Starbook: A Magical Tale of Love and Regeneration. Ben Okri

If you persist with this languid work of poetry by Okri, you will be rewarded. But like fine wine, this one takes time to mature, as one takes time to digest its fragrant prose. I found Okri's work at times profound and magical, the poetry and beauty penetrate one deeply. However, it is also long-winded and difficult to get through. The story is a simple one - love overcoming all; the parable is woven persistently into the story, which creates a fabric that wonders mystically into the depth of emotive creativity, African shamanism, the clarity of untouched African tribal life. It is clear that Okri idolises a dream of Africa which is hard to digest, in light and context of what we see happening today in the continent. However this mythical vision is so pure and innocent, so humble and filled with art and music, that the tapestry that Okri weaves is majestic, magical and in itself a work of art.