Aminatta Forna Knihy

Čtyřicetiletý psycholog Adrian Lockheart se rozhodne odejít z Velké Británie, aby unikl z pout krachujícího manželství i poměrně úspěšné, ale už dlouhou dobu stagnující kariéry, a do hlavního města Sierry Leone přichází krátce po skončení občanské války. V nemocnici se spřátelí s mladým charizmatickým chirurgem Kaiem Mansaryem, který žije jen svojí prací a vzpomínkami na osudovou lásku Nenebeh. Jeho prvním pacientem je umírající profesor historie, jenž zase Adrianovi postupně vypráví svůj životní příběh, v jehož centru stojí vztah s ženou jeho kolegy. Román britské spisovatelky Aminatty Fornaové, který se dostal do užšího výběru na Orange Prize a obdržel Commonwealth Prize za nejlepší knihu roku 2011, je několikavrstevným příběhem o osudech všedních lidí na pozadí nevšedních historických událostí a netušených hlubinách vášně a lásky, hraničící až s posedlostí.

A stunning new collection of essays from the award-winning author of Happiness, The Window Seat explores border crossings both literal and philosophical, our relationship with the natural world, and the stories that we tell ourselves.

The memoir offers a deeply personal narrative that transitions from an idyllic childhood to a harrowing reality. It explores the complexities of family and identity against a backdrop of political turmoil, providing an illuminating perspective on trauma and resilience. Through vivid storytelling, the author reflects on the impact of these experiences, making it a powerful and thought-provoking read.

Abie follows the arc of a letter from London back to Africa to a coffee plantation that now could be hers if she wants it. Standing among the ruined groves she strains to hear the sound of the past, but the layers of years are too many. Thus begins the gathering of her family's history through the tales of her aunts.

Forna's voice is relentlessly compelling, her ability to summon atmosphere extraordinary ... A thing of lasting beauty' ObserverWaterloo Bridge, London. Two strangers collide. Attila, a Ghanaian psychiatrist, and Jean, an American studying the habits of urban foxes. From this chance encounter in the midst of the rush of a great city, numerous moments of connections span out and interweave, bringing disparate lives together. Attila has arrived in London with two to deliver a keynote speech on trauma and to check up on the daughter of friends, his 'niece', Ama, who hasn't called home in a while. It soon emerges that she has been swept up in an immigration crackdown - and now her young son Tano is missing. When, by chance, Attila bumps into Jean again, she joins him in his search for Tano, mobilizing into action the network she has built up, mainly from the many West African immigrants working London's myriad streets, of volunteer security guards, hotel doormen, traffic wardens. All unite to help and as the search continues, a deepening friendship between Attila and Jean unfolds.In this delicate yet powerful novel of loves lost and new, of past griefs and of the hidden side of a teeming metropolis, Aminatta Forna asks us to consider the values of the society we live in, our co-existence with one another and all living creatures - and the true nature of happiness.

Aminatta Forna is a significant literary voice, celebrated for her novels that have garnered prestigious awards like the Windham Campbell Prize and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book. In this collection of essays, both new and previously published, she explores themes of displacement, trauma, memory, love, and our relationship with the non-human world. Movement is a recurring theme. In "The Window Seat," she shares the unexpected joys of commercial air travel. "Obama and the Renaissance Generation" reflects on how Obama's father and others from a gifted African generation sought education in the UK and US, aiming to rebuild their homelands post-colonialism. "The Last Vet" offers insights from her time with Dr. Jalloh, Sierra Leone's sole veterinarian, highlighting how a society's treatment of animals reveals its values. "Crossroads" presents an African perspective on race in America, while "Power Walking" discusses the experience of navigating the world as a Black woman. In "The Watch," she delves into the universal experiences of sleep and sleeplessness. With deep meditation and wry humor, this collection affirms Forna's status as a vital voice in contemporary literature.

Laura en haar twee kinderen knappen een vervallen huis net buiten het stadje Gost op. Lauras man blijft voor zijn werk in Engeland en daarom helpt buurman Duro het vakantiehuis bewoonbaar te maken. Met zijn twee jachthonden heeft hij het lege huis jarenlang in de gaten gehouden. Uit de onrust die Laura in het stadje veroorzaakt blijkt dat de bewoners van Gost niets moeten hebben van buitenstaanders. Langzaam wordt duidelijk dat Duro oude banden heeft met het huis, waarover een donkere schaduw hangt.