By Abdi Ali
Published January 30, 2016
Out-of-Nairobi air travellers have a reason to smile. African book readers, too, have a reason to smile; both are to benefit from reduced fares and book prices.
While Emirates and British Airways have announced special fares to more than 30 destinations from Nairobi, ComMattersKenya has slashed its book retail prices.
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Do you want to hear about the books or the air tickets first? I guess the tickets, right?
BA says its quick sale fares are for both adults and children on a range of worldwide destinations.
The discounts are in both premium and non-premium cabins from Nairobi to United Kingdom, Europe and North America.
While the fare for two adults and two children to London starts from US$3190, that of two adults and two children to New York starts from US$4090. The fare for an infant starts from US$100.
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Travellers have to purchase tickets by February 8, 2016 and travel between now and June 20, 2016.
On its part, Emirates requires travellers to buy tickets by February 6, 2016 and travel between now and June 30, 2016.
Back to the books whose cover price has been reduced by between 25% and 50%. You may want to carry along some of these titles as African souvenir; for yourself or your loved ones back in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Oceania or elsewhere.
Here are summaries of some of the titles to whet your appetite:
Traditional Wisdom: Folktales from Uganda is a collection of folktales that takes the reader into the heart and soul of 1000 years of an African people.
After 4:30, the book that catapulted pop culture writer David G Maillu to fame in the 1970s, reveals the pangs of moral purity in a fast-changing Africa in the grip of materialism. The book has been revised and reissued for the reader of the 21st century. It comes with a 118-page bonus novella in Kiswahili titled Ameokolewa.
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How to Write on 1001 Subjects! is a manual for professional writers that tackles creative writing, criticism and journalism. It not only teaches anyone how to think logically and coherently but also assists anyone interested in writing to find direction and preserve professional consistency.
Stories from Life is written on the premise that history is written not to justify anything but to inform, educate and caution. Running almost the whole gamut of human experience, Stories from Life is also meant to entertain and celebrate humanity in all its manifestations.
From Terror to Hope tackles xenophobia and hypocrisy based on myopic considerations like race, ethnicity, gender, class or creed. In the story, the faith of a 12-year-old boy in the supernatural and humanity is shaken to the core following some diabolical terror visited on him and his family.
Successful Composition Writing is a must read for anyone interested in the writing career.
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The Braggart’s Day is a coming-of-age adventure story about a 12-year old boy who must trudge deeper into a dark forest despite the dangers lurking behind the sky-clutching trees and octopus-like creepers and man-eating plants in order to secure a cure for his ailing younger sister.
Besides its own publications, ComMattersKenya.com also consults, writes, edits, markets, and distributes audio, audiovisual and print publications for local and international clients.
