Blue Taxis: Stories about Africa

By Eileen Drew

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0915943417
• ISBN13: 9780915943418
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Milkweed Editions
• Length: 155 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.8" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

A Wonderful and also Responsible Read

These are finely-wrought, wonderful stories that are not only compelling story-wise, with complex characters, etc, but also refreshingly responsible, especially compared to most of the other Peace Corp writers (as well as other Western writers writing about the "third world") that I've read. For example, instead of recycling (racist) stereotypes and/or exoticizing Africa, Eileen Drew keeps a steady and critical gaze on her Western characters' ambivalent and relatively privileged positions viz-a-viz her African characters, and as a result, manages to craft stories that honestly and compassionately grapple with the racial, social and cultural and emotional tensions that inevitable come with the territory. At a time when "multiculturalism" (ironically) is breeding anew works that reinforce cultural and racial stereotypes (mainly because there is still an enormous lack of self-awareness/critical self-reflection), Drew's book was a delight to find. I'd recommend this to anyone!

insightful perspective and beautiful flowing prose

Reading this book was a breath of fresh air. I have not read such beautiful prose since finishing Gimpel the Fool by Isaac B. Singer. Within a few sentences of each story I felt myself being transported to the tropical local of each story. The protagonist/girl/young woman of each story melded into a single character trying to find her place in a crazy world. I was sad to see each story end, as I felt I wanted to know more. All young women should read this book, so they will know they are not alone in their journeys