An Elegy for Easterly: Stories

by Petina Gappah and Petina Gapa

Book Overview

A woman in a township in Zimbabwe is surrounded by throngs of dusty children but longs for a baby of her own; an old man finds that his new job making coffins at No Matter Funeral Parlor brings... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0865479062
• ISBN13: 9780865479067
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

An Elegy for Esterly stories

Quite interesting and a humourous reminder to the author's generation olden days in Zimbabwe. It would certain appeal to any Zimbabwean who has emigrated to other countries. One area of concern is the right to use real people's names in her stories. Having grown up in Zimbabwe and knowing the people she mentioned in her stories it sounds too real than fiction.

Auspicious first fiction

The author shows sensitivity, humor and skill in this fine collection of stories about her Zimbabwean homeland. I hope to see more from this talented young author soon.

Ndizvo !

I loved the book. I hadnt had a good read like that in a long while. Perhaps my bias is because I share a similar background so it was a sort of nostalgic trip into my childhood. Cant wait for the next book. Perhaps, next time, Petina can treat us with one long story. well done

Short stories that paint true pictures

Most readable tales of a troubled country written by someone who obviously knows her subject. A great antidote to the "colonial Brit" tales written by outsiders. If you're a fan of the saccherine ladies' detective stories you should read this so you can put things in proper perspective.

Heartbreaking and Eye-opening

I haven't been to Zimbabwe for over 15 yrs and when I heard this new author of contemporary stories interviewed on NPR I immediately ordered her new book. Her characters and their situations range across the spectrum of means, from the wife of a wealthy politician to a rural woman whose township is reduced to rubble at the hands of a ruthless government. In total, her stories paint a vivid portrait of life in Zimbabwe today. The theme of endurance and resilience is inspiring and also heartbreaking, as the challenges her characters face, very real challenges to the people of Zimbabwe today, are so much more extreme than the Zimbabwe I knew. The writing is searing, direct and beautiful.