The Wishing Well: Another Weaver Tale (Weaver Tales Book 2)

A demo of good writing Title: Chioniso and Other Stories, Author: Weaver Press Publication date: He wrote his first book — Dew In The Morning — at the age of 18, his mantelpiece sags with the weight of several literary awards, most notably the regional Commonwealth Writers Prize. His work has been studied for two decades now and two of his books, Harvest of Thorns and Strife , have been translated and published in Germany.

Shimmer Chinodya truly is a man who needs no introduction. Hovering on the fringes of magical realism, it is a haunting piece, inspired by events from , when the war was at its zenith. This story is likely to trigger nostalgia among Shimmer loyalists for its theme, similar to that of his earlier work, Harvest of Thorns , which was also centred around the liberation war. Why Not is set in Swaziland in the late s. An expert at drawing the reader into the story, Chinodya cleverly dispenses with dialogue tags, a technique which not only heightens the pace of the discourse but also makes for a smooth and exhilarating read.

I loved the banter between the characters and the manner in which Mercy, a Zimbabwean feminist, held her own against a barrage of chauvinistic remarks. I also liked the often playful, recurring references to the story title. Once again assuming the Godfrey persona, Chinodya narrates the story of his adventures in Germany, in Prisons on the Road , set in the early s. As he did in Why Not , Godfrey is tactful in dealing with the strange and sometimes tricky questions that one faces when visiting far away lands. I was torn between laughter and sadness upon reading The Car , a story about, what else, a car, which comes between husband and wife.

Chioniso , the story from which this anthology derives its title, is lifted from the journal of a man battling to deal with a rebellious teenaged daughter, a task not made easier by an equally headstrong wife. Chioniso takes on the tone of a personal diary written in an informal approach, where Chinodya speaks directly to the reader and takes on the moniker of Chirasha, in whose name he published Child of War, in Good literature moves the reader. Often, when I shut a good book at the end, I find myself wishing to meet the writer, implore him to sign the inside cover of my book, find out what inspired him to write it, the usual questions asked by an awestruck fan.

However, at the end of the story, Chioniso , I found myself wishing to put a consoling around the troubled shoulder of Mr Chirasha, the protagonist of the tale. Indigenous is a reflection of the frightening reality of our society — greed and corruption. It is also allegorical, to a point, laced with the didactic message; it is better to live happily on the fringes of poverty than to dabble in corrupt get-rich-quick schemes, which often end in misery. The one notable gripe I have with this book — daring to throw rocks at the throne — is that in Last Laugh , a story set in the Murambatsvina era, Chinodya over-translates, as he attempts to articulate jokes that would, no doubt, elicit laughs in vernacular but, when written in English, are lost in translation.

Often, readers and book critics speculate on the title of a book, its meaning and hidden message. Apart from the humorous anecdotes of an accomplished writer, this anthology is, by and large, a social commentary — the demolition of houses under Murambatsvina, the snaking queues of desperate motorists waiting for fuel, corruption, domestic disputes, the rise of Pentecostal churches, the decline of the agricultural sector. Through his book, the author holds up a mirror, chioniso, in the face of society and, perhaps, it can also be said, it is a reflection of the life of the man behind the book.

What I cherished most about this book, as with all other Chinodya writings, is the imagery and inventive use of words. At the end of the book, I felt pleased to have been granted a peek at the life and psyche of a man who has achieved so much as a writer, scholar and educator. Anthology traces transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe - The Herald.

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Search our book catalog. In her "The Weaver" is a wonderful story of a young girl who struggles to find her "gift" of weaving words. In her attempts to recover the "shiny milk bottles," she meets a blue-colored creature named Unwanted. This chance encounter changes her life forever. Mary discovers that Unwanted can grant wishes and she trades the shiny milk bottles for one wish. Kai Strand, the author, has woven a captivating tale, completely appropriate for year olds.

It is a book that even the "young at heart" can enjoy reading to their children or grandchildren. The chapters are short and flow easily into the next. I look forward to reading her future "word weaving" stories. Howard About the book: A complimentary softcover copy of The Weaver was provided by World Of Ink Network on behalf of the author and publisher. Nov 20, Shelle Perry rated it it was amazing Shelves: The Weaver is a truly unique story about a girl named Mary who lives in The Tales.

It is difficult for her.

Her own mother is considered to be among the best story weavers and the perceived expectation, and subsequent disappointment, t The Weaver is a truly unique story about a girl named Mary who lives in The Tales. As the mother of an extremely brilliant child who is often feels held back by his learning disabilities, this story struck a resonant chord. As she comes to understand that and finds her own way, her life changes in wondrous ways. The characters in this delightful tale are vivid and fun.

Like Mary, I would have a difficult time weaving tales. I would still love to live in this charming place. I love how the theme of practice and perseverance is, pardon the pun, woven throughout the story. This book is recommended for children ages The reading level is appropriate for that age range, however I believe it would make an excellent bedtime story for much younger children. It should be a staple in every elementary special education classroom library.

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6. Review of Chioniso and Other Stories.

I will definitely be looking for the next books in this series. Apr 23, VS Grenier rated it really liked it Shelves: It is a wonderful book that is a must- read for kids of all ages. The story begins with Mary Wordsmith, who wishes to weave a tale just like her mother. Mary, however, is a typical teenager who has similar vulnerabilities and sensitivities. She wants to be liked and respected. She wants so badly to be like her mother The Weaver By: She wants so badly to be like her mother.

In her quest, she meets a blue man who tries to convince her that he will help her achieve her wish of weaving a story just like her mother. Since Mary feels especially vulnerable and experiences the lowest self-esteem she ever had, she allows the little blue man to help her. She feels betrayed and even unhappier than before.

And things get increasingly complex for Mary when the blue man keeps appearing after each practice of weaving a story. I was spellbound by this book. It is about a topic that most young and older teenagers could easily relate to. In addition, Mary is portrayed as a vulnerable character too, one that most adolescent girls will be able to relate to right away.

One of the themes underlying her book is that each of us is special and we should celebrate and accept ourselves for who we are. At one time or another, most of us have made a wish for something we truly wanted. Sometimes that wish came true, the way we hoped. Other times it turned out quite differently than we expected, surprising us. Mary wants to weave tales as beautiful as those of her mother, Abigail. When she starts to tell At one time or another, most of us have made a wish for something we truly wanted.

When she starts to tell one, the other kids at school roll their eyes and yawn and groan. Then one day on her way home from the dairy Mary meets Unwanted, a little blue gnome-elf, who grants her a wish. What happens next makes for a fantasy story that will delight young readers and old. I know the tale fascinated me. I could envision Mary, trying so hard to tell her stories, but not having the special touch that the rest of the villagers seemed to have.

Even her name, Wordsmith, hints at what she is, so why do her stories turn out all wrong? Strand has woven a beautiful tale of her own that young readers will want to read over and over. After reading the book, the students could then weave their own tales and illustrate them as well. And the cover art by K. Snider is just perfect for the little village of The Tale. In the world of Mary Wordsmith the talents of weaving stories garner a feeling of acceptance into this special community.

Can nothing be easy for Mary? In her travels she meets a peculiar looking blue little man whom promises to make her most desired wish come true. Desperate, Mary relents In the world of Mary Wordsmith the talents of weaving stories garner a feeling of acceptance into this special community. When thanked for the beautiful miniatures, Mary is perplexed and says she has no idea what they are talking about.

Believing these odd occurrences will make her a further outcast, Mary swears her friends to secrecy. Will her secret stay such for long? Will Mary discover in time that words can be taken literally and her art of weaving an ingenious story may just be beginning? Mary Wordsmith lives in The Tales, a town of word weavers, in other words, everyone there is a storyteller, and one of the best is Mary's mother, Abigail.

Abigail teaches the Novice Word Weavers class that Mary has unfortunately been stuck in for three years because her stories are not good enough for her to progress. It all changes the day she walks home from the dairy and a little blue gnome-elf decides to steal her milk. He then grants Mary a wish. What she wants most is to be able to tell sto Mary Wordsmith lives in The Tales, a town of word weavers, in other words, everyone there is a storyteller, and one of the best is Mary's mother, Abigail.

What she wants most is to be able to tell stories as well as her mother does. And the wish is granted, but not in the way she had hoped, due to the wording she used while making that wish. This novel reads like a fairy tale and is short - perfect for middle grade and tween readers. The fantasy elements are kept to a minimum and the focus is on Mary and her emotional distress at not being able to fit in with the crowd of talented word weavers.

In the end she solves her own problem, and shows growth in maturity and talent. Throughout, there are little word weaver stories told by Mary, her mother, and friends. The book is a lot of fun to read. I absolutely loved this story for its unique plot, the author's engaging storytelling, and its wonderful message.

The Weaver by Kai Strand is a beautifully written fantasy chapter book for tweens. Strand draws upon her love of crafting stories for the book's plot. Imagine how you would feel if your mother was the best at the one thing you couldn't do right. What would it be like to stand out among an entire community of people for your lack of a certain skill? This is exactly where Mary finds he I absolutely loved this story for its unique plot, the author's engaging storytelling, and its wonderful message.

This is exactly where Mary finds herself. Even worse, when she thinks all that will change thanks to her wish, she discovers she still can't weave a good yarn like her mother. Strand does an excellent job of making the reader care for Mary and has us wishing things will turn out right. A touching and sometimes funny story. Fun story for both children and adults. I especially like the relationship between Mary and her mother. Mary also has wonderful friends to see her through her troubles.

The characters are believable and likeable, the magic new and exciting. I kept my fingers crossed for Mary from the beginning of the book to the surprise at the end. An enjoyable read with enough mystery and wonder to keep me turning the pages. I hadn't read it before because I truly hate sitting in front of my computer to read.

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4. Review: Chioniso and Other Stories - The Herald.

What a delicious bubbly tale. It was like reading pop rocks. I love the characters and the chapter headings and the tiny knitted charms as illustrations. I am looking for ward to your next book and I promise I will be a lot faster to read it. Apr 09, Kathleen Davis rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: The Weaver is a the perfect bedtime story! Kai Strand does a great job writing this sweet book that follows in the footsteps of classic fairy tales.

The story follows a sweet little girl through her journey of becoming a great storyteller. Strand's narrative runs smoothly and keeps the reader interested with her interesting characters including a delightful little blue man. Makes a great gift. Gregory J McClean rated it did not like it Apr 25, Rita Monette rated it it was amazing Nov 07, Rustom Renz rated it it was amazing Nov 21, Lisa Queen rated it it was amazing Nov 05, Julia Smith rated it it was amazing Sep 17, Lori rated it it was amazing Aug 01, Doug rated it it was amazing Oct 19, Savage rated it really liked it Jan 01, World of Ink Network rated it it was amazing Oct 22, Keane Kiragorn rated it really liked it Jun 18, Shel Delisle rated it it was amazing Aug 03, Rose Killion rated it it was amazing Aug 06,