Lost For Words...

Hmm...the title sounds like a nice name for a blog but that's not what this post is about.

Are there some days you wake up and you're lost for words? Not that something extremely good or bad has happened...then you'd probably be crying and understandably words would refuse to form in your mouth?

No that's not what I mean...Can you imagine a Bookaholic lost for words despite being constantly surrounded by words. Well today I've hit a 'blogger's block' (wish my other half Bookaholic was here) but I'll persevere as the writers advise.

On Bookaholic with Bella this week, I reviewed Toni Kan's Songs of Absence and Despair and despite receiving numerous 'missed calls' only one person 'texted' in the answer. So I have to 'text' the person details on collection of the autographed copy of the book.

Seems like I'm not doing bad...

As for the Bookaholic Club

-There will be 1 book featured every month.

-The book of the month will be offered at a discount to all members

-There will be several fora to discuss and comment on the book including cyberspace

-Most importnatly, registration is free and joining the Bookaholic Blog is strongly advised

We hope to start the Bookaholic Club this July, so keep sending in your comments...watch this space!

Your Shout!

Do you have a burning issue that you would like to be discussed on the blog?
Do you have any form of feedback for us; good or bad?
Do you want to hear your name on television?
Do you want you want to contribute any Bookaholic content?
Do you want to be a part of the about-to-be formed Bookaholic Club?

If you answered Yes to any of the questions, then you need to leave a comment below or send an email to bookaholicblog@gmail.com.

More details to follow.

Thank you for stopping by.

Bookaholic With Bella: Who are these gods? by Vincent Ikedinachi

Who are these gods?

By Vincent Ikedinachi

Spectrum Books

Synopsis

The sudden death of Oba Irobosa could show that the gods were angry; but a controversial Oba was later enthroned. Oba Eloho was a wolf under a sheep skin. Tactically, he went on eliminating everybody opposing his reign as Oba, using the gods as his weapon. Eloho must not remain the Oba since the wrath of the gods was as vivid as the rising sun on Ababi. But how could that come to be since one Oba must die before another can be crowned? Could the angry elders oppose the gods and rebel to dethrone the Oba? Who could the people support, since the gods direct the Oba’s decisions? Who are these gods?

Author's bio

Vincent Okechukwu Precious Ikedinachi is a 2005 graduate of Geology and Applied Geophysics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

A sneak peek into Bookaholic with Bella this week.

Scar in the Heart of Pain by Uche Uwadinachi will be reviewed this Wednesday on Bookaholic with Bella sometime between 7.30am and 8.30am on Silverbird Television. We will bring you an interesting Q & A later this week. In the meantime, below is a poem from the collection.

Hunt me
Below clump prairie in the forest,
Scourge me
On ridges of tallest hills,
Taunt me
In my cramped dark burrow,
Scare me
Behind leaves of crooked trunks,
Shoot me
In this tranquil flight in the sky,
Chase me
Through hazy streets of the slum,

But don't dare me
On WATER!

Bookaholic with Bella: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

An epic story of love and civil war set in Nigeria during the 1960s, Half of a Yellow Sun recounts the lives of three characters caught up in events larger than themselves: Ugwu, a young houseboy working for an idealistic university professor; Olanna, the professor’s mistress; and Richard, a British expatriate in love with Olanna’s twin sister Kainene. Their relationships are thrown into jeopardy when Richard spends one drunken night with Olanna, and as the war escalates.

With Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie firmly establishes herself as a most powerful storyteller and humanist, “the 21^st century daughter of Chinua Achebe,” according to The Washington Post Book World. The book has won numerous awards and accolades worldwide, including the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction 2007.

Tales of a bookaholic...

In my bid to get people reading again and resurrect the ‘dying' literary culture, I started presenting Bookaholic with Bella (BWB) on Silverbird Television. BWB in a nutshell: "We discuss everything books from a fun but intelligent perspective" - that's my opening line. With ten episodes in the pipeline I have covered literary novels, a children's book, a poetry collection, a How-To business manual, collections of short stories and expository writing. In future episodes I hope to take on plays, graphic novels and anything good from budding authors.

I always encourage feedback on the show: send in your texts, emails, check out the blog and facebook pages. Now everyone is 'tweeting', so I'll soon be making that addition. The first text message I got in response to BWB, went like this:

"I really liked your review this morning. How do I get a copy of the book?"
I thought: wow! Someone was actually watching; and two, the person wanted the book. A double for me... or so I thought? Until I started getting other feedback... more text messages, phone calls, emails and a very special visit.

Text
"Bella you look beautiful this morning. Write a book about yourself". Okay I'm flattered, but really - what did you think about the books or even my presentation minus the looks?

"Bella, have you ever tried contacts? Then you will become a beautyholic!" Dr... from (name of practice). Now that's what I call shamelessly uncreative (he stole my ‘holic' from Bookaholic) plugging. Sorry, my glasses suit me fine. In fact I might even get new frames, ha! No free ad for you Doc!

Phone Calls
One phone call from a certain man from MTN went like this
MTN Guy: I really would like to meet you in person.
Me: (feigning naivety) But why? You can get the books online.
MTN Guy: Okay, well I need some advice, I work in MTN but I have an offer from a Bank.
Me: Well you need to identify your passion, long, mid and short term goals. You also have to think about the opportunity cost.
Seeing that I was talking, MTN Guy tried his luck again.
MTN Guy: Yes that's why I really would like to meet you. Okay where do you work? Please can we see today?
Me: Sorry but I really have to get back to work.
MTN Guy: Where do you work?
Me: I really have to go.
MTN Guy: I will call you.
Me: It's okay. Just send an email. I can direct you on how to get the books.
We said our goodbyes. But true to his word he kept calling and then came out one day and said something along the lines on starting a relationship. ‘TAKEN' was the Close Sesame for this Ali Baba.

Mr Persistent
Another special caller was Mr. Persistent. Mr. Persistent had a great idea for a literary invention and required sponsorship. We discussed a bit on phone, with me telling him to send an email with his proposal. I got three or four lines in text language on why he couldn't reveal the secret of his invention.

Well, with no secret, no money, I told him. So the next day he sent me still in text language a sketchy idea of his project, regarding which I promptly advised him to do more research on the product, market research that is demand and supply; and contact the big dogs as I couldn't help monetarily.

Mr. Persistent started to disturb me for contacts in STV. I told him I would have to contact the people before divulging their personal details. He wouldn't hear any of it and resorted to calling me morning, afternoon, evening, night, midnight and dawn - ultimately wearing my battery down. When I eventually charged my phone after a long restful weekend, I saw 38 missed calls. I knew I was in trouble!

Mr. Persistent called me with different numbers, withheld I.D and the occasional flashes for good measure. In the end, he accused me of not providing the contacts, which he claimed he had anyway. When I asked which contacts exactly he had, he was speechless - or perhaps his credit finished!

Finish reading Tales of a bookaholic by Isabella E.C. Akinseye by clicking here.

Bookaholic With Bella: Tropical Fish: Tales From Entebbe by Doreen Baingana

Tropical Fish: Tales From Entebbe

By Doreen Baingana

156pp; Cassava Republic Press

The cover of Tropical Fish: Tales From Entebbe was the first thing that caught my attention: three pairs of accessorised legs resting on staircases with a box of jewels. Reading the synopsis to this collection of linked short stories, I knew I had to discover the matching faces to the legs.

The Tales from Entebbe are told by the three Mugisha sisters--Rosa, Pattie and Christine--against the political backdrop of the 1980s, as they discover themselves as individuals and Ugandans in the aftermath of the Idi-Amin regime. Set mainly in Entebbe, we follow the footsteps of a family that comes full circle, burying two of its members due to different vices and almost ‘losing' the survivors to the Western religion and culture.

Baingana tackles hard and sensitive issues such as family cohesion, religion, evolution of culture, sex and relationship, friendship and gender roles in society.

Read the rest of A tripartite of self discovery by Isabella E.C. Akinseye here

Bookaholic With Bella: Eko Dialogue by Joy Isi Bewaji

Eko Dialogue

By Joy Isi Bewaji

110pp; Eternal Creations Limited

Joy Isi Bewaji's Eko Dialogue explores the many voices that roar through this chaotic mass in a witty and sarcastic way.

Bewaji knows her Lagos well; you can hear and smell it through each word from her pen and this is revealed, not only through her detailed description of the metropolis, but the clinical dissection of its residents through the characters and the language that is very "Lagosian".

Read the rest of here.