Status
Available
Local notes
398.2 Smi
Collection
Genres
Publication
Pantheon (2004), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 208 pages
Description
"Gathered here is a selection of folktales from Zimbabwe and Botswana as retold by the best-selling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. This treasury contains stories previously collected in Children of War and seven new tales from the Setswana-speaking people of Botswana." "A girl discovers that her young husband might actually be a lion in disguise, but not before they have two sons who might actually be cubs. When a child made of wax follows his curiosity into the heat of daylight and melts, his siblings shape him into a bird with feathers made of leaves that enable him to fly into the light... Talking hyenas, milk-giving birds, clever cannibals who nonetheless get their comeuppance, and mysterious forces that reside in the landscape - these fables bring us the wealth, the variety, and the particular magic of traditional African lore."--BOOK JACKET.… (more)
Subjects
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2006)
Original publication date
1989-2004
2004: Collection
Physical description
208 p.; 7.3 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member jennyo
This was an entertaining collection of folk tales from Botswana and Zimbabwe. I wasn't familiar with African folk tales, so I enjoyed reading these simple stories. Some were a little too freaky or gruesome for my taste, some were funny (especially the ones where hare tricks lion), and some were
All in all, an okay read, but nothing to get too excited about.
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very similar to morality tales from other cultures.All in all, an okay read, but nothing to get too excited about.
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LibraryThing member BookConcierge
This is a collection of fables, legends and myths from two countries in Africa – Zimbabwe and Botswana. These traditional stories share many characteristics with folk tales from neighboring regions. But while they may be a part of the oral literature of Southern Africa, the lessons taught are
Smith explains in the forward that he has done little more than record the stories, though he has added some description of landscape and expanded on emotional reactions to make them more understandable and entertaining to a wider readership.
I found them interesting – some more than others – but I got bored. Part of this I think is due to my realization about half way through the collection that I was missing the humor and “lilt of the language’ present in Smith’s #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I guess I had expected to find more his signature style in his telling of these stories. I’m sure I would be similarly bored by a steady diet of Aesop’s fables or The Brothers Grimm. After all, in an oral tradition you would hear only one or two such stories at a time, not 30 in one sitting.
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universal in that they explore emotions common to all humankind – greed, envy, pride, ambition, love, kindness, generosity. Smith explains in the forward that he has done little more than record the stories, though he has added some description of landscape and expanded on emotional reactions to make them more understandable and entertaining to a wider readership.
I found them interesting – some more than others – but I got bored. Part of this I think is due to my realization about half way through the collection that I was missing the humor and “lilt of the language’ present in Smith’s #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I guess I had expected to find more his signature style in his telling of these stories. I’m sure I would be similarly bored by a steady diet of Aesop’s fables or The Brothers Grimm. After all, in an oral tradition you would hear only one or two such stories at a time, not 30 in one sitting.
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LibraryThing member whitewavedarling
These tales are as labeled, simple tales that shouldn't be expected to do more than engage you briefly and tell a short short tale. If you go into the book expecting this, and not looking for in depth character or plot, but a look at culture instead, you'll enjoy them. Be aware that at times, they
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do seem to feel a bit repetitive in subject and theme, so rather than read the entire collection in one or two sittings (as I did), you might spread them out in between longer works as a break from heavier reading, and get more out of them. Show Less
LibraryThing member freddlerabbit
An enjoyable collection of tales from Zimbabawe and nearby - short, and cleanly written. Some of the tales involve mischief and bad deeds going punished; some are explanatory, and some just are. They are refreshingly different from many other short story collections and provocative. As an American
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reader, I know I was missing some of the import of certain details (what it might mean, exactly to be a chief, for example) - but I enjoyed reading them nonetheless. Show Less
LibraryThing member rck
Loved the short Stories. Did not complete it though. My Bad. Great for reading to kids.
LibraryThing member Czrbr
Book Description: New York, New York, U.S.A.: Pantheon Books, 2004. Hard Cover. As New/As New. a collection of tales compiled by the author of No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency; new.
Bought new
Bought new
LibraryThing member isabelx
When they heard this song, the crocodiles slipped into the river and quietly swam closer so that they could hear the words more clearly. It was a sad song and even the crocodiles felt sorry for her.
A selection of folk tales from Zimbabwe and Botswana, featuring trickster hares, kind crocodiles and
A selection of folk tales from Zimbabwe and Botswana, featuring trickster hares, kind crocodiles and
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a lion disguised as a man. Show Less
LibraryThing member ingrid98684
A collection of traditional stories from Botswana and Zimbabwe. Brought this home as another read aloud, not sure how it would be received, but once we started, Noa finished it quickly on her own. I enjoyed the stories, and found some of the titles themselves entertaining: "The Grandmother who was
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Kind to a Smelly Girl" and "Tremendously Clever Tricks are Played, but to Limited Effect." Hare is the trickster always up to no good in these stories, and each makes a strong moral statement. My favorite was perhaps "Greater than Lion" in which hare humbles lion by introducing him to a beast greater than lion himself. Show Less
LibraryThing member lamour
This collection of folk takes from Botswana and Zimbabwe in most cases are interesting and some are very clever. The intention with many is to teach moral lessons to youth using humans and animals often in the same story talking to one another. Greed, jealousy and dishonestly are frequently
Entertaining and one should be able to read these to children although some do contain violence.
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highlighted as is generosity and taking care of those who may look or smell differently than you. Some stories try to explain why some animals are different such as humans and baboons.Entertaining and one should be able to read these to children although some do contain violence.
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LibraryThing member FionaCat
A collection of African folktales by the author of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.
LibraryThing member ParadisePorch
I suppose the plots of these stories were pre-determined, but they all fell flat for me.
Pages
208