Upcoming Events on Sarudzai Mubvakure's Reviews

After reading the Chrome Rain series on Ivor Hartmann's Facebook page yesterday, i was sharply reminded. Ivor Hartmann is gradually releasing the story in parts of which i have read five. The story is about a young woman, Mry-Ann, who leaves her home upset and it's possible she might never return. She has to go through the desert which has it's dangers. For survival she knows she has to get to an oasis called the Al Wabe. When she finally arrives at the oasis she meets a 'Doc' who lives in a tent heavily painted with Alchemy symbols. That is what struck a chord in me. It reminded me that i have to complete my review of Paulo Coelho's book, The Alchemist which in contrast is about a shepherd boy, who after meeting a mysterious King, decides to sell the rest of his sheep and cross the desert to reach the Eqyptian pyramids in pursuit of a hidden treasure. As he crosses through the desert he arrives at an oasis where he meets an Alchemist. My review of The Alchemist, as promised, will follow shortly. Ivor Hartmann's Chrome Rain Story, which has some science fiction, can be followed on Facebook.

Therefore, with loads of reading and reviewing to be done i am beginning to realise that this is a full time job. I am an Occupational Therapist by profession but soon i will be reading and writing full time!!. I love to encourage others in their craft and see them bloom. At the same time, I love learning from those that are doing an excellent job of entertaining the world with the written word. Both aspects of what i am doing help me to improve on a daily basis.

Books Reviews:

Just a short recap and to let you all know that i intend to keep to my word. These are my outstanding reviews:

1.African Folktales for Children by Uncle Blen Blen

2. A Caribbean Tale by Rudy Gurley

3. Many Rivers by Christopher Mlalazi

4. Harare North by Brian Chikwava

5.Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama

6. Elergy for Easterly by Petinah Gappah

7. Journeys of Love, Voices of the Heart" by Hillary Roy and Rose Mitchell

Then something knew that i would like to add to my list. This is a debut novel by Janine Dube called A Dark Horizon. The front cover is above. I have copied the blurb of her book from her website.

"After inheriting a struggling company Rachel is tempted into marrying an older man who also happens to be one of the wealthiest and most powerful businessmen in the country. She knows she faces an uphill struggle but she relishes the challenge of resurrecting the ailing company. Soon she is facing more challenges in the form of his children, especially his son who is adamant that she is wrong for his father. As she struggles to prove herself at work and at home she is unaware of the meticulously planned plotting meant to bring her already shaky world crushing down."

From the blurb i am sure that i will enjoy reading about the the struggles and hopefully triumphs of the protagonist Rachel.

Short Stories:

Over at the Story Time E-zine i have been reading some short stories. The ones i have read so far are incredibly written with thought provoking themes and life lessons (ALL of them). The ones that come immediately to mind are Yesterday's Dog by Masimba Musodza and Dear Sender of the Bulldozers by Christopher Mlalazi.

A Disapppointing Truth:

This is the title of my debut novel which i must say has been generating a lot of reader interest in the past few months. I have started a blog at http://adisappointingtruth.blogspot.com/.

Anyway, the plot is generating much debate and discussions. Many people have shared their experiences with me for example which characters they hate, which ones they love. Some have told me the moments of their tears of sadness and tears of joy. As a result of all this, a few people, of their own volition, have decided to start a book club! Hopefully i will be able to persuade them to write their opionions on my blog!! So that is an update on my writing and very encouraging indeed.

In addition, a friend of mine called Dayo Ogunmuyiwa has asked if he could work on a screenplay based on A Disappointing Truth. That is fantastistic!! Will tell you what he comes up with.

My new books:

I have some new novels that have been working on and hopefully will have them published in the next four years.

1. Amelia's Inheritance ( You can find an extract to read on this blog)

2. Sarah - Truth on Another Level (Sequel to A Disappointing Truth)

3. Tom & Eliza

4. Marcus and the Daughter (a story based in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, the United States, Italy and London)

New Horizons:

1. Because of my passion for film and screenwriting, i will be starting a blog where i will be reviewing the plots, dialogue and characters of some of my favorite films. This will be purely for my learning. I had a fantastic opportunity of working on some TV scripts with US Film Director Rahman Oladigbolu. A great learning experience for me.

2. I am going to start publishing some of the songs i have written over the years. Certainly new beginnings.

Anyway, i suppose i will get back to my reading, writing and publishing!!

A Disappointing Truth - What is the Colour of Love?

Rudo Mwari is a young, beautiful, teenage girl. She is a young, African girl that has secured employment to work as the house girl of the white Englishman, Mr George Witt, who has come to live in Rhodesia.
Rudo and George live in Rhodesia however, they live on either side of the racial divide. This is a wall that separates the black people and the white people. It is a wall that separates the colour of their skin. However, the laws of segregation are broken on every level in Georges home as he agonises between the opposing forces of desiring what is forbidden and the fear of getting caught.
Rudo has no idea that the association with her white boss will one day result in the birth of a daughter, Sarah. It is an association painted in the shades of love but also an assosciation that may cause a spiral of events that will hurt all those around them, including Sarah. In the novel 'A Disappointing Truth', find out the colour of George's love for Rudo.

A Disappointing Truth by Sarudzai Mubvakure

This is my debut novel. I have added the Review of Independent reviewer Melissa Levine

Paperback: 736 pages
Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd; First edition (30 April 2008)
Language English
ISBN-13: 978-1906210960

“Love ignores the faults. And that’s why no matter what, our love is forever.”In Sarudzai Mubvakure’s debut novel, A Disappointing Truth: The Tragic Life of Sarah Witt, the lead character so frequently encounters catastrophic events that forgiveness does not seem to have a place in her life. But it is the choice to forgive that ultimately leads the young, bi-racial woman to unconditional love and true happiness. Mubvakure’s story unfolds in London, New York, Zimbabwe and ends in Scotland were Sarah accepts the limitations of those who have caused her harm and makes the decision to move forward in her life.

In the fall of 1971, a young woman is violently raped in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Her assault will greatly impact the lives of several people, including Farai, the young boy who witnesses the crime and a group of English entrepreneurs who have set up businesses in Rhodesia to make their fortunes. The members of the “English Boys Club” become deeply involved in the plight of this young woman whose attack results in the birth of a daughter.

The opening scene of the book is Sarah Witt’s wedding. From there, the author unfolds the details of Sarah’s life starting with her matriculation at a notable arts college in New York City. Sarah was raised by her father George Witt and her paternal grandmother. She was told that her mother, a black Rhodesian, died when Sarah was two-years-old. Her father passes before she journeys to America to attend school. As an Art History and Music major, Sarah makes friends who will remain loyal to her throughout ordeals that occur as she finishes school (sexual assault by her mentor) and during her early adult life (separation from her church and the murder of her first husband in front of her). As Sarah’s own multi-layered story escalates, the details of the secretive English Boys Club slowly unravel as her Uncle Peter and the group’s head man, Algeron Fairbanks, find it increasingly difficult to hold on to the secrets of their shared past. When Sarah decides to seek out information about her mother, the truth that surfaces is startling.

The author displays a strong command of plot and characterization. Sarah and those closest to her are fully formed personalities who become easily familiar as they appear throughout this 700 plus page tome. The protagonist is presented as a beautiful, intelligent, dynamic woman who actively serves any community she finds herself a part of. While Sarah works hard and is successful in both music and business, the murky details of her mother’s life plague her. Mubvakure offers the reader vivid descriptions of the global setting in which the story takes place. On occasion, the author does repeat too much of the plot that the reader has already been informed of, possibly because the book is quite long. With the acumen shown in this book, Mubvakure is sure to grow into the type of writer who trusts her readers’ memories and thus offers just enough information to spark recollection.

As Sarah is slowly enlightened about her parent’s past and the consequences of her own conception, the author infuses the character with a strength that enables the young woman to accept the string of lies that she has believed all of her life and to transform into a person with the maturity required to choose forgiveness.A Disappointing Truth: The Tragic Story of Sarah Witt is overflowing with sadness and tragedy, but the author offers hope throughout the tale. Mubvakure challenges our understanding of what humans can endure and how they can come out improved and drenched in love on the other side.Melissa LevineFor Independent Professional Book Reviewershttp://www.bookreviewers.org/