictiedebuut in granta met het verhaal sex lives of african girls. In taiye selasis debut novel, ghana must go, the death of the patriarch is the catalyst for the sai familys reunion and regeneration in selasis accomplished debut novel. In ghana must go, taiye selasi gives us a cast of characters who pull apart and come together to tell a story with an immaculate sense of truth, tenderness, and severity. The novel is set around the family of kweku sai, long isolated from one another, coming together in ghana for his funeral. Selasi s use of imagery and flowing language made the book come alive for me. The debut novel from londonborn taiye selasi, ghana must go is a comingofage tale of family destruction and suffering. Taiye selasi was born in london and raised in massachusetts. Electric, exhilarating, beautifully crafted, ghana must go is a testament to the transformative power of unconditional love, from a debut novelist of extraordinary talent. Moving with great elegance through time and place, ghana must go charts the sais circuitous journey to one another.
A stunning novel, spanning generations and continents, ghana must g. Taiye selasi has 15 books on goodreads with 40162 ratings. Selasis novel is a story of immigration, family, the long term ramifications of choices made, and an attempt to peer beyond the stereotypes of africa and africans. Taiye selasi is of ghanian descent and the books title draws from the name of a bag that is used to carry large quantities. May 27, 20 ghana must go by taiye selasi kweku sai is dead. A stunning novel, spanning generations and continents, ghana must go by rising star taiye selasi is a tale of family drama and forgiveness, for fans of zadie smith and chimamanda ngozi adichie.
Taiye selasi is a totally new and near perfect voice that spans continents and social strata as effortlessly as the insertion of an ellipsis or a dash. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading ghana ga weg dutch edition. In the wake of kwakus death, the family gathers in ghana, at their mother, folas, new home. Taiye selasi on the beginnings of her novel, ghana must go. Ghana must go ghana must go audiobook, by taiye selasi.
Family sagas generally start with a joyous birthor, as in the case of taiye selasi s debut novel, an unexpected death. Meet the sais, a nigerianghanaian family living in the united states. Mar 05, 20 electric, exhilarating, and beautifully crafted, ghana must go introduces the world to taiye selasi, a novelist of extraordinary talent. In her ambitious debut, ghana must go, she brings us into the world of bright, urban professionals, raised in the united states, but with roots in africa. Taiye selasi groeide op in boston als kind van een nigeriaanse en een ghanese ouder. In a sweeping narrative that takes readers from accra to lagos to london to new york, it is at once a portrait of a modern family and an exploration of the importance of where we come from to who we are. This is one of the experiences felt and shared in ghana must go by taiye selasi.
I truly enjoyed how well the tale of one family could be so complex and yet beautifully interwoven to create an unforgettable book. The sex lives of african girls granta, 2011, selasis fiction debut, will appear in the best american short stories 2012. Ghana ga weg dutch edition kindle edition by taiye selasi. Despite its intriguing premise of a story of entwining generations and cultures, this is a book that, finally, fails to grab hold of you in the way that it could and should. Despite these challenges, ghana must go moved my soul, which is why i rated it four stars. Selasi tells the tale of a family torn apart with glittering poetic command, says diana evans.
Ghana must go the title referring to both the expulsion of ghanaian immigrants from nigeria in 1983 as a result of a boom and bust in the oil industry, and the distinctive white, red and blue travel bags they used to transport their belongings tells the story of the sai family. Shame and parental betrayal are central themes in ghana must go, taiye selasis. In a sweeping narrative that takes us from accra to lagos to london to new york, ghana must go teaches that the truths we speak can heal the wounds we hide. Ghana ga weg van taiye selasi boek en recensies hebban. Ghana must go is a big novel, elemental, meditative, and mesmerizing sapphire, author of the kid and push in ghana must go, selasi drives the six characters skillfully through past and present, unearthing old betrayals and unexplained grievances at a delicious pace. Ghana must go was the surprise book club choice for october.
Ghana ga weg vertelt het verhaal van een westafrikaanse migrantenfamilie. It was published in 20, and nominated for an naacp image award. This book is rich and deep, mesmerizing and spectacular. Taiye selasi a 33yearold writer and photographer who was born in london to a nigerian mother and a ghanaian father, grew up in the states and now lives in rome surely was the exotic beauty of masterpiece.
Ghana must go by taiye selasi reading guidebook club. She stood between the two white, male judges like an african queen and gained my full attention. Read ghana ga weg by taiye selasi available from rakuten kobo. Ghana must go by taiye selasi extract in this extract from the authors novel about a family torn apart by events, a student encounters us. Electric, exhilarating, beautifully crafted, ghana must go follows the sais journey, moving with great elegance through time and place to share the truths hidden and lies told. Ghana must go taiye selasi 9780670065707 netgalley. In a sweeping narrative that takes readers from accra to lagos to london to new york, it is at once a portrait of a modern family and. Ghana ga weg dutch edition kindle edition by taiye. Taiye selasis debut novel, ghana must go, centers on the sai family, a fractured clan of overachieving jetsetters who, like selasi, are immigrants of ghanaian and nigerian descent. Nov, 2016 ghana must go was the surprise book club choice for october. Ghana must go tells the story of the sai family, who after the. This is the story of a family of the simple, devastating ways in which families tear themselves apart, and of the incredible lengths to which a family will go to put itself back together. One central event was the breakup of kwekus marriage to fola and separation from his four children. May 28, 2014 taiye selasi a 33yearold writer and photographer who was born in london to a nigerian mother and a ghanaian father, grew up in the states and now lives in rome surely was the exotic beauty of masterpiece.