The memory of love

It took me a while to get into this book I must admit. I was excited when I got it and particularly loved the image on the cover and having read Ancestor's Stones, I couldn't wait to read what followed. The fact that the novel is set in Freetown, Sierra Leone was also a plus for me as a Sierra Leonean. However as I read through the early chapters, I found it hard to become engrossed in the novel. At times it read like an academic text, packed with imagery and detail which in attempting to set the context often times loses the reader because it's so convoluted. There is no doubt this novel is well-researched and clearly deserving of gracing the numerous award shortlists, however speaking as a reader who loves a good story, sometimes I think less is more.

As someone who is from the country the book is set in, I found the setting and characters interesting though not always believable. There are certain cultural subtleties that Ms. Forna misses in her depiction of Sierra Leoneans, given that it is a work of fiction, I appreciate that there has to be some leeway, nonetheless I think that most Sierra Leoneans reading this book will question a few of her literary choices. For instance, the dynamics of different ethnic groups; one can make the assumption that the main character Elias Cole is a Krio who marries a non-Krio, perhaps a Temne and has a daughter whose name sounds Fulani. Though not impossible, it's highly unlikely that a Krio man would give his daughter a name that reflects neither his nor his wife's ethnicity. Also the fact that Elias Cole has no 'people' - throughout the novel I couldn't help but question where are his people, in a society where the norm is for people to live with their extended family, here is a man whose only relation is with his house help. These are perhaps subtleties that only someone from the country will appreciate and while they do not carry a great deal of weight, the novel loses a little bit of its credibility as a depiction of a real country in a real time period.

I admit it may be overly simplistic to say so but I've never understood the choice of authors to make their protagonist an anti-hero, I can't help but think why waste your first person narrative on someone who the reader is not going to like. The main character, Elias Cole in The Memory of Love is thoroughly unlikeable, he does not seem to have a single redeeming quality. Even his love/lust for his friend's wife evokes no sympathy from us as he's seen as sneaky, deceitful, almost preying on her. His relationship with his daughter which could be a way of making Elias more human, flawed but with some positive character traits, is tainted by an unforgiveable act which he has committed in her childhood and for which she refuses to forgive him. I get the impression that the author is both judge and jury in the novel - according to an interview she gives promoting the book, the character of Elias came about as she questioned how it is that some people not only survive adversity but seem to thrive from it. As a result the reader is asked to judge Elias as she judges him or people like him. Yet for those who have been through adversities, in particular war, I'm certain their stories are far from straightforward - I suspect there is an element of a desire to survive in all of us which can make us act in a less than honourable manner.

The story of war, and its aftermath is dealt with in a way I think that doesn't make it 'yet another account of an African country's brutal past'. The question of post-war trauma is cleverly addressed and raises questions that are rarely raised in particular about how post-conflict countries address the mental health issue. However I don't agree with the 'neat analysis' of Sierra Leoneans as being unwilling to talk about their experiences, certainly in the case of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee and the Special Court for Sierra Leone; unlike many other post-conflict societies, victims were willing to open up and talk about their experiences, however gruesome. By stark contrast to Rwandans dealing with the aftermath of the genocide, Sierra Leoneans were quite open and expressive and talked freely about the war except perhaps where cultural taboos prevented them from doing so.

I think The Memory of Love is well-written, Aminatta Forna is a meticulous storyteller and the novel is enjoyable and informative.
The Memory of Love

Let Freedom Reign

The first time I saw Chrisette Michele and heard her beautiful voice was on an episode of the sitcom Girlfriends in 2008. I remember thinking at the time what a beautiful voice and woman, her voice is so uique and she sings like someone who is much older than her years....the singer only turned 28 last December.

Her debut album 'I am' was released in 2007 and the second Epiphany in 2009 whose title track is so stunning, it's like an eye-opener in itself. When I first heard it, I remember thinking now if only I was armed with this single when I was young, I'm sure there would have been fewer heartaches. It seems that whatever Chrisette Michele is singing, she does it with such powerful feeling that every word of it means something and resonates with her audience.

Let Freedom Reign was released in the UK at the end of January and although I've had my copy since then, I couldn't tear myself away from it long enough to write a review....until now..nearly a month later. Like the other albums, this is a gem. I wouldn't say she's evolved or matured because this woman seems to have been born with musical wisdom. Her voice is raspy, jazzy, she writes songs that embrace emotional and personal strength. No weeping over a lost love for Ms Michele, thank you very much.

My favourite track is 'I'm a star' closely followed by 'Goodbye Game'. For me it has the effect Epiphany had when I first heard it and watched the video...it just hits a nerve and makes me want to belt out the words whether in the comfort of my car or my bedroom...preferably when I'm alone. Lines like 'rain starts pouring and it wont stop....let my self drown no I will not, smile on my pretty mug, I get right back on my horse and I giddy-up' are just priceless.

For those of us who are lovers of real soul and jazz music of the 50s, 60s even 70s....it feels like there are finally artists to celebrate - who are true musicians. Chrisette not only sings beautifully, she also writes music and plays the piano. She is the cutest breath of fresh air and I for one can't wait to see her live in concert. Until then I will content myself with listening to Let Freedom Reign on repeat....well maybe I'll mix it up with Epiphany and I am as well.


Let Freedom Reign

Why I hate Valentine's day

I hate Valentine’s day. I really do. But please don’t blame me or assume it's because I’m unloved or bitter. I am none of these things and if you don’t want to take my word for it, feel free to ask my gorgeous husband.


I just hate the fact that this day….whose origin no one seems to know or care about, is rammed down our throats every year. Some of us are still recovering from the Xmas splurge, and already we’re being told to pay twice as much as we normally would for red roses, and to spend money on oversized tacky cards written by people who didn't quite make it as writers. And all this leads up to the next commercial splurge that is Easter…or is it Mother’s day.

The concept of celebrating love is noble enough but I think what I hate about Valentine’s day is the mass-brainwash that seems to take over all of us…men, women, black, white, Christian, Jewish, Muslim. At least at Christmas there’s some comfort in knowing that we can escape the turkey by visiting our Muslim friends or even pretend to be Jewish when a busybody asks why we haven’t bought any presents for our children. Yet with V-day, there's no escape and everyone seems to be so comfortable putting on this display of ‘commercialised’ romance. How it annoys me!

I think when I was a teenager, I was excited by the prospect of getting a card which was probably from the class nerd but which I pretended came from the school’s most popular boy. I took the phrase ‘Ignorance is bliss’ to a whole new level. Since then I’ve matured and become a lot more cynical.

Yes I believe in romance but it annoys me to think I have to put it on for one day. Fortunately my husband feels the same way but there’s still the pressure from friends and family and society in general. Already I’ve been asked by a colleague if I got flowers this morning. I'm inclined to email my husband at work and say don’t you dare buy me flowers today and can we please leave the cards out this year, but I know he’ll also have to give an account of what he bought his wife. And then my family will come round at the weekend and wonder why there are no red cards on display. Urgghhhhh! I hate being bullied, coerced into this stupid day. Why can’t I be an Anti-Valentiner in peace? Honestly I am happy and in love but I just don’t see why Hallmark or Thornton’s should get my money today. I’ll be happy to oblige on other days….just not today…..and certainly not because they say so!

Does anyone know of a religion that forbids its followers to observe Valentine’s Day? If so please send details my way….I feel a conversion underway.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This book should come with a warning along the lines of 'This is a self-help book' or 'Not for the non-spiritual'. I read it for a book club and out of the 14 members, only 3 of us enjoyed the book and or rated it above a three out of five. I suspect the likes of Oprah and Madonna, both massive fans of the book may regard the unimpressed simply as unenlightened.
The book-clubbers however who were not keen on the book cited a number of concerns; a primary one was that the story was too simple, another was that the message that we are all masters of our destiny was drummed home a little too much...so much so it felt like being browbeaten with the same message over and over again. The most damning of all comments was that Paulo Coelho is a charlatan....yes a charlatan...a fake, someone who pretends to have certain expertise or knowledge, a synonym would be a quack.
Not only do I think that is an unfair assessment, I think it smears the author as it assigns an ulterior motive to Coelho when he wrote this book. Having read his interview, it's apparent that the author had no idea that this book would be translated into English, let alone become as popular as it has - The Alchemist has been translated into 63 different languages and has sold more than 65 million copies. When the book was first published by a small Brazilian publishing company, it had a print run of just 900 books, after which they decided not to reprint it - they must be kicking themselves right now.
The fact that so many people worldwide have hailed Coelho as a genius, a visionary or an intellectual has nothing to do with the man himself - nor does he determine people's reactions to the book. There are quotes from fans on his blog who describe themselves as his 'disciple' and others who claim to have learnt to follow their dreams after reading this book. I think this simple truth applies to any author who writes for the love of writing or the love of storytelling and is plucked from obscurity to super stardom. No matter how confident they are of their writing ability, it is impossible for them to predict how their work will be received; when J K Rowling sat in an Edinburgh cafe writing Harry Potter - there was no way she could have predicted the huge phenomenon it would become. I don't think Coelho thinks of himself as a visionary and certainly his early works were borne out of his own experiences and his personal evolution - obviously those experiences and beliefs resonated with enough people making this book such a success.

I also think that in order to get something from this book, you have to be in a certain frame of mind. I never read self-help books which is essentially what this book is; I wouldn't describe it as a novel. The story that runs through in my opinion merely acts as a conduit for the teachings or 'wisdom' if you will.

Some critics contend that the story is far too simplistic but The Alchemist is less about the shepherd boy who travels to Egypt to find his treasure and more about the countless themes that recur including the pursuit of happiness, spiritual enlightenment, the meaning or purpose of dreams and Fate. This book makes for a great study text for young people because there is so much to explore within it - for instance the relationship between material wealth and spirituality or the part that organised religion plays in our lives or our pursuit for a singular Truth.

As with every book, more so every self-help book, the messages in The Alchemist will not resonate with everyone, it may be simply down to timing in that person's life or their personality or life experiences. I would recommend reading about The Alchemist before reading The Alchemist and if you find yourself in the right frame of mind or in search of inspiration or simply want to read a piece of work that will constantly ask questions and make you think about life and what you want/get from it, then do pick up a copy. Otherwise I hear there's a new book on the Harry Potter saga coming out soon.
The Alchemist

Asa – Beautiful Imperfection

What an incredible voice and album! I discovered Asa thanks to a Facebook friend and I am truly grateful. I’m in awe of her voice and style and wouldn’t dare try to draw a comparison which reviewers are always so keen to do. She is not the ‘new’ or the ‘next’ anyone, she is simply Asa (pronounced Asha).

Both this album with its stunning cover and the first self-entitled one put this Nigerian French-born artist firmly on the musical map. Apparently she’s well-known and loved in Europe which makes me inclined to think the ‘mainland’ Europeans have better taste than we Brits. She grew up in Nigeria and returned to France where she developed her artistry in Paris playing with artists like the Nubians and Manu Dibango.

She is as versatile as her cultural influences – singing in Yoruba and English mixing genres from soul to jazz which makes it impossible for us to put her in any ‘box’.

Some of the songs like ‘Be my man’, ‘Broda Olé’ and ‘Dreamer girl’ are upbeat and reminiscent of ‘old school’ funk. The conscious ‘Questions’ reminds us that this is an artist who cites Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley and Fela Kuti among her influences; and who has a message to share with her audience that goes beyond cool beats and melodies.

‘The way I feel’ and ‘Preacher man’ are both beautiful and come across as deeply personal tracks. My personal favourite is ‘Baby gone’ which is so beautiful yet so melancholic, the combination of her husky voice and stunning musical arrangement transports you to a beautiful love story, whether real or imaginary.

Beautiful Imperfection is a brilliant album, I’ve yet to hear the imperfections but perhaps I’m just blinded by the incredible talents of Asa.
http://www.asa-official.com/
Beautiful Imperfection

The next three days - a film by Paul Haggis

The premise of the movie is relatively simple. Russell Crowe plays a husband who is driven to the edge when his wife is convicted of murder. The film is directed by Paul Haggis (of Crash fame) and it does not disappoint. The movie’s strength rests squarely on the shoulders of a very strong cast rather than a reliance on special effects or gimmicks as is the case with so many films today.


As his wife’s mental state steadily deteriorates in prison, Russell Crowe’s character sets about fighting the case through all the legal channels culminating in a disheartening appeal to the Supreme Court. With all legal options exhausted, he derives a plan to break her out of prison. Whilst this may seem farfetched, so strong is Russell Crowe’s performance that rather than having to suspend belief, you are utterly convinced by his extraordinary gradual transformation from law abiding “everyman” to a shrewd manipulator and killer.

One of the story’s main strengths is that we are never really sure of the innocence or otherwise of his wife. Elizabeth Banks plays the part with just enough edge and gravitas to keep you guessing. This feature juxtaposed against her husband’s blind belief in her innocence is what creates truly edge of your seat tension. As her husband descends into near insanity, you keep asking yourself whether his enormous sacrifice is all for nothing.

It is also well worth mentioning the supporting cast here. An opening scene in which Russell Crowe and his wife are out for dinner with his brother and brother’s wife, provides a priceless snippet into female dynamics and competitiveness. The brother’s wife played by Moran Atias showcases a fantastic tirade on female dynamics in the workplace. Liam Neeson also features in a brilliant cameo as a truly jaded character who has previously escaped from prison and who provides Russell Crowe’s character with guidelines on how to go about it successfully. Also worthy of note are the parents of Russell Crowe’s character (in particular his father, played by Brian Dennehy) who look after his son. You get the impression they also doubt the innocence of his wife and resent the sacrifices that their son has made as a result of her conviction.

The supporting cast is rounded off by a brilliant ensemble playing the law enforcement officials who are involved in the case. Despite their relatively short screen time their characters are sufficiently well developed that you can empathise with their task and you find yourself rooting for them to catch the fugitives, again, contrary to what you would ordinarily expect yourself to feel.

All credit though must go to Paul Haggis - when he finally reveals what actually transpired it almost does not matter – you have been served up the ultimate love story.

Finally, a movie well worth the £14.50 ticket price!
The Next Three Days

The HKB Finn Ensemble

Seeing the HKB Finn Ensemble reminded me of the power of a live band;  it was phenomenal to hear their mix of different sounds from afro-beat to jazz to roots reggae to afro-cuban and the energy that they elicited from the audience.
To put it simply, spoken word artist HKB Finn writes beautiful music, from the words to the beat to the way he combines his artistic ability with the talents of his band. The sounds were exquisite and moved us to dance, clap and ofcourse sing along. Dealing with contemporary issues and always providing an inspirational messages; to say HKB Finn has a way with words may be stating the obvious but for me that and his ear for smooth yet catchy beats is what makes what he does so unique.
I am someone who is usually sceptical about going to see artists whose work I don't know, nothing quite moves me like being able to sing along to my favourite tune. Yet even though this was my first encounter with the artist and his band, from the moment they stepped on to the stage till the end of their set, some 90 minutes later, I was enthralled. I sang along to tunes like the hilarious Blacktowne Benediction (about South London's Old Kent and its large concentration of churches) and Shake it Up which encourages us to shed all the 'issues' that we face in our daily lives and just party.

The combination of HKB Finn's spoken word artistry and the incredible vocals of lead singer Tracey Campbell on the track 'Dreams of You' which includes lines like 'I never knew peace like this, until it came in an ecstatic kiss' made us want more of this phenomenal band. And what made it even more special was that they gave us what we wanted, after a set that lasted an hour and a half with no costume change, no diva antics, just pure brilliant live music, we still had an encore performance. The HKB Finn Ensemble engaged their audience from start to finish, and the passion which each band member displayed was rewarded by the crowd's enthusiasm.

It was an incredible night of pure entertainment, old-fashioned in that there were no gimmicks, yet modern because of the fusion of sounds and talents. Even if you are not a spoken word fan, the brilliant music written by the talented Andrew Ward will get you.

If you get a chance to see The HKB Finn Ensemble, please do so, if not the album Natural Eloquence will serve as a constant reminder of why you need to see these guys perform. In a word....Fabulous!

Dates for London:
February 26: Rich Mix, 35-37 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA
March 13 (Solo set) Ronnie Scotts, 47 Frith Street, London W1D 4HT
Natural Eloquence