Tropical Fish (book)

Tropical Fish
Tropical Fish by Doreen Baingana
Author Doreen Baingana
Country Uganda
Language English
Publisher University of Massachusetts Press
Publication date
2005
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 184
ISBN 978-1-55849-477-0

Tropical Fish is a short story collection by Ugandan author Doreen Baingana.[1][2] It revolves around the lives of a family based in Entebbe Uganda. It follows Christine, Patti and Rosa the daughters of a relatively well off family whose father, a senior government official, becomes an alcoholic and loses everything starting with his job. Through it all the mother has to support her family on her own.[3][4] It follows the lives of the three sisters. It touches religious influence in Africa, boarding school life in missionary schools, first love, superstition, inevitably AIDS, love across the colour with a sugar daddy syndrome, the sense of alienation that comes with migrating to another country (USA) and that of displacement after coming back home.[5] Rosa, the eldest sister, was promiscuous, she died of AIDS. Patti the middle sister, turned into a born again Christian. And Christine the youngest went to Los Angeles, came back eight years later to pick up a job amidst the struggles of discovering her inner self.[6]

Stories

Tropical Fish is a collection of eight short stories: "Green stones", "Hunger", "First Kiss", "Passion", "A thank-you note", "Tropical Fish ", "Lost in loss angeles" and "Questions of Home". The majority of the stories center on the youngest daughter, Christine.[7] “Tropical Fish” is about Christine’s college years when she drifted into an affair with a wealthy, undemanding white man who sold tropical fish. He and his home offered her an escape from the pressures of her ordinary life. In his luxurious house, she could glory in little things, like the abundance of water came from the tap rather than having to be carried home in a bucket. She hadn’t wanted the man himself, but just “a few hours free from myself.[8] "Green Stones" is about the early lives of the Mugisha’s family. It focussed mostly on Christine. Christine recounts her story of the things that fascinate her as a child. In "Hunger", Patti is the focus of the story which told through her diary. Patti communes with hunger at Gayaza Secondary School where she is a boarder. She nearly subdues hunger with obsessive religiosity. However, religion almost always fails her. In fighting hunger, she loses dignity. In "First Kiss", Christine’s first-kiss changes everything for her. With her first kiss, her womanhood immaturely blossoms at a preteen stage. In "Lost in Los Angeles", Christine seemingly survives all to find rescue in Los Angeles. She struggles to define herself as she finds meanings to her living.[9][10]

Awards

References

  1. "RBC Reviews Tropical Fish : Tales from Entebbe’ by Doreen Baingana". http://www.rainbowbookclub.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137:rbc-reviews-tropical-fish-tales-from-entebbe-by-doreen-baingana-baingana&catid=75&Itemid=194. External link in |website= (help);
  2. "A View of Contemporary Uganda in 'Tropical Fish'". http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4487474. External link in |website= (help);
  3. "How to enjoy 'Tropical Fish'". http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category/books/61245/print. External link in |website= (help);
  4. "A review of Doreen Baingana’s Tropical Fish". http://www.jamesmurua.com/a-review-of-doreen-bainganas-tropical-fish/. External link in |website= (help);
  5. "Tropical Fish (Book Review)". http://mpush.blogspot.com/2007/05/tropical-fish-book-review.html. External link in |website= (help);
  6. "Tropical Fish: Tales From Entebbe, 2005, Doreen Baigana". http://maryokekereviews.blogspot.com/2013/08/tropical-fish-tales-from-entebbe-2005.html. External link in |website= (help);
  7. "Tropical Fish by Doreen Baingana". http://kinnareads.com/2010/06/15/tropical-fish-by-doreen-baingana/. External link in |website= (help);
  8. "Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe, by Doreen Baingana.". https://mdbrady.wordpress.com/2014/06/15/tropical-fish-tales-from-entebbe-by-doreen-baingana/. External link in |website= (help);
  9. "Tropical Fish" by Doreen Baingana". http://criticalliteraturereview.blogspot.com/2012/08/tropical-fish-by-doreen-baingana.html. External link in |website= (help);
  10. "Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe (by Doreen Baingana)". http://www.africabookclub.com/?p=11919. External link in |website= (help);
  11. "PREVIOUSLY SHORTLISTED WRITERS". http://www.caineprize.com/winners.php. External link in |website= (help);
  12. "AWP Award Winner is Awarded Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book". https://www.awpwriter.org/magazine_media/writers_news_view/3273. External link in |website= (help);
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