"The Wizard of The Crow"

Written by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is both a cleverly written political critique and a quick-paced tale about Kamiti, who arrives in a large city friendless and alone.

The city to which Kamiti has come is "Abruria" (since Thiong'o is from Kenya, one can assume Nairobi or Mombasa is the intended city). Kamiti has just finished his college education in India and has come home to find work. However, he soon discovers that finding work is not so easy despite his qualifications. Kamiti soon meets Grace, an educated and gainfully employed young woman with whom he falls in love.

Abruria is the capital from where "the Ruler," governs. He has been in power as long as anyone can remember. He has recently been thwarted by the "Global bank" which will not fund his "Marching to heaven - tower of Babel" project. The thinly veiled references to development projects and political machinations are hilarious. Unfortunately the Ruler and his wife fall sick with a wasting illness - "white ache," which as its name implies, makes them wish to be white people.

Kamiti discovers that to protect himself it is necessary to disguise himself as "the Wizard of the Crow" and in so doing complicates his life. Eventually this assumed role becomes less of a shield and more of a magnet for attention as Kamiti's healing skills become known throughout Abruria.

This is a suspenseful, magical tale where the identities of the characters are constantly evolving. It will make you laugh, but not cry.

"Train to Pakistan"

This 1956 novel by Khushwant Singh is a tragic love story. Juggut Singh, a Sikh, is in love with Noorm, a Muslim, and they hope to marry. Their village is a mixture of Sikhs and Muslims, and portrayed as quiet and peaceful. Then the intellectual, Iqbal Singh, arrives. As the Partition of India and Pakistan begins he hopes to spread revolutionary ideas.

The Muslims are given the choice to leave while they can, or face mounting violence and persecution in the time ahead. Muslims in the region have been getting on trains and leaving, and Sikhs have been arriving from future Pakistan. However, when a trainful of dead Sikhs arrives, the question is, "will the Sikhs will take revenge on their Muslim neighbors?" Whether Noorm escapes to Pakistan rests in the hands of Juggut Singh, who loves her, and Iqbal Singh, who loves his ideology.

This is an excellent, well-written, short novel. The central romance is heart-wrenching and makes the violent and chaotic events of the Partition more understandable. Not being knowledgeable about the Partition of India this novel provides an overview of what happened. I highly recommend it.