The Friend I Never Knew and Other Stories

Description

Welcome to this captivating collection of short stories. Within these pages lie the dynamics of a contemporary world that speaks to relatable experiences.
Short stories, with their brevity and depth, have the ability to transport us to places both real and imagined. The Friend I Never Knew and Other Short Stories has skillfully curated a selection of tales that explore a variety of themes. For example, ‘The Friend I Never Knew’ takes us through a young boy’s emotions of loss. Dennis meets his friend Mwangi whose family has been affected by the post-election violence and the tow buddies light each other’s world. However, the negative influence of school environment led Mwangi astray to the dismay of Dennis. Despite Mwangi’s initial discipline and focus, he ultimately succumbed to a life of crime and finally dies by the gun. Duality is a story that revolutionizes the feminist perspective. This captivating story takes you through themes of betrayal and domestic violence as experienced by men and children. It challenges the common assumption that only women are victims in heterosexual relationships. Yet again, The Flower that Never Bloomed explores the theme of innocence, betrayal and a mother’s resilience.
From the whimsical to the profound, these stories offer glimpses into the human condition in its beauty, complexity, and unpredictability. Through the lens of the authors’ imaginations, we are invited into the world of characters that grapple with love, loss, hope, resilience and redemption.
I invite you to an adventure, a moment of escape to solace, inspiration and an understanding of the complexity of the human condition.

Author’s Biographical Information
This collection of short stories from Kenya has it all. From love and betrayal to loss and redemption coupled with resilience, these stories delve into aspects of human relationships. Not only are they relatable and authentic, but they also serve to entertain and educate readers. This collection adds to the rich world of published literature while also serving as an invitation to literary critical analysis and discussion.
Mr. Nehemiah Wabuyabo Otipah is a graduate in MA Literature, Mount Kenya University and BED Arts-Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. He is currently in the final year of a PhD in Literature in English. He has a passion for social justice which tends to influence his writings. This recently informed his decision to pursue postgraduate studies in International Relations. He has interacted with various theories in Literature such as Historical criticism, Marxism, Feminism, post colonialism among others that have shaped him as a poet and writer
Mr. Said Mohamed Bashir is a graduate in BED Arts, University of Nairobi. He has taught Language and Literature in English competitively in the high school level in Kenya. His passion for writing began while in high school, where he was a member of the school’s Journalism club. He has a passion for contemporary theories such as formalism that focusses on the structure, language and style of literary works rather than external factors like author’s intentions or historical context.