The book mentions quinine, which was one of the first treatments against malaria. Have any of you tasted quinine? I didn't know much about it until I was introduced to it through tonic water, which should be available in your local grocery store.
If you like fizzy drinks, you will probably like this one. (You might want to make sure that they've sweetened it, though!)
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
No idea of time
"Chief say no white man been here long time."
"How long?"
"Chief say not since he pay hut tax."
"How long's that?"
"Long long time."
(!!)
It says in the story that Mr Lever had difficulty getting any notion of time from his African companions. I once read in a book describing intercultural relations that if you ask Africans how far you are from any destination, they'll say, "Not far," even if you're miles away because they don't want to discourage you. One of my favorite African phrases: "I give the truth scope!"
Even in their own families, I noticed this tendency to avoid quantifying things. A girl was told by her aunt to prepare lunch for expected guests; the girl wanted to know how much food to prepare. "Just 'enough' food," the girl was told. So she stood over a pot of boiling water, throwing pasta in; she would pause, break off a few noodles, stir the pot, then break off a few more noodles.
"How much are you making?" said one of her friends.
"I don't know; we're to make enough."
"But what is enough?"
"I don't know! Enough!" she repeated, as if that explained everything.
Enough, I mused afterward, to make everyone that much more confused...
"How long?"
"Chief say not since he pay hut tax."
"How long's that?"
"Long long time."
(!!)
It says in the story that Mr Lever had difficulty getting any notion of time from his African companions. I once read in a book describing intercultural relations that if you ask Africans how far you are from any destination, they'll say, "Not far," even if you're miles away because they don't want to discourage you. One of my favorite African phrases: "I give the truth scope!"
Even in their own families, I noticed this tendency to avoid quantifying things. A girl was told by her aunt to prepare lunch for expected guests; the girl wanted to know how much food to prepare. "Just 'enough' food," the girl was told. So she stood over a pot of boiling water, throwing pasta in; she would pause, break off a few noodles, stir the pot, then break off a few more noodles.
"How much are you making?" said one of her friends.
"I don't know; we're to make enough."
"But what is enough?"
"I don't know! Enough!" she repeated, as if that explained everything.
Enough, I mused afterward, to make everyone that much more confused...
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
"Strict attention"
I almost laughed when I read this passage: "He sat in a circle of light carefully observed. The blacks squatted outside their huts and watched him; they were friendly, interested, amused, but their strict attention irritated Mr. Lever. ... He couldn't touch his pocket without a craning of necks."
This mirrored my own experience in Africa almost exactly! Especially in rural areas, children stop to stare, point, and ogle one's every move. It fascinated me how open even the adults were about it, too - it's not at all like the European way of averting one's glance.
How do you cope with "strict attention"? Does it irritate you like Mr. Lever? Or do you just stare back?
This mirrored my own experience in Africa almost exactly! Especially in rural areas, children stop to stare, point, and ogle one's every move. It fascinated me how open even the adults were about it, too - it's not at all like the European way of averting one's glance.
How do you cope with "strict attention"? Does it irritate you like Mr. Lever? Or do you just stare back?
Financially challenged
We learn that Mr. Lever was 10 years retired when he lost his money in the Depression and isn't the hottest job candidate available: "He had been a good traveler, he had made money for many people, his references were excellent, but the world had moved on since his day."
How do you see this in light of today, where more would-be retirees are joining the work force now that 401(k)s have plunged? Are their prospects worse than, the same as, or better than Mr. Lever's?
How do you see this in light of today, where more would-be retirees are joining the work force now that 401(k)s have plunged? Are their prospects worse than, the same as, or better than Mr. Lever's?
Christy's pick for May
"A Month in the Country," by J.L. Carr, was nominated for a Booker Prize in 1980. Looks dreamy and springlike to me.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Was there ever a chance?
When you finished the end of "A Chance for Mr. Lever," were you satisfied with the overall direction and resolution? Was this really a chance for Mr. Lever? Why or why not?
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