Things Fall Apart

TeenLibrarian@evpl — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:43:00 GMT

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Chinua Achebe's, Things Fall Apart - an account of European colonialism in Nigeria written from an African perspective. Orignally published in 1958, it was Chinua's first novel, an all-time African fiction bestseller and the most translated literary work by any African witer. I highly recommend this book.

I listened to Things Fall Apart several years ago. I literally felt like a kid at storytime. Not only was the story captivating, the reader did an excellent job accentuating and articulating the emotion, mood, and feeling of the story. I hated arriving at my destination and would often steal a few extra minutes, car door open, with one foot dangling in the street trying to find a good place to stop the story. One good thing was, it didn't take me long to finish the six hour and thirty minute recording commuting in San Fransico Bay Area traffic.

When I heard of the anniversary, I immediately wanted to read the book this time for a different experience with the text. Reflecting on my experience with the audiobook has also made me want to listen to other books read by Peter Francis James. Can he deliver another dynamic performance? I shall set out on my quest to accomplish these two tasks in celebration of the 50th anniversary.

Have you read Things Fall Apart? If not celebrate by doing so. Unfortunately, EVPL doesn't own an audio version (yet?).

Have you listened to anything by Peter Francis James?

Check out:

Things Fall Apart in our catalog.

Teens Blog : fiction, Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart