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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Giveaway and Review: Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan (Audiobook)

Say You’re One of Them is a book that lingers with you for some time well after the last page (or last CD) has been turned. Akpan writes very compelling stories about the lives and daily struggles of a variety of different types of families in Africa. The audiobook I listened to had unabridged story selections from the novel. I’m going to split up my review by story.

My Parent’s Bedroom (Read by Robin Miles)
My Parent’s Bedroom is narrated by a young girl in Rwanda. She relates her family’s history while trying to understand the rapidly changing world around them. I can’t say too much more without ruining the plot of this story. I can say that it has me sobbing like a baby by the end. It is an excellently written story of atrocities that have happened during the Rwandan genocide. It was very difficult to listen to, but I have been thinking about it ever since.

An Ex-mas Feast (Read by Dion Graham)
A street family in Nigeria plans an Ex-mas feast during this story. A young boy narrates and describes his love for his sister, who earns their feast as a young teenage prostitute. It is hard to imagine that people have to live in such conditions, but the people depicted in this story had the same hopes and dreams common to most people.

What Language is That? (Read by Robin Miles)
Two young girls in Ethiopia are best friends although one is Christian and the other is Muslim. Although their friendship is unlikely, they manage to make it work through hardship.

Overall the stories were striking tales of life, hardship, and struggles of humanity set in three distinct African nations. While they are at times difficult to listen to, they really made me think about what it means to be human, and to realize that the daily struggle of life is much different in a third world country.

I thought both Miles and Graham did a great job reading the stories. I also really liked the interview with Uwem Akpan at the end of the audiobook. This book was Oprah’s fall book selection, and I always like to check out her selections. I would love to learn more about Akpan, who is a Jesuit Priest. I hope I can find his interview on Oprah!

Audiobook Source: Review Copy from Hachette Book Group. Thanks Anna!

Giveaway Details:
Now for the details you are really looking for . . .Anna of the Hachette Book Group has been kind enough to offer three audiobook copies of Say You're One of Them for this giveaway. If you would like to enter this contest do any of the following:

1. Leave a comment on this post. You must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner. (1 entry)

2. Blog about this giveaway or post about it on your sidebar. (1 entry)

3. Become a follower or leave a comment that you already are a follower of this blog. (1 entry)

There are three ways to enter, but you can put all three entries as one comment.

I will be using random.org to pick the winners from the comments.

This contest is only open to US and Canadian residents (Sorry!). No P.O. Boxes.

The deadline for entry is midnight, Friday December 11th. Good luck!

23 comments:

  1. Please enter me.

    I am a follower.

    girlfrienddesignz(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oooooh! I'd love to listen to this! I've heard so much about this book. Please enter me in this great giveaway!

    I will post about this on my blog.

    I'm a loyal follower. :)

    Suko95(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. sounds wonderful thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

    ReplyDelete
  4. Please count me in.

    I follow.

    simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. please count me in as a follower:

    bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  6. This book sounds amazing! I am a follower.

    mhill314@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would love to add this to my classroom library

    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I now follow your blog through Google.
    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. This one was more than a little hard for me, I kept tearing up. So beautifully written. Good review. All the very best.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This looks fabulous. Thanks for the giveaway.

    s.mickelson at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. This giveaway sounds awesome, and some cold hard realities that we all should listen to. Please count me in. Thanks!

    I am a new follower.

    alongtheway(at)telus(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would love to listen to this in my car on a long drive to my mother-in-law's house.

    rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Please sign me up-I have been hoping to read this amazing book

    thank you

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I follow

    chocolate and croissants

    ReplyDelete
  15. Would love to listen to this.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love audiobooks, lets me knit and read at the same time
    copperllama at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. justpeachy36@yahoo.com

    I would love to be entered in the giveaway for this book.

    I am a follower via Google Friend Connect.

    I posted the giveaway on my blog here:

    http://bookblogs.ning.com/profiles/blogs/lauras-reviews-giveaway-say

    ReplyDelete
  18. Please enter me! Thanks for the contest!
    airalynn@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. +1 Please enter me -- thanks! kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

    +1 new follower

    +1 blogged about giveaway under my sidebar http://metroreader.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  20. Please enter me
    +1 I am a new follower
    +1 I am leaving a comment

    This sounds like a very interesting book!

    cherylbaryl@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Please enter me.

    dsandyboy@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Enter me please. walkerd@primus.ca

    ReplyDelete