The Famished Road by Ben Okri

The Famished Road is the amazing story of the journey of a spirit child through the poverty and suffering of modern day Africa. In the pseudo-reality where the book is set, there is a spirit, as well as a physical world. A spirit child is one who only wants to be in the spirit world, so they kill themselves whenever they reincarnate in the physical world. The writing in this book is, in my opinion, some of the best. Throughout the book, the child has brushes with the spirit world. These passages where he sees "the other side of things" have some of the most descriptive, imaginative and crazy writing I have ever read. The Famished Road also addresses the many concerns of modern day Africa. In the book, violence and other terrible things flow through the village where the spirit child lives like waves in the ocean. In my opinion, The Famished Road is one of the best books ever written. I recommend this to anyone who wants something different. I, also recommend this to anyone who can read. It's that good.~Daniel