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!