title: The Civilized World: A Novel in Stories
author:  Susi Wyss 
description: In this smart, urbane debut, characters strive for understanding within a cacophonous modern landscape. Two parallel but conflicting stories open and close the collection, to moving effect: Adjoa and her twin brother, Kojo, are migrant workers from Ghana, having lived for 12 years in the Ivory Coast, saving up to make enough money to return and start a hair salon. Adjoa is serious and single-minded about her mission, but Kojo's impatience at gaining fast money prompts him to get involved in the robbery of the home of Adjoa's wealthy American employer, Janice. The reckless act ends tragically, and Adjoa has to carry a heavy load of guilt back to Accra, where she opens her salon and tries to find a good husband who won't take advantage of her or her business. Elsewhere, Janice reappears on a road trip in the Central African Republic and at an Ethiopian orphanage, where she intends to adopt a child on her own. Wyss offers nuanced takes on vastly different corners of Africa, transcending travelogue to achieve resonant narrativessometimes funny, sometimes starkwith both grit and heart. (Apr.) <br />(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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  > Primus
  
  THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST WORLD
  
  A novel by Patricia Fonseca
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
  Patrícia Fonseca
  
  Copyright © 2019 by Patrícia Fonseca
  
  Editing by Raya P. Morrison
  
  [www.rayapmorrison.ca](http://www.raimorrison.ca/)
  
  Any errors contained herein are all the fault of the author and no one else.
  
  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents
  are products of the writer's imagination, have been used fictitiously, and are
  not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, actual
  events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
  
  All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any
  manner without written permission from the author.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
  Belongs to all women who
  
  are not afraid to fight for their
  
  own world. (And love)
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS