bookshy: Karen Jennings

I first heard about Karen Jennings Finding Soutbek October 2012 at the African Book Festival. At the event, a representative from the publishers, Holland Park Press, read an excerpt, in which Soutbek's 'troubles, hardships and corruption, but also its kindness, strong community and friendships' was introduced. While I didn't buy the book then, as they say good things come to those who wait - and I finally got a chance, courtesy of a review copy from Holland Park Press to read it.

In the acknowledgements, Karen Jennings writes:

'At all times I have been careful to remember that though this is a work of fiction, it is a tale nonetheless, which represents a sore reality, and I have tried my utmost to relate it in a sympathetic and sensitive manner'.

After reading the book I struggled to find words to describe how I felt about it. I've only recently been able to figure out. This was a really depressing read. Even the cover signifies the bleakness you are about to enter as you get introduced to the imaginary town of Soutbek and its people.

Set in South Africa, Soutbek is a small fishing town on the western coast, which has been devastated by a huge fire. The upper town, which is inhabited by the towns poorest residents, is the area that has been affected. Having lost their homes and much of their livelihood they are left to survive off of the charity of the richest people in Soutbek who live in the lower town. Yet, after the fire came floods and now the town has been cut off making things even more difficult for the upper town people who have been sleeping in damp, unhygiening conditions and the lower town people who complain about the state of the town now that the upper town is destroyed.

Soutbek's first ever coloured Mayor - Pieter Fortuin, who worked to get himself out of poverty, is doing his best to get things back on track but also bring in much needed investment to Soutbek. The Mayor and a professor Dr. Pearson have written a book together - The History of Soutbek drawn from the diaries of Pieter van Meerman, a vryburgher (freeman) and seventeenth-century Dutch explorer. This book is what the Mayor is counting on to drive tourism and bring investments into their small fishing town, which will also help him rebuild the upper towns lost homes. There is, however, something else lurking behind the Mayor’s act of kindness. The History of Soutbek, in turn, is the other story that run's parallel to the fire stricken modern-day Soutbek. Set in the 17th century, this part of the novel reads like it's fallen straight out of a history book. We follow the adventures of Pieter, a group of Dutch explorers and some locals they meet on the way, eventually marry and establish what is today Soutbek. Towards the end of the book the modern and historical accounts merge with consequences for the modern-day inhabitants of Soutbek.

The Mayor’s story and the historical accounts, are not the only tales in Finding Soutbek. There is his wife, Anna, who he isolates from the rest of the inhabitants of Soutbek in her own private beach. They also have a son, David, who is in boarding school. She is bored, lonely and miserable until the mayor takes in Sara, a homeless girl (not from Soutbek). With time Sara and Anna develop a bond with Sara also teaching Anna how to read as they delve into the History of Soutbek. There is also the Mayor's nephew, Willem, who lives in the lower part of the town.

I’ll say it again. This book was depressing and I had visions of a grey and bleak town with grim inhabitants, a stressed Mayor and a lonely housewife. But I guess it was showing the harsh reality of the lives of people living in this fictional town. Calling it grey and depressing should not be taken to mean this is a terrible book. Far from that, it is well-written, the blending of the historical narrtives with contemporary Soutbek was done brilliantly and Karen Jennings definitely captured the morsoness of the town, the sadness of Anna and the stress of being a Mayor in what seemed like an ill-forsaken town.

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On October 27 2012, I braved the cold London weather to check out the African Book Festival - a 2 day African literature festival, curated by Will Essilfie and Nii Ayikwei Parkes, celebrating books and contemporary writing, which featured readings and panel discussions with African writers, as well as African books sold at low prices.

On the day I went, there was a Publishing Panel with Ellah Allfrey (Deputy Editor of Granta) and Goretti Kyomuhendo (writer, former Programme Coordinator for FEMWRITE and founder of African Writers Trust), a showcase of new African writing, a non-fiction reading/talk with Hannah Pool (journalist and author of My Fathers' Daughter) and Musa Okwonga (sportswriter, poet, journalist, broadcaster), and a fiction reading/talk with Alastair Bruce (author of Wall of Days) and Aminatta Forna (author of several books including The Memory of Love). The publishing panel was especially insightful as both Ellah Allfrey and Goretti Kyomuhendo explored the oppotunities and gaps in African publising, and spoke in depth about what African literature needs. I especially loved it when Ellah Allfrey talked about the "imaginative potential that is out there", and when she said that "ours is the first generation with the power to make a change".

I have to say, I really enjoyed the "Futures Carousel" - a showcase of new writings/books. 3 books and 1 poet were featured and each author (or representative of the author) had 10 minutes to introduce us to their works.

Amir Tag Elsir is a Sudanese writer who, in additon to publishing 16 books, also studied medicine. The Grub Hunter was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arab Fiction in 2011 and was translated into English by William Hutchins. It was published by Pearson, as part of their African Writers Series (in 2008, Pearson brought back the Heinemann African Writers Series). Lynette Lisk from Pearson read an excerpt from the book which tells the story of a former secret service agent, who having been forced to retire due to an accident, decides to write a novel about his experiences. He starts to visit a cafe frequented by intellectuals, only to find himself the subject of police scrutiny.

My Life Has A Price is a memoir of survival and freedom written by Tina Okpara, in collaboration with journalist Cyril Guinet. It was translated from French (Ma Vie un a Prix) by Jolie Jodter and published by Amalion (an independent Senegalese publishing house). At 13, Tina, who came from a modest family in Nigeria, is adopted by Linda and Godwin Okpara and prepares to start her new life in France with her new family. Linda is the homemaker and wife to international football player Godwin Okpara, who played for French Club Paris Saint-Geramain as well as for Nigeria's national squad, the Super Eagles. This is Tina's story of her years of imprisonment, torture and abuse in the Okpara's home. An excerpt from My Life Has a Price was read by Kadija Sesay George (founder and publisher of SABLE LitMag), with a short Q&A with Tina Okpara after the reading.

Finding Soutbeck is Karen Jennings debut novel about the small town of Soutbeck. A representative from the publishers, Holland Park Press, read an excerpt, in which Soutbeks troubles, hardships and corruption, but also its kindness, strong community and friendships, are introduced to us in a series of stories about intriguingly interlinked relationships. Contemporary Soutbeck is still a divided town - the upper town destitute, and the lower town rich, largely ignorant - and Finding Soutbeck is a novel about the real conditions that shape the loves of ordinary, marginalised people. This is a story that paints a thought-provoking picture of life in contemporary South Africa.

There was also a poetry reading from a very talented lady, Bridget Minamore. One on being a 90s child, and the other, which sadly she didn't get to finish, on the issue of skin lightening.

Another great thing about the events was the variety of African literature they had on offer. In addition to the three novels showcased, a lot of the Caine Prize Anthologies were on sale, as well books from the African Writers Series.There were actually way too many to mention and there were tons that I've been dying to get my hands on. Like The Granta Book of African Short Story, How to Read the Air by Dinaw Mengestu and Dreams, Miracles and Jazz. They also aimed to make the books affordable - paperbacks were no more than £5 and hardbacks were no more than £10. I ended up getting Moxyland and Zoo City by Lauren Beukes, Tail of the Blue Bird by Nii Ayikwei Parkes, True Murder by Yaba Badoe, and My Life Has a Price.

Overall it was a great literary event, very insightful and I am definitely looking forward to the next one.

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