- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: One World/Ballantine; Reprint edition (July 1 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0345447328
- ISBN-13: 978-0345447326
- Product Dimensions: 13.9 x 1.4 x 20.9 cm
- Shipping Weight: 236 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #809,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Right from the start of this haunting novel, Nunez adopts the mesmerizing, myth-spinning voice of an oral storyteller, assuming the identity of an African-born male. When Oufoula Sindede becomes his unnamed country's foreign ambassador to the U.S., he is a happy husband and father, married to the daughter of his country's president. Yet he's aware of an unfulfilled need, and it comes as no surprise when he falls in love with Marguerite, an artist in New York. Their subsequent relationship spans a quarter of a century, most of it spent apart after Marguerite balks upon learning Oufoula already has a wife. By the time their final meetings occur, tragedy has befallen both. Always torn between his responsibilities to Africa, family and passion, what will Oufoula now choose to do? In unaffected prose, Nunez (whose Bruised Hibiscus won an American Book Award) explores self-deception, envy, Christian monogamy vs. African polygamy and the very real dilemma of loving two people at once. Her nonjudgmental exploration of the simple/complex nature of marriage, love and fidelity enriches her portrayal of Oufoula, allowing the reader to feel sympathy for a decent man who cannot deny his passion. To some extent, the code of his profession is to blame: Oufoula is told, early on, "to be a successful diplomat you will have to learn how to lie." At the end, a broken Oufoula contemplates the lessons of his life and wonders what really constitutes the better part of valor, behaving discreetly or choosing the truth? This rich, multilayered narrative is powerful in its sweep and moving in its insight. Agent, Ivy Fisher Stone. 5-city author tour. (Mar.)Forecast: Though aimed at African-American audiences (Ballantine will advertise in African-American venues online and in print), this novel has the potential to reach all readers appreciative of fine prose and an emotionally resonant story.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.From Library Journal
Man gets married, man has an affair, man returns to wife, man has another affair years later with the same woman, man again returns to wife and suffers for the rest of his life. Nunez's fourth novel aims to put a new spin on this tried-and-true soap opera by interjecting lectures about African traditions and liberation. Oufoula is an African diplomat who lies as part of his job and who lies to his wife, his lover, and himself. He has the seemingly perfect life the African wife and family and the "second wife," the Jamaican artist who awakens his passion yet he wants more. In the end, he chooses tradition and reputation over love. While Nunez's prose is strong, her characters are flat and uninteresting, and her novel becomes just another story about a man who agonizes because he can't have everything he wants. For libraries that don't already have the author's works in their collection, this is a marginal purchase. Ellen Flexman, Indianapolis-Marion Cty. P.L.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
In the end, I realized I liked the story,
By kaymickey "the reader, the writer" (Stone Mountain, GA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Discretion (Hardcover)
At first it seemed so implausible, Oufoula's strong desire for a woman he had not met or spoken with, a woman he desired merely because she shared the name of a fantasy woman (another woman he did not know, except for her character in a novel) This implausibility initially blocked me from hearing his story. But once I allowed myself to go beyond the incredibleness of his story, I was able to hear, and letting go allowed me to experience the surprises when they came. And surprised I was. I won't spoil anything for the reader; I'll just say that the unexpected dropped out of nowhere...and that's a good thing.I liked the story, but I don't know that I liked either of the characters. It was hard for me to believe that Oufoula had the connection with Marguerite he claimed to have; his feelings seemed to be a facade, as though it wasn't she he was really in love with, but some idea (of her? of Margarete? I don't know). His answers to her questions often appeared to be based on her reaction to his answers. He, ultimately, was the diplomat, even in his "professed" love of her. Diplomatic rather than truthful, even to himself.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love Honor Passion !,
By Mahogany Book Club "Mahogany Media Review" (Albany, N.Y.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Discretion (Hardcover)
What a well crafted book, Elizabeth did a great job narrating the story in Oufula's voice. She was Inside his head and his heart the whole way through. We had many discussions at our meeting about his upbringing, his choices from his cultural practices,from religion to mulitiple marriages.You could feel his choices, his honor to always do the right thing, and his love for both his wife and his true love. This was a touching story that pulls the heart strings, I like that they shared a love so long, A true test of time. I also liked the strength his wife and lover had. It didn't end like I thought it would. The only thing we thought was wrong, was when he hung her picture over the bed he shared with his wife. Love or no love, we all agree we would have killed him. A well crafted story. ...still pulling at my heart strings.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Price of Passion,
This review is from: Discretion (Hardcover)
Nunez painted a wonderfully written yet complex portrait of a man torn between two lovers. The tale was not reduced to being contrite, sleazy, or grimy. Most importantly, she was able to capture the feelings, thoughts and emotions of the main character Oufula. She was able to understand the mindset of someone who finds themself in the predicament that Oufula was in. Nunez did all this without bashing men or coming across as a scorned female. I love this book! I couldn't put it down.
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