A Cowrie of Hope

Bought this for my niece as it was on her literature reading list. She seemed to enjoy reading and analysing it

Great book, fast delivery

Great novel of African origin. Love it

I couldn't put the book down, finished it in four hours. It left me wanting more.

On page 5 the husband's family take everything on his death, and leave the wife and child destitute. We have, of course, come upon the same thing earlier in our travels in Africa. On page 22 - the mother has already been named after her daughter. Now the grandmother is named after the grand daughter. The grandfather is the same (see page 23). On page 27 we have the first mention of Aids in any of the books so far. On page 37 we read about free education in Zambia in the 60s, 70s and 80s, but not now. Where have we come across this concept before? Oh, yes! In the UK!. The whole area is clearly suffering the effects of climate change. Nasula's plot, and the in-laws farm, have been devastated. On page 50 we read "She held the reins of the conversation". This is just one of the many apt turns of phrase used in the book, unusual, but able to be understood immediately. I wonder if these idioms derive from the local language. Another example is "A colony of ants eating at the stem of her soul". This book has a happy ending.

"A Cowrie of Hope" is the story of Belita Bowa, known as Nasula (mother of Sula). Nasula is a poor, illiterate widow, raising her daughter alone in 1990s rural Zambia. Her husband's death left her nothing but a mean and jealous extended family, so she has brought up her child without anyone's help. As the novel opens, Nasula is facing her greatest test; to raise the 100,000 kwacha needed to send her daughter to the Secondary school she's been lucky enough to get into. Can Nasula lift her daughter out of the gruelling poverty she was born into? It's a devastatingly difficult task for a woman who has nothing but her own determination to rely on.Sinyangwe's novel is a beautiful little book. It's central theme is that poverty and dignity are not mutually exclusive and it relentlessly champions the 'little people' lost in the bustling crime-ridden, corrupt modern world. "A Cowrie of Hope", though quite old-fashioned in style, is a thematically modern African novel and though written by a man, has a strong female heroine with strong female support. The book touches on many of the big issues in modern Africa; AIDs, corruption, traditional family pressures, poverty and inequality but never forgets that there is a story to tell here. This is a touching and intensely moving book, whilst also a real page-turner. It's a simple tale of simple people, lovingly but simply told. Read and enjoy.