A Grain of Wheat
A Grain of Wheat
Ngugi wa Thiong'o
Barack Obama
Barack Obama's favorite books of 2018 list.
+
1
All books

A Grain of Wheat

A Grain of Wheat

Ngugi wa Thiong'o
By
Ngugi wa Thiong'o
3.9
521
ratings on Goodreads

In the heart of a Kenyan village, teetering on the brink of its nation's independence, lies a tapestry of lives intricately woven by the tumultuous years of the Mau Mau uprising. "A Grain of Wheat" plunges into the depths of human resilience and betrayal, capturing the essence of a community entangled in the fight for freedom from colonial rule. At the center of this narrative storm is Mugo, an enigmatic figure burdened with a secret so profound it threatens to overshadow the collective struggle for liberation. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o masterfully crafts a world where personal battles and political turmoil collide, revealing the complex mosaic of sacrifice and internal conflict that defines the path to independence. Through a narrative rich with myth and allusion, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o lays bare the souls of his characters, unveiling the intertwined destinies of villagers who navigate the treacherous waters of betrayal, love, and loss. As the story of Mugo unfolds, so too do the stories of those around him, each carrying the weight of their actions and decisions in the shadow of Kenya's fight for autonomy. "A Grain of Wheat" delves into the heart of a nation's identity, exploring the painful yet hopeful journey towards freedom and the undeniable cost of unity. It is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of sovereignty, and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to dream of a brighter future.

Read more
Released
1967
1 Jan
Length
247
Pages

1

recommendations

recommendation

Barack Obama's favorite books of 2018 list.
Our fathers fought bravely. But do you know the biggest weapon unleashed by the enemy against them? It was not the Maxim gun. It was division among them. Why? Because a people united in faith are stronger than the bomb
— Ngugi wa Thiong'o, A Grain of Wheat

Similar recommendations

View all
Atlas Shrugged
23
people
person
The Alchemist
The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
18
people
person
Siddhartha
Siddhartha
Hermann Hesse
16
people
person
Snow Crash
Snow Crash
Neal Stephenson
15
people
person
1984
1984
George Orwell
14
people
person
The Fountainhead
14
people
person
Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy
11
people
person
Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment
Fyodor Dostoevsky
10
people
person
Brave New World
Brave New World
Aldous Huxley
10
people
person
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
10
people
person

This site is part of Amazon’s Associates Program. Purchasing books recommended by successful individuals through my links earns us a small commission, helping keep the site running, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!