A month ago I posted a query about “upbeat” fiction that takes place in developing countries. The reason is that my book club is tired of depressing fiction (after Purple Hibiscus and A Thousand Splendid Suns). Some of the suggestions were odd. For example, someone called The Poisonwood Bible upbeat; I wonder if they’ve read it. (I liked it a lot but wouldn’t call it upbeat.) Here are the suggestions I garnered which seemed like they might really be upbeat, the first two especially:
- Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard, by Kiran Desai (Who knew she wrote a comedy before the devastating Inheritance of Loss?) – India
- Last Orders at Harrods, by Michael Holman – Kenya
- Red Earth and Pouring Rain, by Vikram Chandra – India
- Wizard of the Crow, by Ngugi wa Thiongo – Kenya
- The Whale Caller, by Zakes Mda – South Africa
- Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands, by Jorge Amado – Brazil
- Gabriela, Clove, and Cinnamon, by Jorge Amado – Brazil
- Spud, by John van de Ruit – South Africa
And here a few that might be upbeat (I wasn’t totally convinced by those who posted):
- Uhuru Street, by MG Vassanji – Kenya
- The Gunny Sack, by MG Vassanji – Kenya
- Measuring Time, by Helon Habila – Nigeria
- The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay – South Africa
David Evans' personal blog 
Thanks for the suggestions. I think I may add a couple of those to my Africa challenge reading list.
I would not call Measuring Time upbeat! Did I give you that impression? Less devastating than some I’ve read, but definitely not upbeat.
Also, I would not call The Power of One exactly upbeat, but I remember it as being inspiring in some ways. And a page turner, too.
Yes, I was skeptical about those: that’s why they were only in the “maybe” upbeat section. Someone said they were, but I think by upbeat they meant “not TOO depressing”: come on, people! standards!
Amos Tutuola?