KanoOnline.com Forum

Hello,

What book (novel) are you reading today? Answer this by writing its title, author's name, what is fascinating about it, etc.

As a new sub-forum, think it would be nice to know what you people are reading today or rather right now. So lets get started...


Am reading Provenance by McDonald Frank. I very much enjoy reading the novel because in-spite of its being a bit bulky yet it holds its reader, always at the edge of his chair, eager to know what would likely happen at the next scene, i.e very suspenseful. It's about uncovering stolen arts and artifacts during  Second World War by Nazis in France by the protogonist of the novel.

i am sure its interesting, ll look for it to read.

i consider myself a bookworm, i read any n everything, hough there r some things i stay clear of, u can not catch me reading a horror novel, i read IT by stephen king n i didnt recover from it 4 yrs,so much so that i bought d movie about 8 mnths ago n still havnt watchd it.

i read romance(of course), love thrillers, medical n court room dramas, i even like autobiographies once in a while, comedy,adventure, sci fi etc. i do not read hausa novels bcos they r not properly published, i usually get worked up,correcting d grammer, i read islamic books(not alot), anyway, i hav to go now, ll share more later.
what im reading now ll not interest alot of ppl, but i read john grisham's d innocent man, very interesting, though i cant remember most of it now, alot has happened since then, ll b interested to c if anyone has read it.

Ummu T. Maybe u should talk with GGNK on John Grisham. He's looking for anyone who's read the partner by John Grisham.

I am reading this book, which is bulky, but not very interesting. I just picked it up from the library because i needed to read something. anyway, its a bit mediocre from some unknown author about a family saga. I only read it when i have nothing to do or have to tread the mill.

   Hmmm,Ummutameen,it seems we are in different worlds.I cannot stand romantic movies ballantana books.I know how they all end so why bother?I like something that will make me think,keep me in suspence.yeees oh! My king of books.I love thrillers and horrors and when i begin reading a book,i finish it in a day some times two days depending on the pages.Time is something i have for books because i can read a book anywhere,anytime.In the kitchen while cooking(i sometimes end up burning the food),in the tiolet,in buses,i can even read a book while walking.So far,i have been lucky that i have not bump into something or fell.My mum calls me alhudda hudda.I dont even know what that means.Reading is something that runs in my family.My father reads like tomorrow no go come.We exchange books.
  The latest book i read was 2 days ago.It took me a day to finish it.It is called PREY by MICHAEL CRICHTON who is also the author of Jurassic park,Rising sun,The lost world and State of fear. PREY is about some organisms that where created by some scientists.They are called swarm of microbots and are design to reproduce,learn and develope.They began to hurnt and eat.It is really interesting.
  I like it not only because it is entertaining but also because it got me thingking that these scientist will stop at nothing to expand science regardless of the impact it might have on humanity and the full implications.Nanotechnology is the newest of technology.from the facts that i have read,it is 'the quest to build man-made machinary of extremly small size and the prediction is that these mechines will provide everything from miniature computer components to new cancer treatments to new weapons of war.Now this book is about Nanotechnology.Everything went wrong.

Wow, its nice to see people reading.I think i prefer books to movies (still not sure though).
Ummu my sister has the innocent man novel and neither of us is willing to read the book.I read the preview on the back and i simply can't read it.Its a true story of injustice to a former baseball player.I can't stand such tragedy.Na san zalunchi ne kawai. But i'm still tempted.

LOL .Stephen King hunted u for 4 years....lol. I remember when reading 'tell me your dreams' by Sidney Sheldon(even though it wasn't a horror novel),there were places that i just couldn't continue reading in my room alone, sai na shiga cikin mutane.It was thrilling.

Interesting taste you have bee,a lady despising romantic books and novels  8)

Right now i am reading 'gone with the wind' by Margaret Mitchell. Its an old book about love and war.I don't know but i find it a bit difficult reading this particular book.I think the English is a bit classic sometimes i have to read lines over and over again.But it is very very interesting. Considered to be the greatest love story ever written.

Am glad too, as Gogannaka has said, that people are reading. Lack of good reading culture is one of northern people gigantic and massive failure that's being ravaging our younger generation. Always poeple prepare to listen to radio for aquisition of news, etc.

@Ummutameem,
Just like my big Aunty, you also hate horror novels. And that's why I last time pinpointed that (hatred of tragic/horror novels by women) is very conventional among you. But why? Can't you remember while reading it that its a mere fictitious story? Lol

And I've never read John G. Don't get access to one yet.

@Bee,
Am really surprise at your side that you don't like romantic novels as you aren't a woman. As a man or boy, I may say, I very much enjoy reading romantic literature peices.

Quote from: gogannaka on December 07, 2007, 12:01:28 AM
Considered to be the greatest love story ever written.

By who? I also have once read another novel that they say something like this about it. Can't actually recal it's author's name but she's an English woman but it's title is French Bride.


I am today reading J.H Chase's Mallory. It's as always a thriller of one of his best protogonist called Martin Corridon. Just start it today so can't say much about it's content.

omigod, dis is d place to b,i presently hav a serious allergic reaction but i hav 2 say a few things, thats how interesting this is, just imaging me scatching n typing.......... hilarious!
Bee, im sure u enjoyed prey, i also read a michael crichton back in 99 n i liked it, do u know hes also d creator of ER? d med. drama.
GGNK, ive read d partner, 2ce, d guy is a genius, stealing d 99mil rom his partners d way he did. I think ive read all d grishams also sydney sheldons, d only one dat eluded me was d SANDS OF TIME,finally read it last yr, its d one about d 3 nuns( i think) my brain is porous these days.

has anyone read kathie reich? she writes forensic investigative thrillers, uses bone evidence to solve crimes, the series BONES is based on her novels

LOL UmmuT, you haven't respond my question?

   Ummutameem,i have read GRAVE SECRETS written by KATHY REICH.Very interesting.I loved it.I have not come across any of her books after that but i guess she has other interesting books.
   You appeared surprised Muhsin. Hahaha.There are plenty out there like me.There was this book i read sometime ago.I cant remember the name but it is romantic and i liked it.Maybe because it is kind of scary.It is about a prince who fell in love with a spirit(There is a name for her kind in the book but i cannot remember what it is).She visits him in his dreams.According to the book,that is what she is created to do.Visit men in their dreams.She became motal daga karshe though and they got married.kind of spooky but it is good.

Quote from: Muhsin on December 07, 2007, 12:03:04 PM
LOL UmmuT, you haven't respond my question?

so sorry mr. moderator, like i said, i was distracted earlier. ur question was y cant women remember that horror novels r fiction, d main reason is that most of the plots r so realistic that u cant help but visualise whats happening, d fear comes from that. u know how u can really get into a book that u forget ur sorroundings, subconsciously, u r in d novel, 2gether with d characters, pls do tell me how u can not b scared in that situation! I do hope u write like that i.e make us lose ourselves in ur novels. Good luck wit ur first one, may it b d first of many to come.
Bee....ive read at least 2 other kathie reichs but cant remember d names now, ll look em up for u when i get home IA, do u read jackie collins?
muhsin, this one is for u, what do u think of walter rodney's HOW EUROPE UNDERDEVELOPED AFRICA? hope uve read it, ..............anyone?

Bee and Ummutameem, have read your responses.

...reading Roy Maynard's .38 Caliber. It's a mystery novel about Emerson Dunn's adventure as a reporter. I don't really enjoy my reading but I do it because I ran out of novels. Any way, as I use to do, am going tomorrow to Bata, Sabon-Gari for my books exchange.

it seems to me if we are all Hassan da Husaini. i like reding novels, thogh i read  All both African and european novels but realy i appreaciate european noveles must. I some times reading thrillers and romance.

Even though, James Hardly's works were not canonically considered literature, I finished one to day "figure t out for your self." yes this is the name, the one about a fake kidnapping of the fourth richest woman in the world Serena Marshland's husban Lee Dedrick. Presently before I start surfing, I am with Povenance.

Have just decided to drop that other book I said I was reading. Can't really finish ot as for I wasn't enjoying it.

I'm today reading J.H Chase's The Way the Cookies Crumble. Just start it yesterday night, so can't say much about it. Yet, its about a dwarf hotel waiter called Ticky Edris. It seems from the begining that I'll enjoy my reading. It's worth spending night with.

 you hav joind anas in reading chase, im sure you ll enjoy it, cant remember if ive read that one, im back to reading that my book, ll look 4 smthn interesting soon IA

It's taking me too long reading 'gone with the wind'.1000 plus pages.

Surprisingly i have never read a Chase novel.

Quote from: gogannaka on December 14, 2007, 01:20:12 AM
It's taking me too long reading 'gone with the wind'.1000 plus pages.

Surprisingly i have never read a Chase novel.

lallai goga, u r among d near extinct specie of men that've never read chase, others include my brother n cousin, n believe me they r hopeless, dont read novels at all, they r both engineers, r u? most men i know hav read almost all of chases books. my advice for d bulky novels, read em when u r bored n inbetween novels, thats what im doing wit d bill clinton autobiography, i keep it in d office for when things r extremely slow n ts smthn to discuss wit d boss in case im caught in d act. however i do not recommend that u keep 'gone wit d wind' at d office, ur co workers ll think u r a hopeless romantic, that wont b good for ur macho image ;)

Quote from: ummutameem on December 12, 2007, 09:14:51 PM
you hav joind anas in reading chase, im sure you ll enjoy it, cant remember if ive read that one, im back to reading that my book, ll look 4 smthn interesting soon IA

Or Anas has joined me in reading chase, uh? Lol. Don't you read his works...why? Very interesting, Ummutameem. Start it now!

Am also today reading another Chase's Whiff of Money.

Quote from: gogannaka on December 14, 2007, 01:20:12 AM
It's taking me too long reading 'gone with the wind'.1000 plus pages.

Surprisingly i have never read a Chase novel.

Have never read a novel with such a number of pages...though I have one but never start reading it now.

Why have you never read it, Goga?

Reading Robert O. Brien's The Secret of Nimn. Its a nice fable.

LOL UmmuT, i am not a hopeless person and i know a lot of engineers that read chase's novels.

Muhsin i don't exactly know why i've never read any Chase novel..it might be because of the cover pictures.(maybe)

Quote from: gogannaka on December 17, 2007, 05:56:49 PM
LOL UmmuT, i am not a hopeless person and i know a lot of engineers that read chase's novels.

Muhsin i don't exactly know why i've never read any Chase novel..it might be because of the cover pictures.(maybe)

i get u, u r not an engineer, ok.

and u r right about d chase covers, they arent exactly "attractive". how far with d bulky novel? find another one yet?

I'm readin John Grisham's The Pelican Brief. His novel for the fisrt time...because they are very expensive. Don't know why?

@Gogannaka,
When next I get back I'll respond to you, insha Allah. Thanks.

@GoodFella,

Welcome to the forum. And you are really reading a very nice and interesting novel. I read it some times ago and I have it presently at home.

Quote from: Muhsin on December 20, 2007, 01:52:49 PM
I'm readin John Grisham's The Pelican Brief. His novel for the fisrt time...because they are very expensive. Don't know why?

Pelican brief is an interesting one, is the one where a law student(i think) uncovered y supreme crt justices were being murdered, there is a movie of d novel with julia roberts and denzel washington(?), u should continue reading his work, very interesting, though i dont really like the later ones, like the king of torts and d summons, they r on the ok level. But if u find 'skipping chritsmas' pls do read it, it is a departure from his usual courtroom drama, it is a comedy actually, very funny, i found myself laughing out loud, saw d movie too, equally funny, with tim allen.
i guess d books r expensive, u can always exchange at bata(is it) or borrow from others.

im currently taking a break from reading (except my quran of course), going to b a bit busy for a while, i will keep contributing to d thread though, i will let u'all know as soon as i begin a new one.

and now that most of u know that id recently given birth, i can name that book that i was reading and thought no one will be interested in, its called "what to expect when you are expecting", a pregnancy guide (gross!), actually very helpful, i recommend it to expecting mums and dads!

Quote from: ummutameem on December 20, 2007, 06:29:18 PM
and now that most of u know that id recently given birth, i can name that book that i was reading and thought no one will be interested in, its called "what to expect when you are expecting", a pregnancy guide (gross!), actually very helpful, i recommend it to expecting mums and dads!

I have not contributed much to this Forum since its inception, but seeing UmmuT latest book that she is reading kind of make me want to respond. U know I had that book since when I had my first child, and my last two babies i find myself going back to read it all over again. I think the book is very informative and educative as well.

@Gogannaka,

Concerning J.H Chase's classical or rather thriller novels and the over almost nude pictures; I too had this apprehension towards it before I later, after been convinced by a friend that that is only use as what I can describe as gimmick, i.e to attract costomer's attention in a cunny way, start reading it. And am telling you, they contain nothing, actually nothing relates to the cover picture. Though still, there are, usually few scenes of sex but they are told very, very berief with out much elucidation of the actions.

And moreover, why not, if you are interested in reading one, buy it and cover the cover pic?

@Ummutameem,

Wallahi I very much adore to read John G. works but as I said before too cost. Don't know why and I really imagine. Hmm, not only his novels but that also of Dann Brown, Sidney S., Robert Ludlum, etc. Do you have any knowledge why?

Allah help you in your reading Qur'an and all your activities. Its very nice of you contributing to this forum. I perfectly appreciated it.

@Mumcee,

Welcome to this brand new forum. Wish and hope you'll a bit more stick to it. Seems you too read books, eh?

Thanks to you all.

Any one read Sven Hassel's books? They are 2nd world war stories seen from the German soldier's perspective. They are so so so absorbing. I recommend them highly.
Any one read the Rise and Fall Third Reich by William Sherer? I started it  many many yrs ago, found  it was too heavy going so I read the gruesome bits and gave  away the book as an exquisite present in a moment of sheer exuberance.. I have regretted the impulse ever since.. ;D

Anyone read the Longman Dictionary?
its so full of words and their meanings
very interesting, i highly recommend it
to all members.  ;D   ;D   8) 

Quote from: HUSNAA on December 23, 2007, 05:58:47 PM
Any one read Sven Hassel's books? They are 2nd world war stories seen from the German soldier's perspective. They are so so so absorbing. I recommend them highly.
Any one read the Rise and Fall Third Reich by William Sherer? I started it  many many yrs ago, found  it was too heavy going so I read the gruesome bits and gave  away the book as an exquisite present in a moment of sheer exuberance.. I have regretted the impulse ever since.. ;D

Have never heard of any of these books Aunty. Any way, following your recomendation, I'll look for them in the market. Hope they are available and I can get them. Would they cost much money? Yes, I have to ask because some books, I always imagine, are highly expensive as I said before. Thanks.

Quote from: Dan-Borno on December 23, 2007, 06:24:18 PM
Anyone read the Longman Dictionary?
its so full of words and their meanings
very interesting, i highly recommend it
to all members.  ;D   ;D   8) 

Dan-Barno, I understand you; you have atleast said something here.


Am still reading John Grisham's The Pelican Brief. Its a bit bulky...thats why it takes me time.

 Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I like her works very much.

UmmuT's absense is felt in this forum.

I'm reading 'Lifeguard' by James Patterson.

Muhsin i'm sure you'll enjoy Pelica Brief..Its a masterpiece.

I'm reading a Nigerian deceased writer's work. I, at times, feel its not written by a Nigerian or even an African. Superb! Her name's May Elen Ezeikel. And the novel's "Dream Maker". Wish one of you would read it or have read it already.

Quote from: gogannaka on December 28, 2007, 07:53:01 AM
UmmuT's absense is felt in this forum.

Really. I see it myself.

Quote from: gogannaka on December 28, 2007, 07:53:01 AM
Muhsin i'm sure you'll enjoy Pelica Brief..Its a masterpiece.

I absolutely did. I had never know John Grisham could craft a very intriguing, nice etc book like this. Wish I had access with more of his novels.

Am now reading J. H. Chase's You Must Be Kidding.

Another JH Chase's Hand Me A Fig-Leaf.

I'm reading another African literature. Fragment by Ayi Kwei Armah, a Ghanian prolific writer.

Am reading NOTHING almost today. Run out of novels but insha Allah I'll visit Bata books sellers/rentors this week.

I'm presently re-reading a fable talked by GoodFella in the preceded reply, i.e The Secret of Nimh by O'Brian.

hello my fellow book worms, its gud to b back, i can see more people r contributing to d forum, gud.

GGNK, its gud to b missed.

reading a child developmnt buk right now but ll soon get smthing more interesting to share wit u guys.

mr. moderator, kwana 2, ll c if i can get some john grisham books n giv my sis to giv u when u resume sch( u r in buk right?)

Ummutameem,

Glad you are back to the forum. Wish everything went very well while away. Wish and hope you'll continue enjoying every second with us here.

And to your question; yes am studying BA (Ed) English at BUK. Thanks for the offer...wallahi I really appeciated such a very nice and helpfull gesture. Pray to Allah to satisfy you your good desires in life.

Thank you handsomely, ummutameem.


Am reading a book written by Imtiaz Ahmad. But its not with me presently and I cannot recall the title. :-[

Muhsin

Welcome back UmmuT.
I'm sure Muhsin'll enjoy the Grishams....i hope he'll get to read 'the partner'.

Right now i'm reading David Baldacci's 'hour game'. It's full of suspence and i can't stop thinkng about it.

I'm reading Laceys of Liverpool by Maureen Lee.

Ooppss!!! Am still not reading anything tangible. Just take back my novel and following every line correcting some few mistypings.

I'd arranged to visit Bata since Saturday but the books I wanted return and take new ones all are on borrow. Friends and couse mates have all borrowed them.

Gogannaka, I enjoyed that Pelican Brief, so am sure I'll enjoy more of Grisham's works. He's a real amazing writer.

Great! I yesterday got a very nice novel. Though I only start it today early in the morning but its extremely fascinating novel. Like te writer's organisation of the novel. Its Killer Heels by Sheryl J. Anderson.

I'll finish that Anderson's Killer Heels later in the day. I'll probably start reading an African novel called People of the City by Cyprian Ekwensi. I read it before but now my friend asked me to re-read it for he wants its summary and other things about it.

im reading roses are red by james patterson excellent book i wonder who the real killer is????

Quote from: ladymerciful on January 19, 2008, 01:22:40 AM
im reading roses are red by james patterson excellent book i wonder who the real killer is????

Think gogannaka has been reading James Patterson's novels. Is that right? Tell her more about that book.

no no no i dont want neone to spoil it fo me im still reading it jus satrted recently but got held bak from all the projects and reports for uni but i'll find out who da killer is

Quote from: ladymerciful on January 20, 2008, 12:18:52 AM
no no no i dont want neone to spoil it fo me im still reading it jus satrted recently but got held bak from all the projects and reports for uni but i'll find out who da killer is

You made me laugh; hahaha ;D Am not saying he should tell you who the darn killer is but just to tell you SOMETHING about the writer, the book and what have you. LOL ;D :D

Enjoy your reading.

lol i know plenty bout the writer he's incredible i have all of his novels hehehe

LOL....I've only read one of Patterson's novels i.e Lifeguard and it was a good book....only that it was plain simple. I like his humour.


Just finished reading David Baldacci's 'Hour game'. It was full of suspence and brutality.

Ben Okri "The famished Road"

Quote from: gogannaka on January 23, 2008, 09:42:49 AM
LOL....I've only read one of Patterson's novels i.e Lifeguard and it was a good book....only that it was plain simple. I like his humour.


Just finished reading David Baldacci's 'Hour game'. It was full of suspence and brutality.

Goga, if thats how Baldacci's's novels are I'll soon start reading them, insha Allah. Once I got his book from a friend but have never read it. Don't even know where it is now. I very much like novels with suspense. At times, I even dump a novel when I discover it lacks suspense...whoever is the author.

Magana Jari ce (Littafi Na Uku)

Quote from: Bee on January 26, 2008, 09:11:14 PM
Magana Jari ce (Littafi Na Uku)

Lol...Bee, am very glad you're around. I was just trying to ask you if you had stopped reading literature stuff when I saw this. Nice seeing you around.

Am reading John Grisham's The Chamber. I got the book from my friend Anas some days ago but never start reading it untill yesterday. It seems highly gripping and...great.

*Shame-facedly*

I haven't yet finished Grisham's The Chamber. Wallahin the text is quite bulky and I've been too engaged in these days doing other ineleuctable things, thats why. But I vow to do that in few days coming, inshaAllah.

And one other thing about the book; since I discover its direction that the hero--Adam Hall is gonna depend his guilty grandfather, I lost much of my interest and curiosity to read it througly. Its contarary to the other one--The Pelican Brief, which there the heroine--Darby Shaw was depending truth. Even the title emphasis that "her crime was the truth". Hmm...any way, the book is still nice, I may call, but NOT as the pelican thing. LOL

Ummutameem, two days. Wish you've been just doing great and good, amin.

Dan Brown's Digital Fortress

What a coincidence.
I'm reading Dan Brown's 'The Da Vinchi code'

I have never got access to Dan Brown's novels. How nice he is, gogannaka and muhsin?

Goodfella, Da vinchi code is the first book of Brown i'm reading.
It is very very good.I'm enjoying it.

Goodfella,

Though Digital Fortress is also his first novel am reading but I can tell to anyone that he really is a good writer. Look for his books in the market as soon as possible, but are very expensive.

Gogannaka,

Exactly; what a coincident?

I was looking for Da Vinci Code but I couldn't get it. The vendor told me he had only one of Brown's novels--Digital Fortress, but he assured me is nice. And yes it is because am enjoying it.

Vilolets Are Blue by James Patterson.

Goodfella I honestly thought u were a friend of mine, until u mentioned never reading Dan Brown. The real guy was the one who gave me 2 of Dan's novels and have read them all. It confuses me alot. But I realised that his name is Da Goodfella and not just goodfella. You guys are totally confusing, ya'll are difficult to distinguish, but he....he is a real book worm though. And an awesome nice fella.

Quote from: Ibro2g on February 27, 2008, 12:11:21 AM
Goodfella I honestly thought u were a friend of mine, until u mentioned never reading Dan Brown. The real guy was the one who gave me 2 of Dan's novels and have read them all. It confuses me alot. But I realised that his name is Da Goodfella and not just goodfella. You guys are totally confusing, ya'll are difficult to distinguish, but he....he is a real book worm though. And an awesome nice fella.

;D

Another Dan Brown masterpiece; Deception Point. Just start reading it yesterday, so can't say much about it. But its very nice, suspenseful and excelently crafted.

Gogannaka,

Have you finished with The Da Vinci Code? I yesterday went to Post Office to get it but luck wasn't with me. I ended up getting that other one I mentioned above. Maybe...

Yes Muhsin i have finished the 'Da Vinchi Code'.
It was sooooooo interesting and gripping.
It is claimed that the book is blasphemous with the story claiming that
Jesus had a wife,Mary Magdalene and they even had a child.

I went to the post-office some days back and saw the Book.Maybe if you
go there these days you might get it.But i promise you if you start reading
it you wouldn't want to drop it.


Now i'm reading John Grishams 'The last Juror'
Just one page na karanta nayi bacci and i haven't had time to continue.


Wai ina UmmuT ne?

I perfectly well know that Da Vinci Code is one hell of an unputdownable novel but I haven't yet read it. But I'll soon, inshaAllah. I myself saw it today but... :o

Am reading Ahamad Kurfi's Baron. Just start today...very interesting, sincerely.

Ummutameem has been absent for very long, yes Gogannaka. Wish and pray whereever she's been, she's doing good.

I just finished reading a novel written by an Australian guy from Kogarah (Fateez should know him) called Clive James, the book was his first novel called Unreliable Memoirs...lol very funny piece of novel, infact one of the most funniest novel, it was written around the early or late '80s, it was his autobiography on his life from birth to immediately after college. Any one came across the book?

Have never come across any of his novels nor his name even, Muda.

Whitechapel Mary by Sally Worboyes. She's a Scotish femenist writer. And the novel's very touching, sympathetic and reviving about a young orphan lassy named Mary (as in the title) that...get it and read. I got it from BUK liberary.

I have finally finished 'the last juror'.
It was an excellent piece.I had places where i sat alone in the room and was laughing like one psycho.It had a lot of humour.


The end nearly made me weep.

Now i'm about to start another John Grisham....na manta sunan dai.Amma da da ganin shi zai yi dadi.

Sighs of Desire by Wale Okediran. He's a medical doctor and also a novelist. Surprised, huh! Just started it yersterday.

The Partner by John Grisham.

OH MY GOD!
Muhsin finally ka samo the partner....one of his best.
I'm sure you'll enjoy it to the last page.

Tell us your opinion when you finish....i wish UmmuT was here.


I'm also reading one of Grisham's- 'the Broker'.
Its so gripping.

Quote from: Muhsin on April 05, 2008, 12:06:50 PM
And the novel's very totching,

Did you mean touching?

Quote from: gogannaka on April 15, 2008, 11:37:29 PM
OH MY GOD!
Muhsin finally ka samo the partner....one of his best.
I'm sure you'll enjoy it to the last page.

Thats absoluletly true, Goga.

QuoteTell us your opinion when you finish....i wish UmmuT was here.

InshaAllah. And I also really wish so.

Quote from: *~MuDa~* on April 16, 2008, 11:03:01 AM

Quote from: Muhsin on April 05, 2008, 12:06:50 PM
And the novel's very totching,

Did you mean touching?

Senior Mod, I have corrected it. Thanks.

Guys, let me share this labari with you! I have always wanted to have my own library that i began buying books and keeping. Some of the books got lost after borrowing them out and people always fail to return them and i find it hard to ask for any back. Yeah i know, it is that bad. How i wish i could say no for once. Yes,that has always been my wish. That 'no' that never came out of me. Annoying. I was having close to 50 books. All very nice books. I even began buying romantic books (not a big fan)  to feel in the spaces. All of the romantic books never came back to me unfortunately. I had to start all over again. Heartache.
Now i have less than 10 books. Still determined to get my library done. I went shopping yesterday. I came across a book. The Intruders. Looked nice. Decided to buy it. After all, i have not read anybook for some time now. Was busy. Ill now have something to read while on the tube or during breaks at work. Nice. Really nice.
Started reading yesterday night. Today,we had a full house. That was great but i wanted to read my book. I went to my room and closed the door. Began to read. This book is wicked! Really nice. Then someone knocked on my door. Told him to get in. It was Mathew. Nice chap. We began chating, then he asked me what book that was. I told him. Even before he said he wants to read it too, i offered to give it to him when i am through. Typical me. Always hanging myself by myself. But then he said no. He has exam to write soon. Maybe after the last paper but then he said to me:
'I never knew you read books'.
I told him i do. Then he said, Margo (our Jamaican friend who left for her country some months ago and who happens to read books so much and also happens to have a library of her own with nice books) has left all her books behind (they share a flat). She has left all her books and told him to take them all. He has no need for them so he was going to take them to the charity. Said if i want, i can have them all. Subhana Lillah!! you cannot imagine how i felt. I jumped up with great joy and guess what, all the books are actually in my garage, that my sister let him keep some stuff in there and all the books are in a huge box. All i need to do is get the key and the books are mine. I am soooo happy! This is one of the most happiest moments in my life. He said there are over one hundred best sellers in there and he has taking some to his house which he has no use for. He is gonna bring them all to me. I told him to bring EVERYTHING! Charity begins at home and home is me.
All the books are in very good condition. Some have not even been read yet accordibng to him because Margo made the order and she left before they arrived. I have not even checked the books yet! I am soooo excited. I will do that tomorrow. Ill tell you what kind of books i find there. Amazing!! I have my dream library right at my door step! Now all i need to do is work on my 'no' for a change. Eehhuuuuu!!!!!!!

Quote from: Bee on April 18, 2008, 11:14:58 PM
Charity begins at home and home is me.

Quote from: Bee on April 18, 2008, 11:14:58 PM
I have not even checked the books yet! I am soooo excited. I will do that tomorrow. Ill tell you what kind of books i find there. Amazing!! I have my dream library right at my door step! Now all i need to do is work on my 'no' for a change. Eehhuuuuu!!!!!!!

LOL.
Congrats Bee.We're still waiting to hear which kind of books you got.
It was really nice of him to give you all those books.

Hurray!!! Congrats Bee. Wish it were me who got these books. But I'll be borrowing so...hahaha if I could. LOL ;D ;D ;D

I too always, as I once told Konan (ladymerciful), dream of owning a liberary. But I know with times some day I'll have one, inshaAllah. Things happen margically-like at times. Just like our great Bee...may be I too would get books as sudden as this.

Wallahi due to exam thats knocking at our doors, am still reading that Grisham's The Partner. I barely read ten pages a day. Surprised! They unexpectedly posted our exam timetable. Nobody was expecting it. Pls...put me in your prayers because notwithstanding the fact we haven't covered our syllabus, the ASUU are, probably, going for a week warning strike next week. Gosh!

Nigeria! :o

What I'm reading today: This Charming Man ~ Marian Keyes

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssss! Finally got my hands on it!

Muhsin har yanzu ba ka gama karanta the partner din ba?


I'm reading Kukan kurciya.A hausa inspirational book.
Its very inspiring.

Iam reading my notes, for the exams are behind the corner.

Kai ma dai ka tambaya, GGNK. What happens is that; when I was amids reading it, some body, an intruder and also borrower pressurized me to give him the book. So I reluctantly did because I know quite well that he can read very past. After he returned it back to me, I stumbled on where to carry-on. There within that time, an exam timetable just popped-up. Kaga kuwa I have to put down everything and concentrate on my lecture notes just as Anas above said.

Why should I stop reading novel...thats a bit unsual to me. Thats because I wanna maintain my ***, inshaAllah.

What are you reading my good bookworms, K-onliners?

London Bridges by James Patterson.

Reading on Sheldon's novel. I don't know the title because the page is removed.  ;D ;D ;D

Fatima's Good Fortune ~ Joanne Dryansky and Gerry Dryansky

A friend thought it'd be funny to buy me a book just because it has my name on it...

Oh, the narcissism!

Quote from: GoodFella on May 31, 2008, 12:03:38 PM
Reading on Sheldon's novel. I don't know the title because the page is removed.  ;D ;D ;D

Hehe! That's funny! Funny but true. Reminds me of the good old sec school days :) :)

What's the lead character's name? maybe some Sidney Sheldon fan here could help.

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

Gosh! Due to exams; I haven't yet finished with Angels and Demons of Dan Brown. And I now start one very interesting historical piece titled Sunset at Dawn by Chukuemeka Ike. Its, in short, about Nigerian-Biafran war.

Poor Christ of Bomba by Mongo Beti

'September', before that 'Coming Home'
all two by Rosamunde Pilcher.
'Tinker's daugther'
by Catherine Cookson
Currently, " Portrait of a Girl" by Mary Williams

Quote from: gogannaka on March 18, 2008, 02:44:36 PM
Yes Muhsin i have finished the 'Da Vinchi Code'.
It was sooooooo interesting and gripping.
It is claimed that the book is blasphemous with the story claiming that
Jesus had a wife,Mary Magdalene and they even had a child.

Oh...I forgot to tell when I was reading that unputdownable, captivating and most intriguing novel-- The Davinci Code. Really Brown is a genuise, GGNK. Wish I can discuss, more extensively this with you and any other interested fellow who read the novel. Like it than almost all the recent novels I have had read.

Love Path by Auwalu Yusufu Hamza.

Although, I read the first version of the book during secondary years. But still, I find this second one very interesting. Will, inshaAllah, say more on that when I finished it.

Mines Boy, by Peter Abraham.

Lost Ecstasy by Mary Robert Rinehart. Hmm...what an old novel, written almost a hundred years ago.Yet interesting and captivating. Just got it from a friend.

hello everyone, im reading or rather re-reading mario puzo's "the last don", cant put it down!

Christianity; The Original and the Present Reality by Dr. Muhammad Abdullahi As-Saheem.

Jeffery Archer's As The Crow Flies.

What a novel!

Kai gaskiya its been long since i read a novel.
I have a lot waiting for me.
I might have to even visit an opthalmologist cos my eyes hurt when i read too much.

Surprise, Gogannaka! I never thought you could do that for, I always regard you as... ;D

Despite my being, these days, almost always reading; I still have lots of books waiting for me, too. Weeks ago, a friend 'uncovered' a certain bookshop (or book-bin???) for us at Kurna. I went and 'shopped' a number of books at a very, I mean very affordable price. My library is now...sai ka gani. Thanks to Allah.

Am sorry to learn of your eyes problem. Allah ya sawwake, amin.

I am reading one gripping novel titled The Sands of Time by the world's master storyteller, Sidney Sheldon.

Hopeless Bride by Mary Jackson.

This United State by Colin Forbes.
Will say more on this when I get back, inshaAllah.

Master of the Game by Sydney Sheldon! Its an unputdownable hell of a novel by the master of story telling.

Nima I've gotten Jeffery Archer's novel titled Eleventh Commandement. I am enjoying my reading.

Gogannaka, UmmuT, Bee, husnaa, the rest, where are you?

The Best Laid Plans by Sidney Sheldon.

Hi all,

Have been reading a number of novels these days. Just hadn't got time at my disposal to come up here and tell you, good forumites. But inshaAllah...

Wish everyone is doing just fine.

Ciao!

Doomsday Conspiracy by Sidney Sheldon.

I just finished a magnificent novel called the Italian Garden by Judith Lennox. I am now a committed fan of her works.
Previous to that, I read Colleen McCoullough's "First Man in Rome", "Fortune's Favorites", "Caesar's Women", "Caesar" and then I started on the "October Horse". I am still reading it. 

Wow! Auntie Husnaa, you read all stuff. That is extremely fascinating. I barely read these days but I do write. Thats why ain't at all happy at the pathetic, dried and deserted state of this forum, wallahi. :( :( :(

The forum is on its last gasps. Its sick and dying. I am already preparing for its taron makoki ;D ;D ;D ;D

I cannot even laugh at it, Husnaa. Thats why I have now registered with a number of other forums. I know even if it gets back to normal functioning I'll not be the same Muhsin here, for these other forums have already stolen me. :o

Yes indeed,kanoonline sai a hankali.
I have asked myself many times why most northern/hausa forums don't thrive like the non-hausa forums.
I cannot name one single northern online forum that has any serious activity compared to forums like nairaland,NVS,alljobsnigeria,naijapals e.t.c
Gaskiya awarenes din mu on the net is limited.
Dole yan kudu su raina mu because we cannot even air our views properly.
The internet is the fastest medium to get information and without our participation we would just be left behind.

So back to the thread at hand:
I am reading the book 'Commanders of the Muslim Army'
Nice one.

Gogannaka,

We share the same feeling towards this--Northerners shameful attitude and limited awareness of the world of internet. I, in particular, barely speak of this issue for its too awesome and disheartening.  :-X

To the thread:
Who's the author of that book? Would like to read it.

"Glittering strands" by Judith Lennox. Not as good as "the Italian garden" although it is a matter of opinion. Some may prefer glittering strands to the italian garden. I think I like the fairy tale quality of Chateau Marigny, in the italian garden; maybe that is why. I just imagine that is where sleeping beauty might have lain for 100 yrs but without the thorn bushes that surrounded her castle. I imagine the eerie enchanted silence that surrounded it, how it must have appeared so beautiful, serene and unattainable to Toby the first time he saw it; the unhappy lives gathered inside it, especially the little boy, Guy du Chatonnay.... 

Quote from: Muhsin on June 23, 2009, 05:24:10 PM
Gogannaka,

We share the same feeling towards this--Northerners shameful attitude and limited awareness of the world of internet. I, in particular, barely speak of this issue for its too awesome and disheartening.  :-X

To the thread:
Who's the author of that book? Would like to read it.

Exactly Muhsin,abun takaichi wallahi.
The author is Mahmoud Ahmad Ghadanfar and translated by Jamila Muhammad Qawi.
You'll enjoy it.

Your book sounds interesting Husnaa.

@Auntie Husnaa,

Was this Italian Garden written by an Italian author? Hmm. I thought their rather conventional theme of writing was that Mafia things, especially as the works I read by Italian (though Italian-American, i.e. Mario Fuzo) were about it. It's full with blood shedding. Yet I enjoyed reading it.

@Gogannaka,

I'll, inshaAllah, look for it.

Am still reading Doomsday Conspiracy.

No. It was written by an English woman. Actually the title is deceptive. Most of the events in the novel take place in France, but the early part of the events occur in Venice and Padua. The story is historical. Its set in the early years of the the 16th century. Most of the characters are French, but the principal character is spanish/italian. She is a painter's muse. He draws his greatest and best painting when she models for him. The painting eventually goes from Italy to France where it is hijacked by a nasty character. He becomes obsessed with the painting and falls in love with the woman in the painting. Meanwhile his arch rival finds her (the girl) makes her his mistress and flaunts her in front of this nasty character. The nasty character  becomes more obssessed and finds a way to separate her from her protector. So he hires her to construct a garden for him. She accepts the project because of the man's three yr old son, Guy du Chatonnay, who has been neglected by the father on the death of his mother, because the father suspects that he is not really his son. She constructs the garden based on a semi autobiography of her life, that is to say she constructs four gardens based on her life experiences and names them the garden of  jealous love; the garden of possessive love; the garden of tender love and the garden of innocent love (I think . ...  and not in that order I have forgotten which comes first but I think the garden of innocent love came last, which dealt with her children). By the time she finishes the garden, her own protector had died of some disease in the alps where he was fighting a war. The nasty character blackmails her into marrying him by kidnapping her daughter. She marries him and poisons him on the wedding night. He dies and she takes her daughter and Guy and leaves the Chateau.
End of story.
Its a really good story, and very very realistic. Nothing fairy tale about it even if some of the settings like the chateau which she does the garden in, has a fairy tale quality about it.

Fascinating. Auntie Husnaa, you can be a very good story-teller; how you in a few words so graphically tells the story of that book really interests me. Why would not you have a try of writing one? Thanks.

Writing is a full time occupation, Muhsin. It drains yr brain seriously like nothing does. You are always thinking of yr characters. Every event that happens to you, u want to see how u can incorporate in the story, or how it is reminiscent of some of yr characters. It goes on and on until it becomes an obssession.
I dont have that kind of time yet. Besides, I get bored too easily.

PS. I once wrote a short story called Deliberate Madmen. It was published in an anthology of short stories by Nigerian authors. The book has a title, though for the life of me, I cant remember it. Ask Dr Yusuf Adamu (Geography dept) if u want to know more.

Quote from: Dan-Borno on December 23, 2007, 06:24:18 PM
Anyone read the Longman Dictionary?
its so full of words and their meanings
very interesting, i highly recommend it
to all members.  ;D   ;D   8) 

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
didnt get the joke till now!!! hahahahahaha

Quote from: HUSNAA on June 26, 2009, 07:45:35 AM
Writing is a full time occupation, Muhsin. It drains yr brain seriously like nothing does. You are always thinking of yr characters. Every event that happens to you, u want to see how u can incorporate in the story, or how it is reminiscent of some of yr characters. It goes on and on until it becomes an obssession.
I dont have that kind of time yet. Besides, I get bored too easily.

Wallahi this is utterly true; when I was writing mine (oh...Allah, this thing is still unedited and hence unpublished) I always think of the characters, the plot, the setting and everything. Worst of all even during prayer, sleep, toilet...name the rest. It never let me rest.

Quote from: HUSNAA on June 26, 2009, 07:48:21 AM
PS. I once wrote a short story called Deliberate Madmen. It was published in an anthology of short stories by Nigerian authors. The book has a title, though for the life of me, I cant remember it. Ask Dr Yusuf Adamu (Geography dept) if u want to know more.

I'll, inshaAllah. Could he procure a copy for me?

I am reading an English version of Sheikh Ibn Baz's book, entitled Establishing The Proofs Regarding The Rule On Those Who Seek Help In Other Than Allah Or Those Who Believe In Soothsayers And Fortune-Tellers. Translated by Dr. Syed Muhammad Munawwar Nainar

Quote from: Muhsin on June 26, 2009, 01:37:59 PM


I'll, inshaAllah. Could he procure a copy for me?

I think you'd best get in touch with Ibrahim Sheme. He was the editor, I believe.

Contacting Sheme is gonna be a bit difficult, I fear. But I'll try it maybe via he--Dr. Yusuf Adamu or Prof. Abdallah. Thanks.

I'm reading a number of books, actually, these days. The one with me now is: The Language of Postcolonial Literatures: an introduction. Written by Ismail S. Talib.

I want to read all about the nigerian civil war. I want to also see pictures or documentaries.
I also want to read about mai-tatsine.
Any help?

@GGNK,

Have you ever tried library--Murtala Muhammad Library? They have, in their archives, many old newspapers, magazines and journals which I believe lots of contain the information you are looking for. For example, I once read an old magazine that covers the happenings of '80 such include Shagari's re-ection, Maitatsine's unrest (or even war?), Buhari and IBB's coups, death of Dele Giwa, Nigerian victory at Nation Cup, attempted murders on US Jimmy Cater and Pope John, Ghandi's death, aftermath of Iranian revolution, and so on. Very informative, wallahi. 

What am I reading today?

I'm reading many religious mini-books and pamphlets brought to us by a brother.

Thank you Muhsin.
It didn't occur to me. I would be impressed if they have newspapers that date back to the civil war in stock.

Now i am reading the book 'How the mighty fall and why some companies never give in' By Jim Collins.
A very interesting piece that tries to compare how big companies fall and how some don't.

Assalamu alaikum,

LOL ;D GGNK. You know how things are sometimes, right?

Am reading many literatures on Islam versus Christianity these days. We've been discussing, intensively, with Christians brethren on another discussion forum. Thus there is an urgent need for us to defend our religion with incontestable proofs, wisdom and in decorum and civility.

I am reading Alexander the great's history on wikipedia.
Imagine,the guy died at the age of 32.
He almost conquered the world at 32 years. Hmmmm!
Almost my mate.

Quote from: gogannaka on July 18, 2009, 11:53:22 AM
I am reading Alexander the great's history on wikipedia.
Imagine,the guy died at the age of 32.
He almost conquered the world at 32 years. Hmmmm!
Almost my mate.

LOL ;D

I only watched the film some time ago.

The Sky Is Falling by Sidney Sheldon.

I just finished reading Sheldon's The Other Side of Midnight in the morning today.

Am now reading Arab Intellectuals and the West by Hisham Sharabi

I am reading KIRAN DESAI's Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard. It is the delightful story of Sampath Chawla, bored post office clerk and dreamer, who takes to the branches of a secluded guava tree in search of the contemplative life-only to find something rather different...

Desai was born in India in 1971, and was educated in India, England and the United States.Her second novel, The Inheritance of Loss, won the MAN BOOKER PRIZE in 2006 and was shortlisted for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction in 2007.

The Stars Shine Down by Sidney Sheldon  :)

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.

Quote from: GoodFella on December 16, 2009, 06:01:13 PM

NOTHING.

Really? Not even your school "materials"? Or Qur'an and/or other religious books?  ???

I just finished with The white Tiger by Aravind Adiga, 2008 Booker prize winner.

It is a debut, and one of the most engaging novels I have read in recent time. It knocked my socks off.
Here is a review from Financial Times.


The White Tiger
Review by Adrian Turpin

The White Tiger
By Aravind Adiga
Atlantic Books £12.99, 321 pages
FT bookshop price: £10.39

Literature has a noble tradition of sympathetic psychopaths. Balram Halwai, protagonist of Aravind Adiga's impressive first novel, demands admittance to their hall of fame.

On the run after committing murder, Balram spends his nights writing to the Chinese premier, who is about to visit India. His intention is to correct misconceptions about his country. But what he offers is no bloodless sociology lesson. Everything worth knowing about the "new" India is in the story of his life, from village teashop boy to Bangalore entrepreneur.

The White Tiger is a book of two Indias. The first is a country of light, the necklace of relatively prosperous cities near the ocean. The second, into which Balram is born, is "the Darkness", whose presiding deity is the mud of the Ganges in which little flourishes and from which nothing escapes.

Or almost nothing. For, like the white tiger, Balram is a creature that you might meet once in a lifetime. The son of a rickshaw driver, he defies the expectations of his caste to become chauffeur to a corrupt local landlord. From here, it only needs a little blackmail before he finds his way to Delhi, driving his boss's son.

Adiga's portrait of the Indian capital is very funny but unmistakably angry. From his master's Honda, an increasingly unhinged Balram observes a city riven with status anxiety, where every sparkling new mall hides in its hinterland a flea-bitten market for service staff; every bottle of Johnnie Walker has a bootleg counterpart. Above all, it's a vision of a society of people complicit in their own servitude: to paraphrase Balram, they are roosters guarding the coop, aware they're for the chop, yet unwilling to escape.

Ultimately, the tiger refuses to stay caged. Balram's violent bid for freedom is shocking. What, we're left to ask, does it make him – just another thug in India's urban jungle or a revolutionary and idealist? It's a sign of this book's quality, as well as of its moral seriousness, that it keeps you guessing to the final page and beyond.
.Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. You may share using our article tools

Let me share mine too.

I read these lately;

Confession of An Economic Hitman by John Perkins
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
The Mystery of Capitalism Why Capitalism Triump in the West and Fails Everywhere Else by Hernando De Soto

I,am currently reading Freakonomics A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

I am reading alot these days

Now: The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid (Eradicating Poverty Through Profit) By C.K. Prahalad

Salam,

Oga IBB, its very good to be reading. I wish I had the same opportunity; I've been reading exclusively for exams these days. We're starting in two weeks coming. May Allah help me get good results, amin.

By the way, am glad seeing your posts here. Keep coming. Thanks

Good luck with the exams. Allah ya bada sa'a Ameen

Amin. Thanks

Here is another interesting book i got my hands on. I spent a whole night reading it without going to bed.

OIL, POLITICS AND VIOLENCE-NIGERIA'S MILITARY COUP CULTURE (1966-1976) BY MAX SIOLLUN

Well detailed less partial account of Nigerian politics and military coup history.

Enjoy

the writer is a kanoonliner, so para-lawyer, abani dani
in karanta.

I am reading a many books today few of them: Holy Qur'an, Hadith, Hausa novel book, English books and newspaper. etc.

Are you serious five different books in a day? May be you have IRK and Hausa exams ko? English and Newspaper i guess is a revision on "fassara"

Oga IBB,

When did you become that a joker? I can't say how many exactly but your posts aboard KanoOnline these days make me laugh very hard, wallahi. Easy with the guy.

On a side note, I'll soon finish my exams; inshaAllah I'll get back to reading. My friend recently gave me one novel by Sheldon. Will start with it.

salam people,

wats up? everywhere dry, is something the matter? wat did i miss? where are all d regulars?

i am presently reading a sandra brown novel the chill factor, very interesting!

so wat has been happening? wat are u reading dis month??

john grisham's the associate, chapter 3, so far so gud

Salam,

Recently read Our World this Century by Derek Heater. And now reading Iran in Crisis? by Roger Howard.

Wai wai wai,

Ni rabon da na dauki takarda na karanta wani abu ai i cannot even remember.
I bought the biography of Umar, Abubakar and Usman R.A and har yau ban fitar da su daga leda ba.

I hope to read at least one before the end of the month.

hmm ggnk kenan arin ka yi ana karatu, its important, i wish gari daya muke i would have borrowed those biographies.

still reading d associate, hope to finish 2day, there is one fiqh book i started reading dat i want to finish

Quote from: gogannaka on May 12, 2010, 05:00:09 PM
Wai wai wai,

Ni rabon da na dauki takarda na karanta wani abu ai i cannot even remember.
I bought the biography of Umar, Abubakar and Usman R.A and har yau ban fitar da su daga leda ba.

I hope to read at least one before the end of the month.

This sounds unlike you, wallahi. What happened to your reading culture? Don't tell me you are busy: for I know even busiest people read; they read at least newspapers, magazines or the likes.

Quote from: ummutameem on May 13, 2010, 10:12:32 AM
hmm ggnk kenan arin ka yi ana karatu, its important, i wish gari daya muke i would have borrowed those biographies.

still reading d associate, hope to finish 2day, there is one fiqh book i started reading dat i want to finish

Your words above remind me of your promise sometimes in the past, which was about giving me some Grisham's books. . . Can you remember? You said you had (or have?) a sis who's at BUK where I'm. . . Hmm. . .

BTW, how's life? You'd been off board for about more than a year or so. Hope you've been doing great. Thanks for coming back and for specially coming to our virtually extinct sub-forum.  ;D

Muhsin lallai kuwa i read newspapers but mainly online.
I learnt that Sanusi Lamido with all his schedules still finds time to read.

UmmuT where are u? Kano,Kaduna ko ingila?

@ muhsin, wallahi i remember, i even told my sister, one thing or d other, u know how it is, ive taken d grishams to kt, d only one wit me is d associate (which im reading), i still hav young ones a buk, r u still there? inbox me ur no. n ll send some other ones IA. beta late than never!!!!!!!!

@ggnk, im in lagos my brother, am i 2 far away? at least ba ingila nake ba.

im still reading d associate, i don tire for d book jare, 2mr IA.

UmmuT how are u finding lagos.Its a lovely place isn't it?
Have you watched the documentary 'welcome to lagos?'

I have got some books i'd love to re-read.
Arrow of God
Things fall apart
I am surprised i cannot remember the stories vividly.

lagos is ok, not as rowdy as ppl make it out to be. is d documentary dat controversial one by bbc that aired a while ago? havnt watched dat one but i hear lagos state demanded an apology 4rm bbc.

i read things fall apart in my first yr uni, i cant remember wat its all about, time has passed n alot has happened d memory just got displaced smhow.

ive been eyeing some wole soyinkas at d bookshop but i was told his books r hard to understand, is it true? hav u read any?

Reading Max Siollun's Oil, Politics and Violence -
Nigeria's Military Coup CUlture (1966 - 1976)
and thanks to IBB of Kanoonline who took the pain
of buying and DHLing the book to me.

I am ever gratefull Para Lawyer

Quote from: ummutameem on May 14, 2010, 09:21:00 AM
lagos is ok, not as rowdy as ppl make it out to be. is d documentary dat controversial one by bbc that aired a while ago? havnt watched dat one but i hear lagos state demanded an apology 4rm bbc.

i read things fall apart in my first yr uni, i cant remember wat its all about, time has passed n alot has happened d memory just got displaced smhow.

ive been eyeing some wole soyinkas at d bookshop but i was told his books r hard to understand, is it true? hav u read any?

UmmuT watch it on youtube. Its fascinating. You can then Judge if they really need to apologise.

Wole Soyinka is fake (to me). I wouldn't even enjoy his book.
Actually he is one person that i am happy not liking  ::)
I think he's just too arrogant,thinking that his literal abilities make him a demi-god.

Quote from: Dan-Borno on May 14, 2010, 11:41:51 AM
Reading Max Siollun's Oil, Politics and Violence -
Nigeria's Military Coup CUlture (1966 - 1976)
and thanks to IBB of Kanoonline who took the pain
of buying and DHLing the book to me.

I am ever gratefull Para Lawyer

Nima ina so. A aiko min da yadda ake yi.
I read the excerpts from the book and i have been craving it alot.
Max is a good writer ko?

@ggnk, tanx 4 d info, i never liked d guy, ll put off reading his book for a while n ll watch d documentary.

@dan borno, u r lucky to hav friends dat dhl books to u, me i dont want to read d book but id really appreciate a summary or just d gist of it when u r thru.

havent read d papers today, ll go to thisdayonline to get d headlines

Quote from: ummutameem on May 13, 2010, 11:10:18 PM
@ muhsin, wallahi i remember, i even told my sister, one thing or d other, u know how it is, ive taken d grishams to kt, d only one wit me is d associate (which im reading), i still hav young ones a buk, r u still there? inbox me ur no. n ll send some other ones IA. beta late than never!!!!!!!!

Hmm... I thought you forgot. Although as you might have noticed I read some Grisham's after we've "spoken". But they are still welcome.

And I am still in BUK--in my final year, inshaAllah. I'll PM you my number right away.

Quote
@ggnk, im in lagos my brother, am i 2 far away? at least ba ingila nake ba.

im still reading d associate, i don tire for d book jare, 2mr IA.

You are of course in Lagos. That word--jare--reminds me of my question to my Yoruba friends aboard Nairaland. They almost always write it, and I later asked them of its meaning. There were times I used it afterwards.

@ muhsin they say when u r in rome..........., u just pick these things without knowing. ll send other novels then as my grishams r not hia, my bros farouk ll cal u on mon IA, where r u new or old campus? let me go n get em now b4 i forget

Quote from: gogannaka on May 14, 2010, 12:31:29 PMWole Soyinka is fake (to me). I wouldn't even enjoy his book.
Actually he is one person that i am happy not liking  ::)
I think he's just too arrogant,thinking that his literal abilities make him a demi-god.

You don't have to make it any clear (by saying to you, in particular), GGNK; Soyinaka is, to many, even among literary students, no more than fake. He doesn't even deserve the Nobel Prize he's awarded. Everyone knows Chinua Achebe, the realistic author of the Things Fall Apart, deserves the accolade more than him; and any African who penned any text then, thats 1986.

That was a long argument, thus let me leave it for now.

Thanks Muhsin.
Today i went to buy a book 'the biography of Bukhari' and i saw a book by Soyinka. I just remembered this discussion.
I opened the book and to my surprise it didn't have any words....lol
Turancin ya kare ya koma drawing hahahaha.

Now i am about to start reading the biography of Bukhari.
I learnt that reading Good people's (sometimes even the bad people) biographies makes u want to be a good person too.
A person that will change the world.

Quote from: ummutameem on May 14, 2010, 06:41:21 PM
@ muhsin they say when u r in rome..........., u just pick these things without knowing. ll send other novels then as my grishams r not hia, my bros farouk ll cal u on mon IA, where r u new or old campus? let me go n get em now b4 i forget

...behave like Romans do. Thats true.

I'm at New Site. We're gonna meet, inshaAllah. Thanks so much.

tami hoag's 'kill the messenger'

enjoying Samuel P. Huntington's "The Clash of Civilizations
and the Remaking of World Order" courtesy of kanoonline
IBB, he just DHL it to me.  Godiya nake Para-Lawyer.

Mama T, your earlier request is still been processed, and a summary of
Max Siolluns book will hit your inbox

A huta gajiya

@DB, thank u, i appreciate.

im reading sandra brown's 'the alibi'

Har kin gama 'kill the messenger' din?

Muhsin should open a summary thread so that those that read the books can summarise to those that want the stories.

are you opposing me sending a summary to inbox?

Quote from: gogannaka on May 20, 2010, 03:53:24 PM
Muhsin should open a summary thread so that those that read the books can summarise to those that want the stories.

That is unnecessary, Gogannaka; for this thread as well gives one every chance to tell members of the interesting things he/she encounters while reading his/her book.

Quote from: Dan-Borno on May 20, 2010, 05:16:25 PM
are you opposing me sending a summary to inbox?

I oppose it, too. Other members, as well, would want to read the book's summary.

hey hey, if u are really interested in DB's book, all u need to do is ask, like i did, n its only logical dat he is sending it to me, but if u all want it y not, DB do share wit all pls, it may giv smthing to talk about for a while.

@ggnk, na gama n im half way thru this one, i really need to read dat my fiqh book after this.

I may have been misinterpreted.
I wanted a thread open for book summaries for those of us that may not have the time to read.
Something like the 'on the couch' thread in chit-chat.
Idan littafi yayi dadi sai mutum ya nema ya karanta.

got u.

can we do that here? i think if we do it here, d thread ll have a better chance of surviving than starting a new one afresh. we can kill two birds wit one stone.

Agreed.
Carry on.

I'm still reading Imam Bukhari's biography.
Very slow.
Like one page per day.

u ll get there, slowly, i remember when i was reading bill clinton's book, my life? cant even remember d title now, d giant book, i just  dumped it in my office n read on slow days, i still havent finished it,

still on d alibi, its dragging, hope to finish lata tonight

Quote from: ummutameem on May 21, 2010, 10:55:29 AM
got u.

can we do that here? i think if we do it here, d thread ll have a better chance of surviving than starting a new one afresh. we can kill two birds wit one stone.

Good observation, UmmuT. I might say more tomorrow, inshaAllah.

nothing today, suprising, ll pick up something later n let u know.

@UmmuT,

Lol ;D Must you be reading something everyday? I wish I thought that way, too. Though I read everything that comes my way...

I, for example, haven't been reading any novel. I tried to start reading that Mario Puzo's The Family, which you generously sent to me, but due to this and that I cannot. But will soon, inshaAllah, read it.

@ muhsin, its funny but im always reading, its so bad now dat i cant get daily trust everyday, i read thisday(it used to be too academic for me) it still is actually, but for lack of d usual, i read it from cover to cover!

when u r not busy try d mario puzo again, i think its slow at d begining? i cant remember, though i think i read it twice.

i am reading '500 questions and answers on islamic jurispruence'

Ummutameem,

I'll soon start it (The Family), inshaAllah. Although I today "bought" one novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche titled Purple Hibiscus. I think I'll start reading the latter.

Have you ever read Adiche's novel? Her works, as say many people and almost see myself, have been undeservedly hyped. Hence I have been for long wanting to read her; only today I got luck and "bought" one.

BTW, how can't you get Daily Trust? And how is Thisday academic? I can recall when I read the latter newspaper, while I everyday read the former. It's our pride and we should be proud of it.

Again, that book you are reading must be very informative and educative. Enjoy your reading. :)

if u have purple hibiscus forget mario puzo for now. chimamanda adiche is in a league of her own, n dats not an exaggeration, ive read 2 of ha books d one u have n the other side of a yellow sun, both fantastic. she has a new one now, ll buy it soon IA. she has been in d papers a lot lately, literary stuff. she is good, u ll tell me after reading ha book.

we dont get daily trust til d next day, it comes from d north so it does not get here early, n d vendors arent patient, my vendor usually gets it a day late for me, if im lucky, he hasnt brought it since last wk.

u dont think thisday is academic? pls, each story is like 50000 words!!!!!!!!!! if i want dat much analysis ll just buy a text book n read. i dont know how people enjoy it, my fav part is d back page!

d book im reading is really good! i think ill start dat summary we discussed earlier.

Salam,

What an endorsement, Ummutameem! Allah Sarki, I thought the lady was just praised to the skies. I'll inshaAllah start it tomorrow on my way to Katsina. I've a wedding to attend, inshaAllah, there, 2:00PM.

You don't get Daily Trust daily? Gaskiya this is a great challenge to the paper's distributors; in a city like Lagos but their papers don't reach daily? They really ought to do something ASAP.

I didn't say anything like ThisDay isn't or is academic. I rather say I can't recall when last I read it, thereof I shall only lie if I comment about it, for I know nothing.

And, concerning the summary issue: we surely will benefit alotta from it. Please do it.

Special thanks for your contribution aboard this child-board, Ummutameem.

Muhsin ai a Kano ma many of the papers are a day late.
Rashin early morning flight to Kano affects the distribution.
Thisday is full of useless and uninteresting articles.
Watarana kuma you find out that you just bought pictures of dead people (obituary).
The paper is biased against muslims and northern Nigeria.
Chan da yawar su.

I want to start reading either arrow of God or Anthills of the savannah.

@ ggnk, finally! a kindered spirit! someone has agreed wit me on 'thisday'. my thots exactly! i read it because i cant stand d sun, punch or guardian, so in d absence of my fav daily trust, i read thisday, bcos i have to read something! it is a southern paper to d core!

hav fun wit ur books, wat are they about?

@ muhsin, anytime n journey mercies

Quote from: gogannaka on May 29, 2010, 12:26:13 AM
Muhsin ai a Kano ma many of the papers are a day late.
Rashin early morning flight to Kano affects the distribution.

I never knew, GGNK; and I think that's because I have never bought any papers other than Daily Trust. It was even Weekly Trust I used to buy before I got a laptop. All now I do is to open a story, specifically a Column and save it. Have a particular folder for the Trust's news items.

Early morning or late morning flight is your business; Muhsin has never been aboard plane. LOL ;D

QuoteThisday is full of useless and uninteresting articles.
Watarana kuma you find out that you just bought pictures of dead people (obituary).
The paper is biased against muslims and northern Nigeria.
Chan da yawar su.

Nikuma contrary to that I found some interesting stuff in the paper, specifically on the Back Page Xtra. I actually had never read even that prior to our talks with Ummutameen (on this OP). There among their columnists is one fellow, Yusuph Olaniyonu; his write-ups are quite unbiased. Yet I think that's because he's a Muslim.

QuoteI want to start reading either arrow of God or Anthills of the savannah.

Truthfully speaking I don't think you'll enjoy any of these novels: the latter remains Achebe's most advanced and hence difficult novel, while the former happens to be something like a sequel to the Things Fall Apart. But it (Arrow of God) has its own  sequel, i.e. No Longer At Ease, if I recall aright. Any way, they are worth a reading stuff.

ive read some interesting stuff, viz;
a.one night stand-cindy kirk
b.hot property-carly phillips
c.the killing game-iris johansen
d.charade and
e.fat tuesday-sandra brown.

im still reading d islamic jurisprudence book and julie garwood's kill joy!

Good, UmmuT.

judith mcnaught's midnight whispers, another police thriller, im on my way to becoming a detective! help!

I envy you guys. Keep it up. Reading's good. Was a time I was a voracious reader.

Quote from: Muhsin on May 15, 2010, 11:50:36 AM

Quote from: gogannaka on May 14, 2010, 12:31:29 PMWole Soyinka is fake (to me). I wouldn't even enjoy his book.
Actually he is one person that i am happy not liking  ::)
I think he's just too arrogant,thinking that his literal abilities make him a demi-god.

You don't have to make it any clear (by saying to you, in particular), GGNK; Soyinaka is, to many, even among literary students, no more than fake. He doesn't even deserve the Nobel Prize he's awarded. Everyone knows Chinua Achebe, the realistic author of the Things Fall Apart, deserves the accolade more than him; and any African who penned any text then, thats 1986.

That was a long argument, thus let me leave it for now.

Now now Gogannaka and Muhsin I can assure you there is absolutely nothing fake about Wole Soyinka's work! Sure

you might not agree with him as a person. In fact, I'm really disappointed at the fact that he's carved himself a niche

as some sort of political detractor. But no matter how much you hate his political stance, you cannot deny the fact

that Wole Soyinka is a FANTASTIC playwright.


Hehehe! It's so funny how you already hate his work without even reading it.

Muhsin, you can't compare Soyinka with Achebe because their writing styles are completely different. Achebe is a novelist

and Soyinka is a playwright. It's like comparing apples and oranges. I personally find Soyinka's work easier to relate to

than Achebe's work which is at times incredibly misogynistic.


The process of the Nobel Prize selection is based on nominations from the creme de la creme of the literary society.

There's a price given even every year to one, two or even three people so it's not like they were competing for the

price or anything. It's just something that happened to be awarded to Soyinka. There was no law that said "Only one

Nigerian must be chosen, who shall it be?" They pick from a pool of writers all over the world! What makes you think

Achebe doesn't receive any accolade? Have you checked out the list of his awards and accomplishments? I say they're

both EXCELLENT writers, unique in their separate fields. We shouldn't judge a book by its cover author.

Quote from: ummutameem on May 14, 2010, 09:21:00 AM

i read things fall apart in my first yr uni, i cant remember wat its all about, time has passed n alot has happened d memory just got displaced smhow.

ive been eyeing some wole soyinkas at d bookshop but i was told his books r hard to understand, is it true? hav u read any?

I think you should give Wole Soyinka a try. I recommend The Lion and the Jewel. it's so engaging! It's the story of a

young girl Sidi who is pretty much the belle of the village and her search for love. Her two most prominent suitors are

Lakunle, the village headmaster and Baroka, the chief of the village. The play is Amazing! Hands down the best African play I

have ever read. We had to perform it for an Arts Festival in High School and I tell you, that story is timeless. I auditioned for

Sidi but apparently I wasn't feisty enough (Hehe!). I had to settle for Sadiku, Baroka's first wife. It was good fun  8)

For Chinua Achebe I absolutely love Anthills of the Savannah! It was a very good read. I think it was his first book where he

had a female protagonist and I tell you he did a good job. Both splendid writers 8)

@ fateez, thank u, ll try him IA, i just didnt want to buy a book dat ll be boring, plus like u said d guys human relations is flawed, hes arrogant, but if his books are good, y not, ll let u know if i enjoy it. are u reading anything in particular right now?

@bkgz, y dont u read now?

Fateez,

Each to his own.

jackie collins'  american star

Salam,

Well, two things might lead one to say Soyinka is not difficult, namely: having an excellent command of the English language as well as a critical mind; or just liking the man as well as his writings, its taste, simplicity or complexity, etc, notwithstanding. And I can aver you get both, Fateez.

But let us see what others have to say about him.

The famous Niyi Osundare is considered, by many literary doyens, a disciple of Soyinka, but did not hesitate in saying what he understands of his teacher and states that the poem of his elders, like:

Soyinka, Okigbo, J.P Clark, [and] Kofi Awoonor, were extremely difficult, particularly Soyinka and Okigbo. Our enthusiasm soon fizzled out. When I started writing, this negative influence was in my mind and I felt it was a duty of the new generation of Nigerian poets to bring poetry back to the people. Contemporary Nigerian Poetry and Poetics of Orality (Ezenwa-Ohaeto, 1998, p16).

Isma'il Bala, a lecturer at the Department of English and French, Bayero University, Kano is also a skyrocketing poet who, at the same time, penned and edited a number of anthologies, and is considered one of the best poets of this generation from the Northern Nigeria; always mentions that although Soyinka is good, his writing is damned difficult to, especially, literary students. To quote him verbatim, he asserts: "Soyinka is unbelievably dense and difficult".

Others who join the race of expressing the man's being difficult include great poets and literary heavyweights like Tanure Ojaide (Nigerian poet now lives in the US), Prof. Abdu Saleh, etc.

And to your mentioning that Soyinka is not a novelist but a playwright; if you say he's best known as a dramatist [and a poet], I can agree with you, but he also writes novels. I even have one, which am yet to read, entitled Interpreters (1960s). This very novel is read and threw away by even many lecturers and PG students because of it's being somewhat a syncretized one. Likewise Achebe too wrote poems; only his realization that he was not good at it as he is at novel writing made him quit. Hence your analogy of him and Achebe as apple and orange stands invalid, for it holds no water.

Concerning the issue of accolade; I do not say, anywhere in my reply, that Achebe didn't collect any, rather I say he deserves the Nobel Prize more than Soyinka, for his writings are more literary, more widely regarded, praised and read; etc. Thereof one joke becomes very popularly in the late 1980s, after the coronation of Soyinka as Nobel Laureate:

Two men were discussing on the Nobel Prize just after the declaration of Soyinka as the winner. One asked the other, "who won the prize?" He answered, "Soyinka". The other asked again, "With what book?" The other responded, saying "he won it with Things Fall Apart."

Understand the gist of the joke? Being Things Fall Apart the most populous book then (and now), everyone thinks the book won the award, but it's the other side.

Quote from: ummutameem on June 12, 2010, 01:15:09 PM
jackie collins'  american star

I find it hard to hide my astonishment: why are you reading Jackie Collins? I don't like her writing; full with vulgarity, slang and nothing more.  ::)

lol, i thought i made it clear dat i read everything, h..l, im even thinking of reading soyinka for goodness sake.

jackie collins writes about hollywood, n hollywood is all those things u mentioned and more, u watch movies dont u? same difference my brother, sometimes u have to broaden ur horizon to know wats happening around u, believe me her books are a lot cleaner than most movies, u dont consider watching those movies scandalous?

Salam,

Ummutameem,

What I read in books stay longer in my memory than what I just watched in movies. And more-over, being the language she uses so filthy affects my usage of English, which is mostly academic; I sub-consciously include slang, so informal and offensive terms in my day-to-day use of the English language. That necessitates me to quit reading her books and others like them. Get my point?

BTW, it's good to be a voracious reader; you'll certainly learn greatly.

nah, dont get u at all but its ok, to each his own.

How you don't get me?  ???

I said: the kind of the English language Jackie Collins uses in her novels, which is mostly slang and very informal affects my personal usage of the English language. To paraphrase that more: I end up "acquiring" and learning an adulterated language (used in her novels), while reading. Ni kuma I use English in mostly academic setting where that kind of English is not wanted at all. Subsequently I prefer others to hers.

What am I reading today?

I am reading anything within grab about Niyi Osundare, especially his famous poem, "Text Worship".

muhsin kenan, u really want me to talk about this dont you? so hear goes. . .

if u read the woman's book daily n u say its affecting ur english, fine, but how many of ha books do u read in a week, a month? and believe me simply reading a book can not change the way u speak, i mean uve been speaking english before u knew jackie collins, so how can she affect the way u speak now? so just because u read a book that says d f word, u wake up d next morning n u start saying d f word to anyone u see, or just because d hero uses cocaine, u start looking for it to snort, get real pls!

u dont like her because shes vulgar, fine, accepted, we all have our preferences. that is y such things have age restriction, if u r above 18, it is presumed u can handle such things, if it so happens that u are over 18 n u still can not handle them, no shaking, we all have our limitations! there!

LOL ;D

right back at yah.

reading nora roberts' public secrets, very interesting. ive read some btw d last time i posted n now, but i can remember em, needless to say they were not that good or i would hav remembered.

ive registered for a course, so my reading these days is mostly geared towards my materials, but whenever i read smthing interesting ll pop in n share.

Hello,

What'z up, guyz? Been away for awhile don't know know what'z cooking in up here!

Hope u are all kuul!

Been reading tons of books these days...

@goodfella, share wit us wat uve been reading pls, tanx

Hey, Goodfella

Long time no see. What's up to you, too? Fine, I hope.


What I am reading today?

My school books and news, yeah news.  :)

No self promotion here, but another review of the book was very kindly written by Kaye Whiteman, whom many of you will recognise as the former Editor of the esteemed magazine 'West Africa'. He is one of the leading writers on West Africa and has also written for the UK's Guardian newspaper.

Unpacking the Past

As we approach the great stock-taking of the fiftieth anniversary of Nigerian independence (which is going to be continuing all year), there is going to be a growing consideration of the history of these past fifty years. This is bound to include a re-examination of the coups and civil war of the 1960s.  If this decade brought to a head the post-independence trauma of national identity, as a shakedown of the British-engineered independence settlement, it made a profound mark on subsequent decades.

There are so many aspects of Nigeria's recent history that cannot be studied without reference to the 1960s – for example, the onset and collapse of the idea of military rule; or the effect on society, economy and political culture of the 'curse of oil', a central factor in the war for Nigerian unity.  There was the phenomenon of the creation of states, initiated with the first twelve states of May 1967, mainstay of fiscal federalism, and the campaign for local resource control. Behind lay the scourge of corruption, and the electoral fraud whose worst manifestation in the Western Region led to the January 15 coup of 1966.

These thoughts arise from a book titled Oil Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-76) by Max Siollun (published in New York this year by Algora publishing). For those interested in a detailed and objective study of these particularly sensitive moments, I cannot commend this book too highly.

For an old-timer like myself, who was partly around at the time, this book is a revelation. For this is a period which, for understandable reasons, has all too often been buried. After the books written by journalists at the time, and Professor Tamuno's official history published in the 1980s, it has not been a subject that has been much written about, other than in a series of memoirs, or lately in novels such as Half of a Yellow Sun. This shows that the interest is there in unpacking the hidden legacy.

Siollun's is not a full history of the crisis and the war, however. He restricts himself very much to the military, and although you cannot escape the politics, his self-imposed framework is sometimes a limitation. July 29 has to be seen in the context of the massacres in the North which lasted from May to October. Again, the important neutrality of Major General Welby-Everard in the 1964 federal elections (who now recalls that there was still a Brit commanding the Nigerian army at that time?) perhaps benefits from being seen in a more fully described political setting.

The author's military priority does permit him, however, to go into his subject matter with a great depth of detail. He is also able to mobilise a spectacular range of sources, some of which your columnist was not aware of, and would love to have in his own collection of Nigeriana. There are tables of which officer was where and when, and many potted biographies, although only of members of the armed forces. Space does not permit exploring further subjects such as the "classmate syndrome" or the theory that January 15 was an "UPGA coup", and there are odd little details from exceptional sources, like Welby-Everard's eulogistic commendation of Brigadier Ogundipe.

In such an amazing mastery of detail, it is not surprising that there are the occasional minor errors – for example he says there was but one Igbo among the civil servants that took part in the July 29-31 negotiations in Ikeja barracks, but from his own list there are three. It may be that those that participated personally in these events will find more to quibble with – just as he already pinpoints some of the controversies that have been raised in the memoirs of the period that have emerged.

There are also mysteries that not surprisingly he is unable to solve, and myths that he cannot penetrate, although I would have liked him to have examined more thoroughly the legend that it was Captain Dickson (who does get a brief reference) who led the Middle Belt rank-and-file objection to Murtala as leader of the coup, and ended up as the self-styled airport commandant, carrying on for months before his final removal. Was it Dickson who indicated that power must go to Gowon, or else...?  This is tantalising, because the author does describe the absolutely historic moment when Murtala abandoned his ambitions and suddenly says to Gowon "you are the senior, go ahead", and is most instructive on the extent of secessionist sentiment among the far-northerners (although the raising of the flag of the north at Ikeja was Biafran myth-making).

@max, thats interesting, how do i get ahold of d book? i hear its good, db sent me a summary. id really love to read it, especially now, im so backwords in history, i feel i should get d gen. picture of wat really went down all those yrs ago.

Thanks for your interest in my book. You can buy it in Nigeria in several ways:

1) if you have a credit or debit card, you can buy the book online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble and have it delivered to any address in Nigeria of your choice.

2) If you do NOT have a credit/debit card, do you know anyone that does? If so, they can simply pay for the book on your behalf and ask for it to be delivered to you at an address of your choice in Nigeria.

3) If you are worried about delivery, perhaps have it sent to an (your?) office address or to an office address of someone you know or trust. Alternatively if you have friends overseas, you could ask Amazon or Barnes & Noble to deliver it to your friend\'s overseas address and they can bring the book for you when they visit you in Nigeria.

http://www.amazon.com/Oil-Politics-Violence-Nigerias-1966-1976/dp/0875867081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279075485&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Oil-Politics-Violence-Nigerias-1966-1976/dp/0875867081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279075485&sr=8-1)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Oil-Politics-and-Violence/Max-Siollun/e/9780875867083/?itm=1&USRI=siollun (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Oil-Politics-and-Violence/Max-Siollun/e/9780875867083/?itm=1&USRI=siollun)

Quote from: ummutameem on July 17, 2010, 03:10:50 PM
@max, thats interesting, how do i get ahold of d book? i hear its good, db sent me a summary. id really love to read it, especially now, im so backwords in history, i feel i should get d gen. picture of wat really went down all those yrs ago.

ok, thank u, ll share wit friends n fam

Being reading for exams...

Assalamu alaikum,

With all thanks to the Lord of the Worlds, Allah (SWT), I finished my exams yesterday. I am now free as everyone so far before the commencement of the second and the last semester of my study, insha-Allah. I beseech Allah, the Exalted, to give me sterling grades in these exams; I again beseech Him to bless the result. Please brothers and sisters, include me in your individual prayers. Thanks

Upon finishing the exams, I procured two books to start with. Although I already have a few more but these two are the ones I shall begin with. One is by the famous versatile writer, Abubakar Gimba titled Why am I Doing This? which is a collection of his articles in the column of Nigerian Tribune (newspaper); and the other is by yet another prolific, realistic and award-winning writer, my lecturer Aliyu Kamal, entitled Hausa Girl. It's his latest novel that is, as usual and always, set in Kano and about Kano (or even Nigerian) problem of the so-called Kannywood actors and actresses.

I shall tell you more, insha-Allah, when I am through with the two.

@muhsin, Allah ya bada saa.

im also done wit my exam, phewww! adult education na wah! anyway alhamdulillah, at least its over, ll worry about second level nxt yr Insha Allah.

read a couple of james patterson. . . 2nd degree n 6th chance (i think), they were good.

got a copy of magana jarice over d hols, n magana jarice, i was going to read them to my boys but i think i ll read em again first b4 we start 'tales by moonlight' wit d kids. i wonder how im going to find d stories now, havent read em in about 6 years now.

ll share as i go along IA.

its good to be back!

Assalamu alaikum,

Belated thanks, Ummutameem.

I'm now reading for my research project. I'm about to finish Chapter One. Here is the topic's title (maybe I may get assistance from one of you people in getting/finding some data or something like this). It reads: "Problems Militating Against Girl-Child Education in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State".

Thanks

Hey, long time of course @UmmuT. I was and still am being very busy.

@Muhsin, best wishes. You'll get an A+ God willing.

Reading Weep not Child by Ungugi. Well crafted novel.

I am humbled. Sylva Nze Ifedigbo just wrote another glowing review for the latest edition of Sentinel Magazine (Issue 4)

http://sentinelnigeria.org/online/issue4/max-siolluns-oil-politics-violence-nigeria%E2%80%99s-military-coup-culture-1966-1976/ (http://sentinelnigeria.org/online/issue4/max-siolluns-oil-politics-violence-nigeria%E2%80%99s-military-coup-culture-1966-1976/)

Max Siollun's Oil Politics & Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976)

Book Review

By Sylva Nze Ifedigbo

In a recent piece in NEXT 'Making the Next 50 Count' (http://bit.ly/bThmiw (http://bit.ly/bThmiw)) I noted a seemingly conscious effort to erase parts of our national history by making it seem like they never happened, letting them fizzle out of memory. In that piece, I argued; for us to make the most of the next fifty years of Nigeria's life as a nation, we must go back to our history and for once take seriously the lessons of the past. If we accept that the last fifty years of nationhood has been more or less wasted, then, we must make a conscious effort to appreciate what made it a waste so we can understand how to correct the wrongs. All this is a function of history and that is what Max Siollun offers us in his book "Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976)".

Besides the dearth of books on our national history and the near complete erosion of History as a subject of importance in our universities, it is saddening to note that most of the few materials available are mediocre and poorly researched, often betraying either an academic seeking to move up the ranks or a roadside hustler eager to make a quick buck selling books to "History students" equally eager to pass exams. It is in these two respects, standing against them, that Max Siollun establishes the credence of his work.

With evident objectivity, every page of the 268-page book exudes detailed research and is presented as a free flowing blow-by-blow account of events; Siollun carefully separates speculation from fact and myth from actual happenings. This book, a detailed expose on the first four coups and the Nigerian civil war, helps bring to fore what really happened in those years, who were involved and why they did what they did. Siollun packs his work with dates and names – all easily verifiable.

Popular for his many history laced political essays in Nigerian news forums both online and off, Siollun, who writes Nigerian history almost from an outsiders point of view, comes across as free from the ethnic chauvinism which limits the work of other Nigerian Historians. Siollun traces the history of the Nation before independence, particularly that of the military, and sequentially leads the reader on to the events leading up to the first coup, the counter coup, the Civil War and then traces the discussion further on to the two post-Civil War coups. The writer shows the relationship between all four coups. He highlights, in particular, the recurrent involvement of certain names, such as Babangida, Abacha, Yaradua and Buhari, in Nigeria's coup plotting history and touches on the fact that for many years, coup plotting seemed to be the main agenda in the country's military, quite like a culture, and how the failure to punish coup plotters helped to sustain the tradition and how this, in turn, led to instability in the polity and attendant underdevelopment which still stares Nigeria in the face today.

Siollun's book presents new insights into widely held opinions, revealing what was hitherto not known in the public space about the working of the military and the inner happenings within its ranks, especially as they concerned the coups. It reveals that the January 15th 1966 coup, seen largely as an "Igbo Coup", was essentially instigated by southern politicians working behind the curtain to unseat their Northern rivals and change the power equation. It also reveals the personal emotions, reactions and idiosyncrasies of the popular officers of the time and helps us understand them better, shedding light on why they did what they did then as well as their contemporary posturing.

It is generally held that there is always more than one angle to a story; therefore, many people would disagree with Siollun's arguments or explanations on some of the events discussed in the book. This is expected and indeed the author does not pretend to have written an infallible history but has rather, simply, opened an avenue for reflection and knowledge sharing on our history. Another obvious inadequacy of the book is the fact that it covers just ten of our fifty years of national existence, this again highlights the need for other historians to rise to the challenge and tell the story after 1976.

This book is a good read, made even more easily readable by Max Siollun's fantastic prose and use of simple language in a manner which takes away the oft complained at drabness of history books. I would recommend this to all writers, political commentators and indeed all persons who love Nigeria. We can not make the next fifty years of our life as a nation worth the while if we don't appreciate where we are coming from.
____________________________________________________________
Ifedigbo, an award winning writer, is the 'Features and Reviews' editor for the Sentinel Nigeria Magazine
____________________________________________________________

Oil Politics & Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976)
Max Siollun
Algora Publishing, New York; 2009
268pp

Quote from: GoodFella on December 03, 2010, 09:54:36 AM
Hey, long time of course @UmmuT. I was and still am being very busy.

@Muhsin, best wishes. You'll get an A+ God willing.

Reading Weep not Child by Ungugi. Well crafted novel.

Thanks man. Ameen to the prayer.

Weep not Child is one of Ngugi's masterpieces. If I can recall, it tells a story of one boy called Njorogie or something like this, growing up in Kenya's White dominated area. Very captivating and touching story. It's one of my best novels in the world, I tell you. Tell us more when you are through.

why do I find it difficult to read books these days?

Quote from: bakangizo on January 08, 2011, 10:04:50 AM
why do I find it difficult to read books these days?

How do you then find watching these days? I would like to know this before responding to your question.

You mean watching films? I enjoy it when I have the time. Especially on my laptop in bed. Kinda in a relaxing manner.

I am so grateful. Another glowing review just in....

By Maggie of Sociolingo. Maggie is a sociolinguist with a PhD in education and a keen interest in African affairs.

http://www.sociolingo.com/2011/01/nigeria-book-review-oil-politics-and-violence/ (http://www.sociolingo.com/2011/01/nigeria-book-review-oil-politics-and-violence/)

Jan 18, 2011

http://www.amazon.com/Oil-Politics-Violence-Nigerias-1966-1976/dp/0875867081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295402852&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Oil-Politics-Violence-Nigerias-1966-1976/dp/0875867081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295402852&sr=8-1)

In the year that many Nigerians celebrate their 50th Anniversary of Independence, it is also an opportunity to reflect on all that has happened since 1960. If you do a search on Amazon you'll find quite a number of Nigeria books published around this anniversary.

One of these books, Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture 1966-1976, is by Max Siollun, a well respected Nigerian historian, who has a gift of making the history of this complex country clearer to non-specialists.

In his book Siollun opens up one of the most troublesome and distressing periods in Nigeria's history and introduces us to the mindset of the Nigerian military which has so influenced the turmoil that ensued following independence. Although the book is a historical narrative, it goes beyond 'dry' dates and events to take the reader on a journey. The author does this by utilising recently de-classified material and old intelligence reports together with personal knowledge and in depth analysis .

I like the way this book sets the scene by presenting us with a series of maps at the beginning. Before the opening pages we are presented with a map of the major ethnic groups, although I'm not quite sure why that map was not included with the other maps in the preface as it would go better with the map of major Nigerian languages and the more general map locating Nigeria in Africa would have been better in its place, but that is just my preference.  The series of historical maps in the preface cover the political development  from the four regions of 1966  to the present 36 States and are worth referring back to from time to time.

It is impossible to appreciate the political complexity of Nigeria without a passing understanding of how the country came into being, its ethnic complexity and its mineral wealth and this book provides good background material in the preface and the opening chapter for those who are not so familiar with Nigeria.  The writer introduces us to these issues in the opening chapters by describing the situation leading up to independence and  introducing us to several strands - political and military – which culminate in the post-independence turmoil of 1966 which was a pivotal and dreadful year.

It is important to understand that like many African countries 'Nigeria' was an artificial construct.

    The country was artificially constructed by a colonial power without the consent of its citizens. Over 250 ethnic groups were arbitrarily herded together into an unwieldy and non-consensual union by the UK. Nigeria was so ethnically, religiously and linguistically complex that even some of its leading politicians initially doubted it could constitute a real country.

The division of the huge area called Nigeria into the original 3 Regions by the British in the earlier part of the 20th century was largely pragmatic. The very large Northern Region was predominantly Muslim and dominated by the Hausa and Fulani, while the predominantly Christian south was dominated by two competing groups, the Yoruba and the Igbo. Among these main groups were 250 other ethnic groups of varying size. Most ethnic groups had little in common, and Siollun says that 'The cultural differences between the ethnic groups made it virtually impossible for Nigerians to have any commonality of purpose'. It was within this artificially constructed maelstrom that political divides took on the identity and ideology of the these three geo-political regions.  The Western Region in the south was further divided into a Mid-Western region in 1963 after rising tensions and what could almost be considered the first coup plot. The antagonism between the north and south continued after independence and was further exacerbated by the fragmentation in the more numerous south and the uneven distribution of mineral wealth.

It is as a military historian that Siollun has his strength and this shows in his masterly analysis in the chapters that introduce the military background to the coups and the detailed description and analysis of the coups themselves. In some ways, although this is devastatingly real, I was reminded of a detective novel as the protagonists are revealed and their motives and actions analysed.

It would be tempting to give you a chapter by chapter summary of how the coup culture developed, but you'll just have to read the book to understand the depth of detail that gives a fascinating insight into the way that friends can become rivals and enemies, and to see how Siollun answers the question of 'how an apolitical professional army with less than fifty indigenous officers at independence in 1960 became politicized and overthrew its country's government less than six years later'.

The lessons to be learnt from the critical analysis in this book are grim but necessary reading. Siollun's final points are that 'most of the coups .... were carried out by the same cabal of officers, and that 'an unpunished coup will be followed by a bloodier coup'.  It is also significant that it was only after 1999 when 'all the serving army officers who had held political office for 6 months or more were compulsorily retired' that the events set in motion in 1966 that lead to the military coups and military rule were able to be put to rest.

I think this book will become a seminal source for Nigerian historians and will be a fascinating read for anyone interested in Nigeria and in how coups develop.

http://www.amazon.com/Oil-Politics-Violence-Nigerias-1966-1976/dp/0875867081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295402852&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Oil-Politics-Violence-Nigerias-1966-1976/dp/0875867081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295402852&sr=8-1)

Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976) by Max Siollun, Algora Publishing, New York. 2009  ISBN: 9780875867083

Hey! It has been quiet a long time since last I posted here. Hmm... Can't help it; to say it in the briefest way. Anyway, here we are again; thanks to Allah. I just finished reading two classical novels: Hausa Boy, and Women without Borders, by the prolific author, who's very recently christined Professor, Aliyu Kamal. I recommend these novels to any non-Hausa and even the Hausa speakers who want to know more about Hausa norms, culture and values. The writer, as in almost all his other novels, so graphically talks about these and much more. Thanks

Now reading The Sicilian by Mario Puzo. This after I finished The Innocent Man (non-fiction) by John Grisham and Tell Me Your Dreams by Sidney Sheldon. All within a week. It was a pleasant surprise for me to discover that I can still enjoy novels. I thought I'm 'done' with them.

@Bakan~Gizo,

You are my man of the day! You really are having a wonderful time. The Sicilian as you must have read on another thread I made mention of it as one of Puzo's bests; Grisham, I know for long, crafts very intriguing novels although I recently quit reading his works. Why? He so unceasingly dwells on legal stuff, which I rarely enjoy. Yet one of my bookworm friends sometimes ago told me that he (Grisham) had "switched" to other general issues. Any way, I'll in one of these days get hold of one, inshaAllah. More-over, I never know he writes non-fiction books.

Last but by no means the least: the Master of all times in the world of writing, the sage and superb author of many unputdownables, Sheldon remains my best author when it comes to Best-Sellers. This Tell Me Your Dreams is his first novel I ever read. And it's the second best, as far as I can say. The first being Sands of Time. I like it. I most of all how he handles the issue of Multiple Personality Disorder...huh? And the leading character, if I can recall right, is one Ashley. Kai! I so much loved the novel.

BTW, am reading The Man Died authored by the "worst" writer in the whole Africa, the Nobel Laureate (Literature), Wole Soyinka. Don't ask me why I say the worst writer unless if you know and read his writings. LOL ;D

Yeah,well, I don't know why you called Soyinka the worst writer. He's one of the finest Africa has produced. But of course his 'crime' is that he is fond trying to speak English more than the Englishman  ;D. All those big big words. So that makes his books relatively complex, and to some people, boring.

Quote from: bakangizo on September 15, 2011, 10:23:29 AM
Yeah,well, I don't know why you called Soyinka the worst writer. He's one of the finest Africa has produced. But of course his 'crime' is that he is fond trying to speak English more than the Englishman  ;D. All those big big words. So that makes his books relatively complex, and to some people, boring.

Exactly my point!

The essence of writing, as aptly explained Niyi Osundare, is a man to man communication. Then why all the obscurity, vagueness and eccentricism (and Eurocentricism) in his writings? Africans have passed that time; to some, African had never even been in that time. Soyinka should move on. His works are the most despised and feared writings among many, if not all, literary students in Nigeria, and probably beyond. I once wrote quite a lot about him on this board. I may check for that later.

There's, more-over, one joke I once read about his Nobel Prize winning in 1986. In the joke two people were having a chat. One of them asked the other whether he had heard that Soyinka won a Nobel Prize. His interlocutor responded in affirmative adding, "he won it with his novel Things Fall Apart." The other confirmed that.

Do you get the gist of the above? Hmm... When Soyinka won that prize, Chinua Achebe, the author of the said novel, was more known and regarded more a literati than him; yet, as luck had it, he won.

Yeah right. But be careful I notice you are also in love with big words. We don't want you to be the Hausa Soyinka  ;D ;)

Now about Sheldon. The Sands of Time and Tell Me Your Dreams are nowhere close to being his best books. Far far from that. He made his name with world-acclaimed novels like Other Side of Midnight, Memories of the Midnight Star (sequel), Rage of Angels, Master of the Game, If Tomorrow Comes, Windmills of the Gods. I assure you these novels make Sands of Time and Tell me your Dreams seem like second-rate 8) ;D. They are simply too superior. So try get your hands on them.

Hmm... There are no better words to describe him and his writings. And I have read all these novels you mentioned. I can explain to you why none among them is my best, and why I chose those ones.

You've read them, and still they are not better? :o Am surprised. But them am not. Its a matter of choice, isn't it?  ;D

Quote from: bakangizo on September 19, 2011, 08:31:35 AM
You've read them, and still they are not better? :o Am surprised. But them am not. Its a matter of choice, isn't it?  ;D

Other Side of Midnight; and Memories of Midnight
Although these two sequential novels are very interesting, there are but setbacks therein them, as I believe. If my memory serves me right: they tell stories of Noelle Page, Dimiris and others. The story is too fictitious; and some characters' bad-planned deaths reduce the vitality and intrigue of it. At best, they shouldn't have died. This last point applies more to Other Side of Midnight.

Windmills of the God
Diana Evans' story. It's also a sequence to one other novel, which I eventually forget its title now. The novel is too political and I'm one person who is less interested in the American politics that the novel talks about, i.e. U.S foreign policy in Americas—Ecuador, I think. More-over, the leading character isn't a very good go-getter as usually are his heroes and heroines.

Master of the Games
Sincerely I even modified my preceding reply where I included it in the reply, yet I can't see that now. The novel's my third best novel by Sheldon I so much like it especially for its African historical context. Mc Gregor, I think is the father and the earlier central character of the story. He's whom the story revolves around before it later centers on his daughter and subsequently his grand-daughter take on. I so much enjoyed reading it; from that I learned a lot such as the South African Bantu, Bantustan and so on.

If Tomorrow Comes
One thing to simply, though completely, criticize this novel with is it's being too much a fantasy. The principal character of Tracy Witney performs actions beyond anybody's expectation. Hence, the Master-Story teller there himself fails to shun away a great deal of "suspension of disbelief" in many a readers' mind. I'm an example. Notwithstanding, it's indisputably true that many regard it as Sheldon's best. I'm sincerely not among.

Rage of Angels
I can't say much here, for I had had started reading this novels for at least two times, but I never finish. As I many a times get les stuff to read these days—I'm not in Kano—I'll procure it and read it.

Lastly, I thought you'll include these two intriguing novels as well, viz Doomsday Conspiracy and Morning, Noon and Night. A very close friend of mine considers these Sheldon nicest. Individual differences.

Reading Alex Laguma's A Walk in the Night.

Re-reading my novel, A Weird Hope for publication...inshaAllah.  :D

Talking about Sidney Sheldon has brought back wonderful memories of when I read his books: rage of angels, bloodline, the otherside of midnight and one or two others mentioned by BKG. Lallai Muhsin doesnt get the books.... Like BKG said, those that he mentioned are some of Sidney Sheldon's finest books. I remember that rage of angels made such a huge impact on me when the heroine lost everything at the end of the novel and had to start all over again. The other side of midnight is about the man who had his revenge on two characters who double crossed him or some woman, I dont remember. I thought the ending was one of the best tales of the unexpected that I'd ever read in a novel.
Who knows Dominic Dunne? I once read one of his novel ( the one and only that I'd ever read I think) He used to write for vanity fair magazine. He wrote about the scandalous affairs of America's rich but not necessarily famous. Unfortunately, articles on Hollywood started to become the norm and I stopped buying it.
The point is that if anyone had the chance to read  his book titled the other woman ( I think, thats the title; its been such a long time since I read it that I cant even remember the title). But its such an excellent read that I highly recommend it to anyone who can get access to it.

Muhsin na ji kaza ma lecturer a BUK Wow! Wow! wow! U must have made a 2:1 or first class to get a job straight away in these strait laced institutions. Congratulations and more grease and chalk to yr elbow. U are really an amazing person and a true role model. I remember when u first appeared on kano online. Ur turanci was so atrocious no one wanted to reply yr post. But look at u now!! that is the power of determination. You will go far!! If u'd been born where u can get life's  rewards for hard work (something that doesnt happen in Nigeria), u'd really be on yr way to becoming a professor before u hit thirty and if u are the entrepreneurial type, u'd be on yr way to yr third million maybe ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D......................... keep it up!!!

Muhsin, a lecturer ? Wow!! Am short of words. That's amazing. The guy really typifies "determination". Yeah, I also recall his tenacious attempts to speak/write "Big Grammar" here.  ;D And he's been told off many a times. He never gave up, nor got discouraged. Now look where he is !! Allah bada sa'a.

Salaam, Aunt Husnaa, BKGZ and all, thanks a great deal for your encouraging words, prayers and wishes. I am grateful. You guys have contributed a lot in that; Allah will reward you for this. BTW, I thought you all heard about it since. I assumed duty on 1st June, 2012.

@Husnaa, I have been to your office times more than count, and I was told you no longer work there. I wish you all the best in your new work-place. Nima I shall soon leave to India, insha-Allah, for my post-graduate studies.

Lastly, I don't know if it is the same with you (who have been working for long), but I barely can read novels these days. I read only "set texts", and not for my own benefit but the students. I wish life was a remote, to rewind the "old" days. Lol.

Best,
Muhsin

Mr Lecturer, a dage a rinka Karatu  :P kar yara su rinka kure mr lecturer.

I am currently reading Nasir El Rufa'i's 'The accidental Public Servant'....So far so good.

The last book i read was Power, Politics and Death by Olusegun Adeniyi. Segun is a good writer,he got me glued to the book.
I think i have a flair for modern history book.
Next in line after The accidental public servant is Karl Maiers "this house has fallen"

Insha-Allah that will never happen, GGNK. I shall remain a teacher that worth his salt from now till the end, I pray. Though I cannot escape criticism as it is with any human being who deals with fellow human beings; and, again, I cannot avoid huddles and tussles as it is with our profession. Allah dai yayi mana jagora, amin.

On the reading issue; the set texts always preoccupy me, GGNK. When I say I read little, I refer to leisure reading. But, for instance now, I got seven plays (i. e drama texts) to read all within two weeks. And a critical secondary text(s) written on each of these plays. Toh, who am I to do that and yet find time for any extensive reading?

Adeniyi's "Power, Politics and Death" is a fine reading. The guy has painted a fair picture of the late president (his Oga at the top; lol). The language used is superb, even embellished with superlatives. I read the book as part of a course we were taught by Prof. Tsiga. Yeah, the same Isma'il Tsiga who Nasir El-Rufa'i thanks in the Acknowledgment of his controversial memoir, "Accidental..." I got a soft copy of the book (Accidental Public Servant). I read some portions in it, particularly where he talks about his first marriage, his deceased daughter, Yesmin and his other wives and kids (many, if not all, of whom are in the world top-ranking universities for their studies). What a paradoxical man!

Maier's "this house has fallen; Nigeria in crisis" has been with me (on my "library" shelve) for months, but I am yet to read a single page. Shame on me, huh? Hmm. It is on the list. Had we a Readers' Club, I would start it the moment you (GGNK) begin so that we discuss it. Amma now you shall tell me how did you find the book when you finished. Enjoy.

Salaam,

Reading the Holy Qur'an; it is Ramadhan period. May Allah accept it from us, amin.

Ramadhan Kareem