If Stories Were Babies...

Many years ago, Lewis Nkosi of South Africa asked Chinua Achebe which of his novels was his favorite, and he replied that choosing one as the best was like declaring that one of your children was better than the other, and he did not feel that that was a fair decision to make. Yet he still managed to say that he enjoyed writing Things Fall Apart, and there you have it, Things Fall Apart has served him well.

What if readers really treated all stories like babies? So that each time they saw a novel or collection of short stories they would look at it and say, "How cute?" and want to play with it, want to do child talk with it? Surely, there would be more books bought and writers would be proud parents of that which should always be culturally beautiful....

And indeed, Things Fall Apart, even after fifty years of childhood, is very beautiful.

Comments

nadine said…
This is such an enlightening concept.I enjoyed reading your unique way of putting this!
I never would have thought of comparing the two.
I have a sweet baby of my own
www.eloquentbooks.com/TheTreasuredDream
February 5, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Emmanuel Sigauke said…
Thanks nadine. The concept helps us remember that ideas are delicate and need nurturing until they can thrash out on their own. I will check out your site.
February 5, 2009 at 1:35 PM
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