Measuring Time.Measuring Time by Helon Habila W.W. Norton & Company, February 2007 $13.95, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 0-393-05251-6 Four years ago, Habila, a young Nigerian writer, published a short-story collection, Waiting for an Angel (W.W. Norton & Company, 2002). The book won the Caine Prize for African Writing and the Commonwealth Writer's Prize, and in many ways, it sets the foundation for Habila's novel Measuring Time. This is the story of Mamo and LaMamo, twin brothers from Keti (a Nigerian village) who dream of becoming soldiers. The twins run away from home with plans to join the army, but Mamo, who suffers from a debilitating de·bil·i·tat·ing adj. Causing a loss of strength or energy. Debilitating Weakening, or reducing the strength of. Mentioned in: Stress Reduction blood disease, becomes ill and must turn back. In the years that follow, LaMamo travels the continent as a soldier-for-hire, and Mamo becomes a teacher and historian whose skills attract the interest of corrupt local leaders. In Habila's previous work, the story lines seemed to be as much about the country's political climate and the fabric of Nigerian society as they are about the characters. In Measuring Time, some characters--such as the brothers' aunt Marina Marina “a piece of virtue.” [Br. Lit.: Pericles] See : Virtuousness and Lamang, their wealthy, indifferent INDIFFERENT. To have no bias nor partiality. 7 Conn. 229. A juror, an arbitrator, and a witness, ought to be indifferent, and when they are not so, they may be challenged. See 9 Conn. 42. father--are seen only from a single perspective. But with Mamo, he has created a protagonist who is immensely appealing. Habila revisits certain themes from his short fiction, but it's as though the novel gives him the opportunity to explore them in greater depth. The intricacies of Nigerian politics are an important part of Mamo's story; but this is because he, too, is subject to the whims of generals and a traditional ruler, and must face the struggles of living in an unstable unstable, adj 1. not firm or fixed in one place; likely to move. 2. capable of undergoing spontaneous change. A nuclide in an unstable state is called radioactive. An atom in an unstable state is called excited. society. However, his experience is very specific and therefore more compelling. Through LaMamo's letters, Habila illustrates the casual and mindless brutality Brutality See also Cruelty, Mutilation. Black Prince angered by Limoges’ resistance, massacred three hundred inhabitants (1370). [Eur. Hist.: Bishop, 75] Caracalla Roman emperor (211–217) massacred many thousands [Rom. of the military, but he also gives readers a glimpse into the life of a young soldier who, in the end, doesn't really know for what he is fighting. Habila's characters live in a world caught between tradition and modernity. It is a place where anything can and does happen. Some are trying to build meaningful lives; others are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. love or recognition; and others are merely trying to survive. The book isn't perfect, and there are moments where the narrator's voice intrudes on (and thus takes away from) the story. With Measuring Time, Habila has taken his writing to the next level. He's a natural storyteller and readers should enjoy this well-written, thoughtful novel. --Reviewed by Denise Simon Denise Simon is a writer in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . |
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