7th March, 2025 in Recommended Reads

Malipolitan by Christopher Dainton

“The danger comes when you try to change the people and the land to put America in its place. You will find us too stubborn for that. Because whether an egg is dropped on a stone or a stone on an egg, it is always the egg that breaks. Our culture is made of stone, and we don’t need the help of the West to find ourselves. Just wait. One day, we will give you our hand, not as a beggar, but as a friend.” The novel, Malipolitan, by Christopher Dainton, focuses on the endeavors of its central character, Doctor Paul, who seeks to find a place amongst Malians in West African society that he in turn desires to aid. However, through his experiences in romantic misunderstandings and struggles in the medical field despite his altruistic intentions, Malipolitan artfully delves into the doubts, language barriers, cultural differences, and pre-conceived notions the Canadian doctor brings to his practice.