Books of the Week: May 20, 2013

 Every week, ZODML spotlights three great books from our extensive collection to inspire readers to try out books they might not have previously heard of. The selections fall under three major categories – fiction, non-fiction and children and young adult literature – so there’s a book to suit every taste. Also check out our archives to see which books have been selected in the past. 
Fiction: Measuring Time by Helon Habila Mamo and LaMamo are twin brothers living a small Nigerian village where their domineering father controls their lives. With high hopes the twins attempt to flee from home, but only LaMamo escapes successfully and is able to live their dream of becoming a soldier who meets beautiful women. Mamo, the sickly, awkward twin, is doomed to remain in the village with his father. Gradually he comes out of his father's shadow and gains local fame as a historian, and, using Plutarch's Parallel Lives as his model, embarks on the ambitious project of writing a "true" history of his people. But when the rains fail and famine rages, religious zealots incite the people to violence - and LaMamo returns to fight the enemy at home. - Learn more about Helon Habila here. Non-fiction: My Odyssey: An Autobiography by Nnamdi Azikiwe Nnamdi Azikiwe played a prominent role in the fight for the emancipation of Black Africa from colonial rule for many years (see our Discover Nigeria article on him). His autobiography covers his formative years up to 1947, when, at the age of forty-five, he entered politics as the President of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, the majority party of the Eastern region of Nigeria. Children and Young Adults: The Twins and the Tree Spirits by Mabel Segun Tinu and Tola are spending their school holidays with their grandfather who lives in a wooded area. They become friendly with two tree spirits Spirit with whom they talk since they understand Tree Talk. But Oroko Spirit and Erike Spirit are always quarrelling because Okoro bullies Erike. When the tall Oroko Tree falls in a storm, Erike Spirit, whose tree is short, rejoices at the downfall of his enemy - until he finds himself in trouble. Have you read any of these books? Have a suggestion for next week's selection? Leave a reply below or tweet @ZODML!