{"product_id":"sanctificum-9781556593161","title":"Sanctificum","description":"\u003cp\u003eAbani . . . explores place and humor, exile and freedom with poems of experience and imagination . . .  he] enters the wound with a boldness that avoids nothing. Highly recommended. \"Library Journal\"\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStunning poems. \"New Humanist\"\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA self-described zealot of optimism, poet and novelist Chris Abani bravely travels into the charged intersections of atrocity and love, politics and religion, loss and renewal. In poems of devastating beauty, he investigates complex personal history, family, and romantic love.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Sanctificum,\" Abani s fifth collection of poetry, is his most personal and ambitious book. Utilizing religious ritual, the Nigerian Igbo language, and reggae rhythms, Abani creates a post-racial, liturgical love song that covers the globe from Abuja to Los Angeles.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"I say hibiscus and mean innocence.\u003cbr\u003e I say guava and mean childhood.\u003cbr\u003e I say mosquito netting and mean loss.\u003cbr\u003e I say father and it means only that.\u003cbr\u003e Happen that we all dream, but the sea is only sea.\u003cbr\u003e Happen that we call upon God but it is only a breeze\u003cbr\u003e ruffling a prayer book in a small church\u003cbr\u003e where benches groan in the heat . . . \"\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChris Abani was born in Nigeria in 1966 and published his first novel at sixteen. He was imprisoned for his writings, and after his release he eventually moved to the United States. He is the author of ten books of poetry and fiction, including the best-selling novel \"GraceLand.\" He teaches at the University of California-Riverside and lives in Los Angeles.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Copper Canyon Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/01\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781556593161\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 105\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.40lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.40h x 6.00w x 0.40d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/15\/2010 pg. 107\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/01\/2010 pg. 18\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Chris Abani","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36659689160860,"sku":"9781556593161","price":12.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_bc0527b8-c86d-45b1-baa9-4fe301353c46.jpg?v=1603895278","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/sanctificum-9781556593161","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}