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Oprah, CNN's Anderson Cooper host Say You're One of Them book talk tonight
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Oprah promotes Say You're One of Them
Tonight is Oprah and CNN's big literary event, the world's largest book discussion. The billionaire talk-show host will join Anderson Cooper and millions of readers in an exploration of her Book Club choice, Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan. You may register for the discussion, which will be simulcast LIVE from Oprah.com, CNN.com and Facebook at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT at Oprah.com.
Once you register, you can download the first story in the book, "An Ex-Mas Feast," and also get Oprah's guide to the book. If you'd like more, it's not too late to download this book to your Kindle or other electronic reader and read perhaps the preface and a story or two before the discussion begins. It's also available in audio format.
Uwem Akpan’s Say You’re One of Them is a unique collection of short stories about the poverty, sickness, and genocide in Africa through the eyes of children. Akpan weaves beauty and humanity through his stories of unimaginable strife and helps readers to understand the lives of impoverished Africans. (Buffalo Literature Examiner)
From Oprah's website, you can "get everything you need" to join the talk, including instructions on how to fix your computer settings for participation.
The following is the book's description from Oprah.com:
In 2005, Uwem Akpan's first short story, "An Ex-Mas Feast," was published in The New Yorker's Debut Fiction Issue, signaling the arrival of a breathtakingly talented writer.
Through the sanitized windows of our televisions and newspapers, the truth about the pervasive poverty and violence that exists in so many African nations comes only in fits and starts, clouded by physical distance and apathy toward what we may feel we cannot relate to or change. In his first collection of stories, Say You're One of Them, Akpan brings to life the issues facing children in one of the most beleaguered places on earth, so that their voices will no longer go unheard.
In five separate narratives, each told from the perspective of a child from a different African country, Say You're One of Them vividly portrays the horror and beauty to be found in both the history-altering events and the mundane details of everyday life. In these stories of family, friendship, betrayal and redemption, Akpan highlights the tenacity and perseverance of his young protagonists. (Continue reading)
Fully partnered with Oprah for this event, CNN has been running more stories on children and teens in Africa such as this one here.
However, the news network covered genocide and life in Africa consistently before tonight's event was in the works. And Oprah remains dedicated to improving life on the great continent especially through her girls academy. She says opening the first school was "the proudest day of my life." The students recently completed the PSAT in preparation for the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the well-known college entrance exam.
Extras:
Ellen Pollack, director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan, writes about author Uwem Akpan's gift for writing.
Say You're One of Them Official Website
"Unflinching Evil" in Say You're One of Them at NPR, listen to audio.
New York Times 2008 book review of Say You're One of Them.
President Obama's visit to Africa and easy books to help you understand.
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