I will Marry When I Want is a famous play authored by Ngugi Wa Thiongo and Ngugi Wa Mirii. The setting of the story is in Africa, Kenya to be exact. It is a story of the Kenyan farmer named Kiguunda and his wife Wangenci. They also have a daughter named Gathoni. The daughter is mentioned to be quite pretty and physically appealing. The story dwells on the couples' story of how they protected their land from a group of people who wanted to buy it and make an insecticide factory on it.

The family struggles on how they could survive and meet their daily needs. This family share a house that only has one room with less furnishings.It was also described that the daughter sleeps on the floor which serves as her bed and use the rags they have in the house as her beddings. So, this gives a picture that the family has little means and are very unfortunate because of their limited belongings and possesions. In being very detailed about the description , the author successfully gives the audience a clear picture of the reality of life in Kenya. How a lot of poor people cannot enjoy the comforts that others do.

The only possession that the family has is that they own a piece of land. That land has a title deed and this deed is hanged on a wall inside their house. To be exact, the family only owns one and a half acres of land and the way they protect it makes one think that it may be a very expansive amount of land. To quote Kiguunda, “These one and a half acres? These are worth to me than all the thousands that belong to Ahab Kioi Wa Kanoru. These are mine own. Not borrowed robes.” This line definitely expresses the pride that Kiguunda has over just a few acres because at least, it is his very own. The story even starts with the husband and the wife having a discussion regarding the title deed which fell to the ground. The wife ranted at her husband at how he always gazes at the title deed. How the husband defended himself and reponsed regarding his great pride about the land they own shows that the piece of land is one of the main aspects in the play and has an important value in how the play would soon develop. The title deed is used by the author as a symbol for the pride of the Kenyan people. The land is also used to symbolize the country of Kenya. Even if it is a country that is poor and under developed. There are people who still choose to protect their homeland and refuse to give it up. Citizenship is very important to this people because even if they have poor living conditions in their country, at least it is something that they can call their own. What use is a land that is very rich when you feel alien to it and you feel like a stranger with no identity. Another moving line delivered by Kiguunda which is very relevant, “Oh, the seven years were not even over when we began to sing new songs with new voices, songs and voices demanding. Freedom for Kenya, our motherland.” This line is very powerful and very passionate. It shows the extreme love that some of the Kenyan people feel for their country. However, it is sad that this feeling of love may not be passed down to the children because of the effect of neo-colonialism on the mentality of the next generation.

This is true for Gathoni, the daughter, who is in constant conflict with her mother and father. It seems that she is tired of the life they are living. She is constantly complaining of their living conditions and seem uncontented of what they have. This may be caused by the riches she sees in the foreigners that begin occupying lands in Kenya. The author shows the effect of good food, clothes and material things to women who have experienced so little. They are easily attracted by colorful and beautiful things and would easily give up their beliefs, values and morality for gifts of beautiful finery. Another attitude that the author show in the play is that some of the parents would force their children to get married in order to improve their way of life. It shows little value for women at that time because it seems that a woman's purpose is only to find herself a husband who can provide for her. This part of the play, Gathoni says “I will marry when I want” and told her parents that she will decide for herself when it comes to this decision and she will not be forced to marry when she is not yet ready.

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Part of the conflict arised when Kiguunda received a letter offering to buy his land. The foreign settlers who are interested in buying the land possessions of the people are planning to put up a factory in the area. It was a factory that would manufacture insecticides for crops. This is when a lot of issues arised. The Mau Mau tribe who are responsible for fighting to earn liberation for Kenya are the ones initiating the encouragement of the people to sell their lands to the foreigners. They served as middle men for negotiations regarding the purchase of land. The author points out how corruption has affected the minds of the Kenyan people. They have taken sides and it was the side of the foreigners the took and not of their country and people. Here you can see the cruelty of foreigners who would do anything to earn. They would bribe men to turn against their kin in order for them to gain what they want. It also showcases the heartlessness of these foreigners because they do not care care about the effects of having a manufacturing plant erected in a community of people. Manufacturing plants emit gases and discharge wastes that may be hazardous to the health of the surrounding people.

Another element who played a part in corrupting the people are the Christians who used their influence to deceive people into believing that they have the people's interests at heart. They used the concept of not being materialistic to make the people think that they do not need their lands to get to heaven. They took advantage of the people's ignorance to encourage them to sell their lands.

What turned everything around was when Gathoni finally decided to get married to a wealthy man. As was Kenya's custom, it was the responsibility of the bride's family to pay for the reception. Since he has no money, Kiguunda was advised by a landowner to either sell his land or get a bank loan using his land as equity. Since he loved his land so much, he chose the latter. Unfortunately, when Gathoni got pregnant, the wealthy man rejected her. Everything got messy and eventually the family was defeated and dejected. The play ended with Kiguunda losing his land because he was not able to pay the loan amount. It is ironic how he never wanted to sell his land to the foreigners in the first place but ended up losing it as it was auctioned by the bank to the foreigners. It may not be a good move for Kiguunda but because of pride and love for his daughter he gave up his most beloved property. Interpreting this, one can say that a person who loves his country so much may be torn between choosing his country or his family. It is a hard choice for anyone to make.

In summary, what the play emphasizes is how neo-colonialism greatly affected the psyche of the Kenyan people. It is sad that though they struggled to have their country liberated, they were affected by a poison that made them greedy and heartless. The Mau Mau tribe in particular are the ones who shed sweat and blood to gain freedom for their country but their selfish desires eventually lead them to mislead and trick their own countrymen. The kind of mentality that they had were affected so much by foreigners who brainwashed them. They have developed corruption in their hearts and in their minds that caused them to throw away their patriotism and their love for their country and fellowmen. It is sad how economic gain can push people into thinking that it is allright to misuse the trust of your fellow to gain more. This is a bad practice that hinders the development of the nation. The play also attacks how religion played a great part of negatively influencing the people. Christianity was used as a vehicle to influence the townspeople to sell their lands and later give up their identity. Even if the values taught by the religious groups are well-meaning, it was used in a way of trickery and deceit. It is sad how something that was supposed to be good was used to cause the poor to become more poor. However, the constant struggle to get back what is rightfully theirs is still alive in the hearts of the people. It is hopeful to think that this will be awakened and freedom will one again be achieved. Praise for the authors of the play because of their courage in taking up such a controversial national issue. It even caused the author to be detained but the play is very powerful and as long as it exists and acknowledged by the African people and all the other races inspired by this, it will forever tell a story that is an eye opener for everyone.

“A land of limitless joy

a land rich in green fields and forest

Kenya is an African People's country”

References

Ngugi Wa Thiong'o. Ngugi Wa Mirii. 1982. I Will Marry When I Want. South Africa:

Heinemann Educational Publishers.

I Want a Wife by Judy Brady is a cunning essay with a hint of satire to it. It extends to the reader the writer's feeling about being a wife herself and bluntly showcases the various, if not numerous tasks and undertakings of a woman, wife and mother.

In this time of modernization, the equality issue has forced society to somehow level women with men. Women have now earned their spots, being able to perform and compete with men in the workplace, politics, and all other categories that before were purely dominated by men. The femme community have proven again and again that purely capable as men may be in performing and producing output, they can do too if not better but equally. Looking back in history, a handful of women have given others a reason to aspire for something better, to trample the notion that they are a lesser race and to gain confidence resulting to a high regard for themselves. However, this new found empowerment has not erased one quality that nature has sewn on every woman's heart --- nurturing. This is a gift to all men because at the end of the day a woman is always a wife and a mother to his kids.

When a woman decides to become the other half in a relationship and become a parent, her work is cut out for her. All wives have their own story to tell but almost all of these are similar. It boils down to one major goal and that is, to make sure that everything is allright. As inventoried in Brady's essay, there are things that every wife must always be ready to accomplish. Basic needs include making sure that the household is always in order, food is prepared, clothes are washed and ironed, medical appointments met, and school problems solved. Depending on the status in life, there are different ways in having these accomplished like the more affluent ones can have maids do it for them but still, it is the woman in charge. Social needs would entail a wife to provide a good image for her husband and ensure that all the little details that can affect her husband's place in society are in order. Emotional needs is yet one that the wife/mother is irreplaceable in providing. It is always said that the measure of the quality of a wife or mother a woman is translates to the outcome of a marriage and the achievements of the children. Emotional Quotient plays a big role in having to achieve this and the woman is the main component in ensuring this. She has to provide the depth in her relationship with her husband to make him feel secure. Not only that, but she has to be the guiding star that will be light in her children's paths. She always need to be composed. If she complains, she is a nagger. If she asks, she is overbearing. If she sheds a tear, she is overreacting. So, it is a constant practice to be firm yet be loving at the same time.
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Simply put, women as wives and mothers have a lot in their hands. Brady's essay wonderfully gives the reader a bird's eye view of the complexities and vigor that entails being both. Seeing it in a perspective of a woman herself makes it personal for a woman reader because it sheds light to the same experiences that she undergoes everyday. The hint of sarcasm that spices up this essay gives it a funny factor that makes one enjoy reading it. The manner of writing it in such a way gives it a twist and pokes at the mind making one ponder and realize that being a wife is not a simple job. In fact, it is just as strenuous if not more tiring than a day in the office. It does not require you 8 hours a day but extends to a lifetime. The essay also highlights the author's frustrations and aspirations that may have been fulfilled if only she has someone to do her obligations for her. This makes it all the more heartfelt since a lot of wives gave up their dreams for their families have unfulfilled aspirations too.

In conclusion, this essay has taught a lot about the indispensability of women as wives and mothers. Being humans themselves, they may tire or give up too. Appreciation and giving them a sense of importance is all it needs in keeping them.

Communicating at Work emphasized, as the title says, the importance of communication in the work place. The art of communicating is often lost in the workplace as everyone is very busy and occupied with their respective jobs. Moreover, the organizational ladder in an entity or an organization is a barrier that separates everyone. The lower level employees are too timid to approach someone that is holding a higher position. These are the usual observations in the workplace. The book has emphasized that understanding the meaning of the words is very important because these words or phrases or sentences may mean something else. Ambiguous sentences can cause a lot of interpretation errors. No one knows what these ambiguous sentences really imply.

If one of the employees or a supervisor tells "Let's get together sometime" how one can understand it or derive meaning from this sentence? It can mean a thousand things. For one, according to Dr. Alessandra, it may “mean your colleague wants to get together, maybe this afternoon for lunch, or is this just a superficial phrase for politesse?”

The author have emphasized that there is something heavy at stake. The lack of communication in the workplace may mean “botched plans, political in-fighting, lost productivity, lost profits, and, ultimately, lost jobs. This ambiguity is the foundation of errors, misunderstandings, and strained relationships.” Interpersonal skills that are effective are very important, both at home within families and at work within co-workers. These skills can either be through verbal or non-verbal, personal, written or by phone communications. Proper communication helps ease out tension between and among persons as well as improves their relationships to each other making them more efficient and effective in the workplace.

The book, overall is a great guide for everyone in terms of business communication. It tries to help readers in enhancing their communication skills and eventually making them a better communicator in the workplace.. Since the book have real-life illustrations, readers can easily relate to it. Furthermore, the book offers instructions in memo-writing, presentation-making and productive meeting guides. Finally, the book tackles some necessary telephone skills and etiquette, body language interpretations and on personal communications.

Reference
Alessandra, A. (2008) The Art of Communicating at Work. Accessed 16 May 2008 from

The book Woodsong is a memoir by the award-winning author and novelist, Gary Paulsen. It is a vivid recollection of his experiences with sled dogs done in two parts. The first part showcasing his adventures running sled dogs in Wisconsin and later Alaska, and the second part tells of his gruelling experience participating in the 1, 180-mile dog-sled race which is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The book opens with Paulsen's first ever witness of wolves killing and devouring a doe. This experience has opened his eye to the rawness of survival in the wilderness and the harsh reality that is nature. He talks about his experience of poverty having little resources and being unable to abundantly provide for his wife and son. He has undergone being a beaver trapper and his interest with sled dogs sparked when his neighbors gave him a few old sled dogs because he was hard of transportation. He studied and bonded his dogs and was later adept in running them. He recounts episodes where he learnt life lessons from his dogs, including being saved by them and their many exploits in the cold wilderness.

The second part dwells on his preparation and participation in the Iditarod race. Paulsen does a great job in detailing how he battled the wilderness and was pushed to his physical limits. Sleep was never a luxury for him during those times and it almost made him give up because it gave him hallucinations. Despite the horror and pain, he and his dogs pushed on with the race and finished. His heart leapt having seen his wife meet him at the finish line even when he had to drag one of his dogs to finish.

Woodsong is a worthy read for adolescent students because it illustrates the relevance of not giving up. Paulsen's drive to finish what he has started inspires one to pursue aspirations. It regards life hurdles as necessary to develop strength and that physical pain brought about by these hurdles is nothing that can be cured. With the power of belief in one's self coupled with perseverance, the inner person can never be pierced.

Master of the Game
The book Master of The Game is one of the arrays of bestsellers that have been
spawned by the marvelous mind and imagination of Sidney Sheldon. Published in 1982, it has been a major favorite and has stayed in The New York Times bestseller list for quite a time. The story is a family saga that takes setting in the late 1800's till the late 1950's. It starts on the 90th birthday of the main character named Kate Blackwell and this story is told asa somewhat recollection of memories. Kate was the daughter of Jamie McGregor who struck it rich when he succeded in stealing diamonds from the mine of a rich Dutch who cheated on him. He invested his money in creating his company Kruger Brent which later grew into one of the biggest Kate poured her whole life into the company and eventually married Dave Blackwell who rose to becoming an executive of the company despite starting out plotting to steal from Kate's father. They bore a son, Tony who fell in love with art and did not show interest with the company. This being difficult fo Kate to comprehend, she workedon destroying her son's career and manipulated him into marrying Marianne. Marianne was convinced by Kate to become pregnant despite her health condition and this later caused her life and Tony's sanity. The twins that were delivered were named Eve and Alexandra whowere complete opposites. Eve was overly cunning and ambitious for her own good. Kate having realized the bad side of her grand daughter, disinherited her which only spurred ahatred in Eve. She schemed to get her sister killed by getting her to fall in love with a man she conspired with, and this will definitely break Kate's heart. She failed on her plot but managed to get Kate's favor back through deceit. She ended up killing her co-conspirator and later gother fair share of karma when a surgeon who was madly in love with her destroyed her face which made her dependent on him. Alexandra fell in love with a psychiatrist and they had a son, Robert. The book ended with Kate marvelling at Robert's prowess in piano and pondering Master of the game is definitely a worthy read. It's capability to get a person captivated and engaged is very notable. The unexpected twists and turn exhibits the caliber of the writing style and the power that emanates from the story itself makes one reflect for a moment --- Are we masters of our own game?