Distinguished creative writer, Omoseye Bolaji has expressed his glee over the publication of the novel,
From where I stand, written by George Rampai.
Bolaji is one of the readers for the publishing firm, Mbali Press, who have just released the novel,
From where I stand. Bolaji insists that the new novel is a quality work.
Bolaji said: “Really it’s absurd the type of powers publishers’ readers can have. Such powers should be used with circumspection. Rampai's novel is a powerful one, festooned with authenticity and marmoreal writing. I was happy to recommend it for publication,”
Bolaji explained further: “I shudder to think about how many African classics could have been lost to the literary world because of arbitrary readers. Dambudzo Marechera comes to mind here. Achebe’s
Things fall apart was published only because of the recommendation of an unusually broad minded white reader, for example.
“That is why I am happy there are some quality Black African publishers now. Mbali Press is one of them. We must go out, buy books written by our talented African writers, and George Rampai is one of the best”
Bolaji however accepted that publishers’ readers are human, and can easily make mistakes. “It also depends on taste. I for example have never really liked science fiction books, and I will never get involved in assessing such books. But Rampai’s book is mainstream and intelligent and would appeal to most,”
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