The Books That Made Me - Ms Umolu

We asked members of staff to share ‘the books that made them’.  These are the choices of Ms Umolu from the English Department

________________________

The book I am currently reading…

I am currently re-reading Glenroy Moves to Mona Heights by Kimshaw Aiken, simply because I find it fascinating, captivating and invigorating.  

My favourite book as a child…

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.  I enjoyed going on a voyage with the main character, who ended up in ship disaster that left him stranded on an Island. The description of human resilience fascinated me as a young child.  I marvelled at the struggle for survival in a desolate uninhabited Island. The sudden appearance of ‘Boy Friday,’ introduced me to the concept of diversity and the importance of acceptance through Love, patience and friendship.   Not just the acceptance of a Western Culture and language, but the vital aspects of the knowledge of the land. A bit like Pocahontas’s Famous song ‘Can you sing with all the colours of the wind.’ It was just simply great, to see how Crusoe himself learnt about how to survive in a foreign land from the local boy, who he named, ‘Boy Friday.’ This story was my childhood companion. A story that I read and re-read and discussed at length with my childhood best friend – My father . 

The last book that made me cry…

The Bastard of Istanbul By Elif Shafak.  A child born out of wedlock is termed a bastard in the context that forms Elif Shafak’s novel. But that is just the start of the chaos, the ill-luck, the curse, that is believed to have been wrecked on the family and the society in which the ‘Bastard’ was born in. The Bastard Child is blamed and punished for it all. She is treated with suspicion and labelled a witch and an embodiment of bad luck just because of the accident of her birth!

Elif Shafak is a great Turkish Author, who is captivating the hearts of millions of readers all over the world. This story of the Bastard of Istanbul is sure to bring tears to your eyes. It made me cry many times while reading it.   My questions are: Where does innocence begin and where does it end? Can a new-born baby be born guilty of all that is wrong in society?  Why have girls/daughters been demonised, for centuries in all societies, all over the world? When is this demonisation going to end? Elif Shafak in ‘The Bastard of Istanbul,’ sheds light to some of the evils and the dangers  of ancient cultures and beliefs, especially the ones that continue to demonise the feminine gender up till this contemporary times! 

The last book that made me laugh...

Glenroy Moves to Mona Heights.  This story details the seriousness and the difficulties of being a single mother and an immigrant in London. It delves into the street cultures of teenagers in low-income parts of London. It portrays the struggles of a single-black woman trying to juggle full time work, with raising a son in London, and her, heart-wrenching decision to send him away.  These are serious aspects of life. YET, within this seriousness, is embedded a world of humour that made me laugh so much, my belly hurt and tears from hard laughter flowed down from my eyes.  

My comfort read…

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.  I have read it more than TEN times! Each time I read it, I discover new lessons about love, revenge, hatred, kindness, forgiveness or the lack of it. It’s a story that reads beyond all imaginations, about the traumas of life, especially the devasting effects of hatred and revenge brought upon, by the unkindness and ordeals experienced in childhood. Heathcliff became a monster, who took his revenge into the third generation of the people who maltreated him as a child and robbed him of his love for Catherine Henshaw and his dignity and identity as a human being. 

The one book I think everyone should read is…

Glenroy Moves to Mona by Kimshaw Aiken. It is a phenomenal and beautifully written story. Written by one of the best Master Crafter of stories.   The story starts in the heart of London and moves swiftly and smoothly to Jamaica. The reader travels with Glenroy from the Council Estates of London to the culturally packed and beautiful scenery in Jamaica.  The journey through this story is encompassed in the most remarkable use of English Language at its very best. 

It portrays two different cultures and juxtaposes two diverse worlds in the most amazing embodiment of interesting vocabulary. The story of Glenroy encompasses humour, beauty, Philosophy, cultural diversity, creativity, and it challenges the myths of finding greener pastures away from one’s own country and cultures.

It is a story suited for ages 11 to adults. The young will find it fascinating and invigorating. Adults will relish the authors. use of language, enjoy the plot, grow with the characters, have belly laughs at the subtle, but amazingly beautiful humours. 

All of the books Ms Umolu has mentioned are available to borrow from the EPHS Libraries.