Nadine Gordimer--Nobel Prize Author of The Pickup

A Video clip to hear her voice.

Nadine Gordimer has written many novels and received the highest literary prize for a "body" of literature when she received the Nobel Prize in 1991.  This is the speech she gave when she was presented with this award.  Here is an essay written by a literary reviewer about the depth and importance of her work. Questions on The Pickup from the Great Books website to read after you finish the whole book. Post comments after page 22, 108, and at the end of the book.  Good Reading!

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie--Half of a Yellow Sun

NOTE:  Postings for the BLOG should be in 3 sections--to be completed as you finish the sections listed for class discussions and weekend blogging for this book.  Sometimes it is helpful to post as you finish a section, sometimes before class discussion, and sometimes after we have had class--you can decide.  CHANGE IN DUE DATE:  Seminar paper on this book DUE on Tuesday, October 26.

Welcome to Literature by Women in the Global Perspective!

In our first week, we will begin to explore the literature and the background of women emerging as literary voices on the continent of Africa and in South Asia.  We will ask questions about "stories" and see a video about how vital and important stories can be to our understanding of ourselves and others in the world.  We will begin to do some research as we read the first novel on the women and the worlds that they inhabit.

SEMINAR PAPER ASSIGNMENT--DUE Oct. 7th

Our first novel, Changes: A Love Story, was written by Ama Ata Aidoo(link about her life) almost 20 years ago.  She was one of the first women in Africa to challenge any idea that women could not write or that women should not have a different voice, method, or style of expression for storytelling on the continent with its many diverse groups of people.  She wrote in all literary genres and lived in both West and East Africa while she wrote, taught at university, and raised children.  She is currently a long term visiting professor of African studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.  To find out more about her go to this general information about Aidoo's work and life. 
Use this link for questions to guide your reading and our seminar discussions on this novel.
Use this link for issues of Feminist Africa.