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Catalogue
of amaBooks
amaBooks
November 16, 2006
For more information, please email: amabooks@gator.co.zw
or visit the amaBooks website on www.amabooksbyo.com
Short
Writings from Bulawayo III, edited by Jane Morris
2006
(ISBN: 0-7974-3131-4)
 
The
third in the prize winning Short Writings from Bulawayo series -
a collection of 25 short stories and 7 poems about life in Zimbabwe.
In the collection are: writers who have stayed in Zimbabwe, who
have passed through or who live in the diaspora; writers who have
won the Caine Prize for African Writing, the Welsh Book of the Year
Award, the M-Net Prize, the Ingrid Jonker Prize, the National Arts
Merit Award . . . ; writers who are known, and writers who will
be known. All tell stories. All will contribute to a bright future
for writing in Zimbabwe.
Hatchings,
by John Eppel
2006
(ISBN: 0-7974-3039-3)
 It
is New Year in Bulawayo, and anybody who is anybody is out celebrating.
Hatchings
was chosen by Professor Anthony Chennells in the Times Literary
Supplement as his choice of the most significant book to have
come out of Africa.
"Beneath
the scurrility, this is a profoundly romantic novel. It tells of
a touching love story between a young white couple who are saved
from the prevailing Philistinism and corruption by two things -
a love of English literature and a love of the Matopos."
- Terence Ranger in The Zimbabwean Review
Zimbabwe's
Cultural Heritage, by Pathisa Nyathi
2005
(ISBN: 0-7974-2897-6)
 Zimbabwe's
Cultural Heritage is a collection of pieces on the culture
of the Ndebele, Shona, Tonga, Kalanga, Nambiya, Xhosa and Venda,
which won first prize at this year's Zimbabwe Book Publishers
Association Awards for Non-Fiction: Humanities and Social Sciences.
The book is based on published material, Pathisa Nyathi's
personal experiences and on interviews that capture the memories
of elders such as the ‘mobile library', Nyumbana ‘Driver'
Dube, Gogo Matshazi, Hudson Halimana Ndlovu, Lawrence Jenjezwa and
Duncan Sinampande.
Pathisa Nyathi gives the reader an insight into the world view of
different peoples, through descriptions of their history and life
events such as pregnancy, marriage and death.
" . . .
the most enduring book ever on Zimbabwean history. This book will
help people change their attitudes towards each other in Zimbabwe."
Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association Awards Judges.
Sonatas, by Deon Marcus
2005
(ISBN 0-7974-3047-4)
 Sonatas,
which won the 2005 National Arts Merit Award for best first book
and first prize at the Zimbabwe Book Publishers Awards for Poetry
and Drama, is a collection of personal poems written over a period
of five years. They reflect Deon Marcus' experiences and varied
interests, whether in ancient history, art, music or poetry, and
bring together aspects of life in their most basic forms. The poems
in Sonatas are sometimes strangely utopian and hopeful, sometimes
nostalgic and tragic. Some have the flavour of Africa, particularly
Zimbabwe, but geography is secondary as the appeal of his work is
universal.
"Few
Zimbabwean poets have managed to move convincingly beyond the contradictions
that colonialism has imposed on us; but Deon Marcus does; and he
does it over and over again . . . . Now here comes a voice, fresh
as a "Monet morning with the sun / breathing warmth across
an ochre sky". And it speaks of joy, the joy that grows out
of a profound awareness that shadows don't exist without light . . .
Deon Marcus is a poet - not from London or New York or Harare,
but from Bulawayo - and we are very proud of him." John
Eppel, The Zimbabwean
"A
delightful collection that has the effect of restoring faith in
the good things of life: love, food, music, dance, art, history
and culture, reminiscences . . . " - Zimbabwe Book Publishers
Association Awards Judges
Short Writings from Bulawayo II, edited by Jane Morris
2005
(ISBN: 0-7974-2896-8)
 Short
Writings from Bulawayo II is a collection of short stories and poems
that take the reader on a journey through the townships of Bulawayo,
to the rural areas and beyond. It would be unforgivable in today's
Zimbabwe to publish an anthology that did not reflect the struggles
of the people to survive poverty and oppression and the way that
cultural expectations impact on their daily lives. As well as pathos,
there is often humour in the closely observed portrayals of township
denizens. A common theme in the pieces is the singular fortitude
of Zimbabweans in the face of adversity.
The reader has only to dip into this collection to get a feel of
life in present day Zimbabwe.
"Short
Writings from Bulawayo II is a joy to read, the kind of book you
will pick up again and again to revisit your own favourite pieces.
An essential read for anyone interested in life in Zimbabwe."
The Zimbabwean
Erina,
by Wim Boswinkel
2003
(ISBN 0 7974 2539 X)
 Johan
comes to Africa to manage a tea plantation. He meets Erina, and
his life changes forever. The story takes a leap into the unknown,
blending an African setting with the fantastic premise at its core:
the arrival of a black female Christ-figure. Erina won first prize
in the Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association Awards for Best First
Book (Fiction).
"Erina
is a story of the Second Coming, a girl child this time, born not
in Bethlehem, not in Rome, not in Waco (Texas), but in a remote
village in the middle of Africa." - John Eppel
"A mischievous book that weaves fact, opinion, history
and mystery in a way one will not be able to forget. It is an exciting
book about Europe, South Africa, black people, white people, sex
and AIDS." - Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association Awards
Judges
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