Did You Ignore Me the First Time? Two Books I Want To Remind You About Again
I originally wasn’t going to participate in today’s writing prompt for Book Blogger Appreciation Week in which we are encouraged to share a book that we loved and feel that it didn’t receive enough attention – the forgotten treasures. The reason for this is because a book didn’t immediately come to mind. But time worked on me and a slow realization came upon me. There are two particular books that when I think of them make me sad and disappointed more people aren’t reading.
And I really loved them.
In fact, when checking the Book Blogs Custom Search Engine, the first book had no other reviews beside mine, and the other only had one more review in addition to mine. So surely they need a little love.
Gabriel’s Story by David Anthony Durham is a beautiful book!
I suspect that even though I raved about it in my review, it didn’t get much attention from the readers here because it’s a Western. And well . . . maybe people aren’t willing to give a Western a chance. Trust me – I don’t read Westerns either. Heck, I don’t even know how this book stands up to other Westerns, because like I said, I don’t read them. But people! This book. I loved it. If all Westerns are like Gabriel’s Story then guess what I LOVE Westerns!
Set in the 1870’s, fifteen year-old Gabriel, his mother and little brother have settled with their new stepfather on a struggling farm in Kansas, where black men aren’t fighting so much against the white folks but rather the land. Gabriel grows increasingly dissatisfied with his new lot in life and the drudgery of homesteading. When his orphaned friend James suggests that they get hired on with a group of cowboys headed to Texas, Gabriel abandons his family for the call of adventure. But what begins as an exciting trek soon turns into much more then the boys bargained for as they come to realize that two of the men are brutal and dangerous. While Gabriel is trying to leave his past behind him, he faces a future is even worse then he could ever imagine.
In my review, I called Gabriel’s Story a quiet story of one boy’s coming of age in set against a loud backdrop and encouraged you to give it some love. So I encourage you again to give it some love.
Read my full review of Gabriel’s Story.
Another book which I wish more people would read is War Child, A Child’s Soldier’s Story by Emmanuel Jal.
I really encourage you to go back to my original review of this amazing memoir and watch all the videos I’ve posted. I suppose I like this book so much because I like Emmanuel Jal so much. He makes me believe in the resilience of the human spirit. A former child-solder at the young age of seven in the Sudanese civil war, he is now a hip-hop star who is using his music to share his message and to find peace for his people in Sudan. I love his story, I love his music, and I love how committed he is to activism.
I know a lot of people can’t handle books about war, genocide, or children in war but it is in these books that we learn about the human condition and the resilience of the human spirit. It is in these stories of desperation that I find hope. I would love more people to know his story, his music, and to support his efforts in bringing peace to Sudan.
So there you go. Two books that I loved and wanted to remind you about again. Don’t ignore me this time around.
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Tags: BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week)
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Thanks for the recommendations. I’m still not convinced about the war book, but the Western looks interesting. You’re right, we often just ignore Westerns. Is it quite an old book? The cover looks quite modern but I’ve never heard of the book.
on September 16th, 2010 at 2:49 amOooh, you’re getting stern with us! But you’re right, I haven’t heard of that.
on September 16th, 2010 at 5:06 amI don’t usually read westerns (I did read The Last Crossing which was literary western) but that one sounds intriguing.
on September 16th, 2010 at 6:27 amI had to lol at that last statement. =) Both of these look good, but I definitely wouldn’t have picked either of them up normally. I’ll have to add them to my list.
on September 16th, 2010 at 6:38 amThanks for sharing, Natasha…both books sound compelling and are going on my list.
Here’s mine:
http://snowconnections.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/bbaw-forgotten-treasures/
on September 16th, 2010 at 6:45 amJudith -It was published in 2001.
And Chris, I would call it literary fiction for sure!
Thanks for the comments everybody!
on September 16th, 2010 at 7:26 amWar Child has been on my TBR list since your last review
I really must get to it.
on September 16th, 2010 at 7:30 amI remember your War Child review very well, but haven’t read the book, I’m sad to say. Thanks for the reminder to add it to my wish list.
on September 16th, 2010 at 7:58 amI actually wish more bloggers would re-review some of their favorite books. Sometime the first time the book hasnt come out yet or not available at the library . So by the 2nd review, I re-check and Happy days the book is there at the library.
on September 16th, 2010 at 11:18 amYou’re right, I can’t think of a single Western book. I like that period of history though, and the history itself so I’ll keep it in mind!
on September 16th, 2010 at 11:57 amI do remember seeing you review Gabriel’s Story first time around. This time I’m listening and putting it on the wishlist!
on September 16th, 2010 at 3:37 pmI particularly remember your Gabriel’s Story review the first time. I put it on my wish list, and there it sits. I’m going to have to make an effort track it down.
on September 16th, 2010 at 4:01 pmThe situation in Sudan breaks my heart. I applaud you for spreading the word! It’s one of the only things we can do. I think it is comparable to the Holocaust, and this time countries can’t say, “We didn’t know what was going on.” They do know, and yet the situation continues. It is heart-wrenching. I encourage people to spread the news and support Samaritan’s Purse which helps the Sudan people.
on September 16th, 2010 at 4:02 pmOk, I’ll admit it – when I saw Gabriel’s Story, I was like pshaw, a Western, I don’t read those. But then I kept reading your post. And it does sound interesting!!
on September 16th, 2010 at 4:10 pmWar Child…sounds like something I need to read.
on September 16th, 2010 at 7:06 pmI don’t know either one of these books, so on the list they go! Thanks for the recommendations.
on September 16th, 2010 at 7:37 pmI read and appreciated War Child Natasha, and I first heard about this book through your review. Got to love Book Blogger recommendations!
I missed your review of Gabriel’s Story but I am off to read it now…
on September 16th, 2010 at 8:56 pmI really want to read War Child even though I know it will break my heart!
on September 17th, 2010 at 3:12 pmWill do! I must have missed your original reviews but Gabriel’s Story does sound fascinating. So much potential given the character and the time period. I will be adding this to my wish list. Thanks, Natasha!
on September 17th, 2010 at 9:14 pmThe picture: that small person with big weapon is heartrending.
on September 21st, 2010 at 10:38 amThanks for the reminder – I really do want to read War Child. I’ve been a fan of his music since you first posted your review and I know I need to read the book.
on September 22nd, 2010 at 2:04 pmThe War Child sounds interesting, will have to add it to my list. Thanks
on September 24th, 2010 at 10:56 am