Description
Book SynopsisVenus of Khala-Kanti is a tale of life-altering loss and mystical recovery. Set in an imaginary West African village that becomes a charming cul-de-sac, the unintended consequence of a national roadwork project gone awry, the story follows characters drawn with humor, irony, and empathy. The heart of the story beats with the laughter and tears of three women. Having faced incredible hardship, they come together to build their lives anew, armed with the age-old spirit of human resilience, understanding, and tenderness. Tapping into the very soil of Khala-Kanti, Bella, Assumta, and Clarisse construct spaces, both internal and external, where they and others can rejuvenate their bodies, minds, and spirits. They build the Good Hope Center, which embraces both the physical and the mystical landscape of the story. The Center fuels the restoration and growth of the village’s inhabitants, and offers sanctuary for those who visit and those who stay.
Trade ReviewDiscovering a little gem buried in a bevy of titles, all bustling for readers’ attention, is always exciting. Two main factors contributed to make Vénus de Khalakanti by Cameroonian Angèle Kingué such a pleasurable reading experience: the story line is uplifting and the novel solidly rooted in reality. Vénus de Khalakanti tells the story of characters who rediscover the meaning of life after sinking to the lowest point of human existence; yet the novel is no fairytale. Rather, it is a reminder that the road to happiness is there for everyone, everywhere, even if it is rarely a smooth ride. There is no doubt that, for good or evil, novels have a major impact on their readers when reality is catching up with fictitious characters. -- Jean-Marie Volet, University of Western Australia
