A very real look at what it is like going through a break up
The book opens with Kate and Finn, a couple whose been together for years going through A very real look at what it is like going through a break up
The book opens with Kate and Finn, a couple whose been together for years going through an intense fight. This is nothing new, they’ve been fighting a lot for the last few years but Finn finally said the words that pushed them over the edge, “I do not like you any more!”. With those words before them, they must now decide how to move forward. The decision is they will break up, no contact… ish, and they will share the house they have a lease on for the next 12 weeks. Kate gets the house one week and Finn the next and they alternate until the lease ends. This plan makes sense… that is until Kate comes back every Sunday and is reminded that her life is not where she thought it would be and the person she thought she would spend the rest of forever may not be the one.
What an amazing read! I absolutely loved this book and I think it hits differently because the main character is in her thirties and I feel like we don’t read a lot of break up stories with people in their thirties. A lot of what Kate goes through is real, she’s got her friends who tells her Finn is not good for her, she may know this but starting over is hard.
There are so many amazing parts of this book but what I love most is how Kate really goes through the motions. If you’ve been through a break up or if you are going through one, I highly recommend this read. ...more
A heartwarming, moving, and deeply affecting! If you are a music lover, you are going to love this one!
What an immersive experience, I loved every m A heartwarming, moving, and deeply affecting! If you are a music lover, you are going to love this one!
What an immersive experience, I loved every moment of this book. Not only is it musical journey but you learn so much about Kenyan and Ethiopian history and culture. It is such a relevant piece of literary that saddles music and history in the most beautiful way. Did I mention it is HILAROUS!
In Unbury our Dead with Songs we meet a Kenyan Journalist, John Thandi Manfredi who is a disappointment to his social ladder climbing parents because he is writer for a trashy newspaper. One night he is a bar where we witnesses four musicians in a competition to perform the best Tizita. Overcome by the beauty of Tizita he decides to write a story following the four musicians—The Diva, The Corporal, the Taliban Man, and Miriam. The reporter follows them to Ethiopia to know more about their upbringing and what makes them a great Tizita singer. He learns more about himself and the craft of Tizita than he set out for.
This book is a gem and I enjoyed every moment of it! ...more
Brilliant, captivating, brimming with culture, and dark piece of Trinidad and Tobago’s history, the perfect read if you love Caribbean literature.
I Brilliant, captivating, brimming with culture, and dark piece of Trinidad and Tobago’s history, the perfect read if you love Caribbean literature.
Ingrid Persaud knows how to write Trinidad and Tobago’s culture, history and lifestyle in the most nuanced way and she shows us this, first with Love After Love and now with The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh . This is an un-put-downable read filled with characters you will scream at, cheer for and won’t ever forget.
If you don’t know, Boysie Singh was a notorious Trinidadian killer who was eventually hanged for murder in the mid-1950s. He was charged three times for murder and on the third time he was convicted and hung. The historical fiction book is the story of four women who were charmed and some would say in love with Boysie Singh. The book is told from the perspective of four women who some would say fell in love with Boysie Singh and how their love for him impacted their lives and the life of those around them. We meet:
Popo is a known prostitute who is trying to change her ways. Boysie Singh is one of her clients, and after an unfortunate situation he invites her to come and live with him. She helps him starts and manage his business with the hopes of changing both their lives for the better. What happens when she “oversteps” her boundaries?
Mana Lana is Boysie Singh’s baby mother, she is deeply devoted to Boysie and their son, she wishes a steady family life for them but Boysie refuses to choose her. She sticks around with the hopes of one day being the woman Boysie chooses.
Doris, born and grew up in Toco but knows she isn’t meant for such a “small space”. She makes her way to Port-Of-Spain where she meets Boysie Singh. He woos her relentlessly but she is a woman who knows what she wants and once Boysie decides to marry her, she unleashes her plan to help them climb Port Of Spain social ladder.
Rosie is a storeowner who is being made to pay a “rent” to Boysie and his men. She just wants to run her store and not have anything to do with Boysie, as fate would have it, she gets caught in the crossfire.
These four women were impacted by one man, a gangster, murderer and con artist- who will survive? Who will be forever changed and how do they move pass their relationship with the infamous Boysie Singh.
This book is specatular. It is clear that Ingrid Persaud did her search into the history and culture of Trinidad and Tobago during that period. She writes the Trini dialect with amazing precision and brings each character to life their they specific tone and voice. I think that is the think I love most about Persaud’s writing, her ability to capture characters who are believable while still be flawed. Yes, I didn’t love Boysie Singh, but I found myself wanting to see him win, even though, historically I know how story ends.
The women in the book are layered, engaging, and keep you invested. Through the writing, you understand who they “fell” for a man like Boysie and you journey with them as they come to their senses.
I cannot begin to recommend this book enough. How Ingrid writes about the food, the culture and tells this very known story in a unique way… its time that everyone reads this book!...more
I am one of those persons who visibly cringe when I hear Africa being referred to as one thing, when it is so muThis is what I call required reading.
I am one of those persons who visibly cringe when I hear Africa being referred to as one thing, when it is so much more than that. I started reading this book during my 70 tour of the African continent and the insights that I got from that book made the experience even better.
This book is truly a great way to get a more layered look at the continent- it’s history, the culture and how colonialism impacted the continent to this day. There is so much history, truth and insights is packed into this book. I was reading this book and nodding the entire time because there are so many things I do not know.
In Lucky Girl we meet Soila who was born and raised in Kenya. On her fifth birthday her dad mysterio So many thoughts and feelings about this book…
In Lucky Girl we meet Soila who was born and raised in Kenya. On her fifth birthday her dad mysteriously dies and no one speaks about it, especially her very strict mother who raised her to be grateful, always give back and not complain too much. Since Solia’s father’s death, her mother took over the business and made it very profitable. They are very well off, Soila is very sheltered because her mother doesn’t want her to end up like the “other girls”. She lives at home with her aunties and does her best to be obedient. As a teenager she misses out on a lot and craves freedom. With college coming up she decides she wants to go to the US to study. Behind her mother’s back she applies and is approved for college. After much fight her mother says yes. In New York she makes friends, falls in love, finds out who she is in the world, and tries to navigate what it means to be a Kenyan living in the US. She learns a lot, loses a lot and finds peace on her journey.
Here are my thoughts on this book:
It was a very easy read, it is one of those books you spend a day trying to finish because you needed to know what happened. What decision Soila ends up making.
The book have a very strong mother-daughter relationship themed and while I love reading books that centered on it, it made me not like Soila. I find she did not stand up for herself and was so fraidy-fraidy. At one point I found myself screaming “YOU ARE AN ADULT!!!!!”
I felt the author really bemoaned a lot of topics to the point. Yes, I loved reading about what it is like for an African living in America versus an African American living there. When those topics came up it felt forced, it read like a thesis, it didn’t just seamlessly flowed through the book. It was just these big blocks of “let’s discuss this…for 4-6 pages.”
I did not believe the romance in the book or the relationship Soila had with her first boyfriend. It was so cold and unbelievable. I didn’t even care when they broke up.
There were a lot of characters in the book and I wish instead of so many aunties the author focused on 1-2 building out their backstories a bit more.
I also felt the author packed so much in the short book- sexual harassment, racism, coming of age, friendship, identity, love, art, 9/11, where is home… every single theme was ticked, this could be a good or bad thing I guess. For me, it felt like tew much.
You are probably reading this thinking, “well, what exactly did you enjoy?”. Honestly, I enjoyed how the book made me feel. It felt fresh, it was a solid coming of age. And even though Solia enrages me, I still couldn’t help cheering for her. I think this would made a perfect book club pick. ...more
I laughed out loud so many times reading this book! What an exceptionally charming, funny and heart-warming read!
In Late Bloomers we meet the Rama I laughed out loud so many times reading this book! What an exceptionally charming, funny and heart-warming read!
In Late Bloomers we meet the Raman family who is going through a lot of changes. The book is told from the perspective of all the family members, Suresh, Lata, Priya and Nikesh. After 36 years of being married Suresh and Lata finally decides to divorced after much unhappiness. Suresh ends up keeping the family home and Lata rents a condo close by wanting to start somewhere fresh. Everyone is trying to navigate the changes while figuring out how to start over so late in life.
Suresh is trying online dating and doesn’t seem to be getting any luck. There’s been a series of catfish, lies and all around disappointment until he meets one woman who seems to be very interested but then ghosts him for weeks then shows up with her suitcase and son at his door steps. Lata is loving her newfound independence, she got a job as a librarian and loves going to work and doing something with her time. She finds so much solace and joy in doing very little, making friends with her co-worker. Everything seem to be going well until a Professor walks into her life with a CD he specifically curated for her.
Priya gets weekly calls from her father reminding her that her ovaries are dying and she needs to get married. She is currently a professor, doing well for herself but cannot seem to stop smoking or seeing a married man.
Nikesh is the golden child who seems to have it all together, a son, living in a New York apartment, working at a prestigious law firm… except what his family doesn’t know is that he lied about marrying the mother of his child and has been lying about how happy his life is.
Everything comes to a head when they all come together to celebrate Nikesh’s sons birthday! Honestly, THIS is what I mean by a book filled with characters who will live rent free in my mind! The writing is fresh, heartwarming, charming and did I mention HILARIOUS!!!! There were times when I literally was howling! The writer did a spectacular job of writing believable characters from four different point of views and I LOVED IT!
This is such a heartwarming read for anyone who believes in second chances, cheering for underdogs or if you are just starting out. This is a remainder that is it never too late and you can do it.
I loved everything about this book! What a brilliant, freshly crafted debut novel!
I am not going to lie; this book floored me in a good way. The aut I loved everything about this book! What a brilliant, freshly crafted debut novel!
I am not going to lie; this book floored me in a good way. The author did a spectacular job showcasing how society views the body of women in such a layered way. The story is told from the perspective of three characters:
A man who sees the woman in the gym and get a front seat view into how she transforms her body. He sees her on her first day in the gym and how she transforms both in the gym and in personal setting… because they start dating.
Her mother gives us a history of how she was growing up, her personality and the kind of daughter she was. I really enjoyed the mother’s perspective because I loved the mother-daughter theme that was explored.
A co-worker/friend who basically took in the character after a disastrous break-up, she dotes on her and nurses her back to life. I think she had the most unique look into the character as she went from being abused to owning her power.
Through the three point of view we basically piece together who the character is and her motivation behind her transformation. I loved that the author took us through each stage, even though it wasn’t told the character herself and I think that is what made it very intriguing.
This is truly just an unforgettable, unique read that I hope a lot of people will pick up. ...more
One of my favourite reads of 2022 that I will be screaming about this year. If you read this book and do not like it- unfollow me because….. this bookOne of my favourite reads of 2022 that I will be screaming about this year. If you read this book and do not like it- unfollow me because….. this book is brilliant, fresh, laugh-out loud funny, heartbreaking, poignant and visceral. A top favourite for me.
The Dreaming is a collection of twelve short stories, set in Trinidad and Tobago that follows the lives of queer men as they navigate a society that is still not as accepting of them. The collection documents their social interactions, dating, heartbreak, relationships, sex and love. Of the twelve stories all were my favourites. I loved reading about a Queer Writer in Trinidad looking for love and all the wrong turns that they end up taking before they find it.
This book is distinctly Trini and I think that is what I enjoyed most about it. I know all the roads, clubs, coffee shops and bars mentioned in the book. Bagoo does an exceptional job of telling stories we generally don’t read and I was here for it. If you love Kei Miller or Jonathan Escoffery’s work, I think you will absolutely enjoy this one.
This is the gold standard of memoirs. Brilliant, moving, an emotional journey, layered, spectacular, heavy, redeeming, unforgettable and un-putdownab This is the gold standard of memoirs. Brilliant, moving, an emotional journey, layered, spectacular, heavy, redeeming, unforgettable and un-putdownable.
I read this book a month ago and I am still unable to put into words how brilliant this memoir is. My life is forever changed reading this book. Safiya Sincliar’s writing is forever in my heart and I need everyone to experience this masterpiece and for it to win all the awards.
How To Say Babylon: A Jamaican Memoir by Safiya Sinclair’s explores childhood and adulthood growing up in a very strict Rastafarian household in Jamaica where she and especially her sisters were subjected to numerous rules to maintain and keep their purity. She showcases how this upbringing impacted every part of her life and how she was able to break free.
Safiya grew up in a Jamaican household with her mother, brother and sisters to a Rastafarian father. He was once in a popular band when he met her mother before they fell in love and started having children. He became obsessed with everything ital, purity and the teachings of Selassie and Rastafarianism. She and her siblings had to cover themselves constantly, they weren’t allowed to have friends, or lean into the Western world because it was a construct of Babylon. When asked why certain things were they way they were, “Babylon business” would be the resounding answer. Disobedience was never tolerated and her father ruled with a strong first or sometimes belt.
Despite all of this Safiya and her siblings turned out to be academically gifted, receiving scholarships, awards and being the head of their classes. This was a point of pride for her father who loved that his children were considered geniuses. Through their academic gift they were able to break free of their father’s strict rule but the scars continue to be there. In Sinclair how she worked through the trauma and how she made it out on the other side. Friends, I have read 60 books for the year so far and this is one of my top favourite reads. I felt real emotions reading this book, I was sobbing at the end of the book and that goes back to how much of an expert writer Sinclair is. She carried me through a range of emotions which all ended in forgiveness.
I have read a lot of memoirs and this one shines the brightest and I think it is because Sinclair was able to lay bare all the things that happened to her and how she dealt with it. I learned so much about Jamaica’s history with Rastafarianism and I thank Sinclair for putting in the work and research and shining light on the massacre that happened to Rastafarians living in Jamaica. This was also the first time I read a book that details what it is like being raised with a devout Rastafarian parent.
What I loved about this book is that Sinclair did not tell a one-dimensional story, it was “my father treated me bad” she showcase his history, why he is the way he is today and how that fed into how he raised his children. His character arc… can it be a character arc if it’s a real life story? But the father’s character arc was *chef’s kiss* and the ending will ruin you!
If you only read one book in your life, read this!
Additional Note I know publishing are supposed to market other memoirs using memoirs we may know but I wish they had tried harder for a book like this that is distinctly Jamaican. So, if you read this memoir and loved it I highlight recommend you read Lorna Goodison's From Harvey River: A Memoir of My Mother and Her Island. In her book Sinclair wrote about Jamaica and her father, in Goodison's book she also wrote about Jamaica and her mother. These books are talking to each other and I hope you find the time to read and listen....more
Every now and then a book comes along that makes you cancel all your plans and spend the entire time enveloped in the pages of the book- never wantin Every now and then a book comes along that makes you cancel all your plans and spend the entire time enveloped in the pages of the book- never wanting to leave- Maame is such book! Engrossing, engaging, beautifully written with a main character you would go to war for.
Let me start with saying MAAME is one of my favorite books for 2023 and it is just February- but I am calling it. This is a must read.
In Maame we meet Maddie, in her twenties and should be living her best London life but with everyone of her family member shirking their duties she ends up being the primary caretaker for her father who suffers from Parkinson’s. Her mother spends half the year in London and the other half in Ghana but makes sure to ask for money and send strongly worded text telling Maddie how to live her life. Maddie’s older brother left the family home a long time to live and travel with his friends. He checks in, but his life mostly involves his friends who he’s made his family. Maddie must take care of her family, go to work at a very unrewarding job where her boss is unreasonable, unstable and chaotic- all while being the only Black person present. It is exhausting.
Finally Maddie’s mother returns to London to take over as lead caregiver for her husband and Maddie can now step into the role of young twenty-something-finding herself! She moves out, starts making friends, dating, speaking up for herself, and making a list of what the New Maddie will look like. Maddie is way out of her comfort zone but intends to lean into the life she couldn’t live previously. All seems to be going great until it is not and Maddie’s world comes crumbling… fast.
Let me tell you something… I inhaled this book. Well written, funny, moving, this book will have you fighting for a fictional character. Jessica George did the damn thing with this book. I can see this being the book of 2023 because the character is so relatable. The book touches on a number of topics dating, family, grief, friendship, religion, microaggression at work, family expectation, racism, capitalism, all while being relevant and not trying too hard.
Maame does brilliantly what Such A Fun Age was trying to do. I will say, if you enjoyed Queenie, you will definitely love reading about Maddie. Very complex characters who are going through things you may have experience. I will say the ending felt rushed and there were some google searches that could have been left out but overall a very stunning debut.
Let me tell you, this book will be on every list come 2023. I truly cannot believe this is a debut nov BLOWN AWAY! What an unforgettable debut novel!
Let me tell you, this book will be on every list come 2023. I truly cannot believe this is a debut novel, it is well written, filled with characters you cannot help but cheer for, who are going through relatable things. I cannot recommend Rootless enough.
Rootless opens with Sam reaching home and not finding his wife Efe. Their bank account is missing $1,300, their daughter is crying and Efe is not picking up her phone. Sam feels totally blind sighted, where is Efe? Where did the money go? Why isn’t Efe’s sister picking up? How does one disappear?
Efe and her sister were sent to the UK from Ghana to live with her Aunty for a better life. Efe and her sister thrived somewhat in the UK but they missed home. Efe wasn’t sure where her place is in the world but she knew she wanted to leave an impact. She met Sam while in high school and they stay connected while in University. Through a series of events, they got together later in life, got married and everything was going great, until Efe accidentally got pregnant.
Efe struggled through her first pregnancy, she went through it because Sam left her no choice. Motherhood was hard for Efe, so much so her parents came from Ghana to take her child from her. After three years, Efe and Sam are finally happy, back into a groove, and enjoying their marriage and being a parent. That is until Efe disappears.
A truly heart breaking novel about motherhood, tradition, marriage, regret, love, family and what it means to lose yourself for others. The author covered the theme in such a layered and brilliant way. It is one of those books you read and you can feel your heart constricting, because while you don’t want the book to end, you need to find out what happens. A truly brilliant book that EVERYONE will love!...more
Before there was An American Marriage there was Silver Sparrow . I am shaking myself for taking so long to read Silver Sparrow because it is truly Before there was An American Marriage there was Silver Sparrow . I am shaking myself for taking so long to read Silver Sparrow because it is truly so good.
The book opens a daughter saying, “My father, James Witherspoon is a bigamist,”. With an opening like this, you KNOW the book is about to be lit. Set in Atlanta during the 1980s we meet James Witherspoon, a Black man with two families- one he claims publicly and the other is a secret. Yes, we all know a James Witherspoon. The novel separated into two points of views, one from each daughter. We hear from the daughter who is secret, how they became and secret, how finding out about her sister impacts how she sees her father, her relationship with her mother and how she navigates the world.
The second part of the book is told from the perspective of the daughter who James claims publicly. She is not aware of his second family, but with such a small neighbourhood, they are bound to meet. What will happen when they do? Who will James claim?
Listen, Tayari Jones is an expect storyteller- but we all know this from An American Marriage. I love how she writes about difficult topics but make them so nuanced and layered. She does an excellent job of telling us how James became a bigamist and how his actions will affect so many lives. Things like this are never just black and white and I think that is the lesson Jones wants us to come away with.
Read this if you love books about family dynamics! ...more
Truly an unforgettable read that explores father-daughter relationship
Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrell opens with Circus Palmer, a forty- Truly an unforgettable read that explores father-daughter relationship
Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrell opens with Circus Palmer, a forty-year-old ladies man and trumpet player finding out that one of his long time woman, and the one he loves the most-Maggie, is expecting their child. Circus does what he does best, he left her, not wanting to be tied down. Circus feels betrayed as he currently has a teenage daughter who doesn’t take care of, and for Maggie to “allow” something like this to happen to him again, he just cannot reconcile it.
Koko, is Circus daughter, turning a teenager, she’s got a lot of questions that only Circus can answer but he is not around. We get a look at how she feels about her father and his absence and how that impacts her.
Throughout the book we are introduced to a series of women who tells of their experiences with Circus Palmer. Being a travelling musician means there are so many towns, cities and women he’s met over the years that he’s formed relationships with. Some of these women take it for what it is, others still think he will settle down… with them.
Laura Warrell did a superb job with tell the story of Circus Palmer. I love that he wasn’t a cliché musicians who had a child in every town, not considering how his actions impacts others. There was so much nuance and care to the Circus, the women he’s hurt and his daughter. It is not often you pick up a book and read about a mother who left her child in the care of her “dead beat” ex-husband. I love seeing his character arc.
This is truly a delightful read with so much to explore! ...more
Atmospheric, immersive, un-put-down-able, truly impressive storytelling from a Caribbean voice you will want to hear from again…and again….
Hungry G Atmospheric, immersive, un-put-down-able, truly impressive storytelling from a Caribbean voice you will want to hear from again…and again….
Hungry Ghosts opens with four boys doing a blood pact that will make them brothers for the rest of their lives. Do they know what this pact means? How will it impact their individual lives? That is exactly what we find out in this book.
Set on the island of Trinidad and Tobago in the 1940s we are taken to the Barrack, a community that lives in poverty, no running water barely able to make ends meet but proud people. Overlooking Barrack is the Changoor Farm where Marlee and her husband, Dalton lives in a big house that is taken care of by three men. Dalton is known by the community to have a lot money but no one knows where it comes from. Marlee, lives in the house and hardly interacts with anyone from the community so rumours are made up about her. One day Marlee wakes up and her husband is nowhere to be found. She starts getting messages and death threats. In an effort to protect herself, she hires one of the men from the Barrack to be a guard at the house until her husband “comes back home”. Hans, the new watchman for Marlee is faced with a lot of choices- take the job in order to make enough to get his family out of the Barrack, or continue to live simple life… his choice leads to immeasurable consequences.
A corbeau will always be a corbeau, hated by the world that it will eventually eat… Kevin Jared Hosein is an expert storyteller, how he is able to tell nuanced story rich with history, and explores classism, racism, religion, traditions, jealousy, love and violence is truly magical. Hungry Ghost is rich in atmosphere, you feel like you are transported to Barrack and immersed into the lives of the people there. You get so invested in how the story will go and that all goes back to Hosein’s writing. The writing in this book is absolutely impeccable, the characters’ stories are told with care and deeply tender. You feel for each character and you recognize that they are each going through so much and I loved that the author made them characters we could relate to.
There is a lot of strong themes happening in the book and generally that is hard for an author to explore each and do it justice but Hosein was able to do it expertly. We had coming-of-age, love, poverty, classism, religion and racism well explored- each leaving you with food for thought. I also loved how truly authentic the book felt- you were taken to the island of Trinidad and Tobago during the 1940s and you feel that through the writing and research done.
In the author’s note he said, “Fifteen years ago, my own stories were set in places I had never visited… The few Trinidadian stories I had written felt painstaking and derivative, embarrassingly littered with footnotes attempting to explain what is a corbeau… I wanted to write a book that not only electrified but was also more than its plotline and its characters- that could be a portal to the Caribbean, even at such a dark time of Trinidadian history.”
I truly cannot recommend this book enough. Please read....more
Believe the hype. This book is everything and so much more. I don't even want to tell you what it is about, just be prepared not to able to put down tBelieve the hype. This book is everything and so much more. I don't even want to tell you what it is about, just be prepared not to able to put down this book once you start reading it. ...more
Fresh, biting, laugh out loud funny, chilling, relatable and brazen! A debut collection that you won’t soon forget!
If I Survive You is a collectio Fresh, biting, laugh out loud funny, chilling, relatable and brazen! A debut collection that you won’t soon forget!
If I Survive You is a collection of interconnected short stories told from a Jamaican family living in Miami. While it is a collection of short stories, it does read like a novel because each story connects and move the plot along, while being told from the point of view of different family members.
We meet Christopher (Topper) and Sanya, both were born and grew up in Jamaica in the 1950s, they met and fell in love but with the political turmoil they moved to Miami with their son Delano and end up having another son- Trelawny while in Miami. With a loan from his father, Topper opens a landscaping business, business begins to boom after Hurricane Andrew but not enough to combat the recession. The family topples over when Topper heads to Jamaica after the death of his parents and in a moment of weakness- make a decision that impacts his family greatly. Topper and Sanya separates, Sanya gets Trelawny and Topper ends up with Delano. With the family falling out, we see how this impacts each member uniquely…. But also, this book is so much more than that.
We meet Trelawny who is constantly having an identity crisis- he doesn’t look or sound Jamaican, he looks Dominican but cannot speak Spanish and Black people don’t know which box to put him in. He doesn’t understand his Jamaican father and wishes he could call the island home. Delano is his father’s son- he decides to skip University and with a loan from his father he opens a business but while he got a strong start in life, ended up with a wife and two children- with the second recession will he end up like his dad? Sanya decides she is done taking care of men and wants to live her life now. Topper, isn’t sure what is next for him but he still wants to find for his marriage. We meet characters who are going through it. I think what I enjoyed most about this book is the writing. I am blown away at how distinct each POV is- it is unmistakable who is narrating their chapter because of the writing and storytelling. There were moments when I literally was laughing out loud- and being insanely sad because it feels as if each character just cyan ketch a little break.
I think at the heart of this book is the humanity, each character wants to be better, to be change, to have a better way but they are living in a country that is not for them and it feels the deck is always stacked against them. We meet a father who failed, who is fathering a son he doesn’t recognize or cannot seem to read. We meet a son who constantly struggles to fit in, to know he is and what is his place in the world.
I am not going to lie- Topper must be the most hilarious character I’ve read in a long time. The man had the HOWLING with his one liner. If you loved Mr. Loverman and the main character then you are going to eat Topper up. He may not be as loveable as Barrington but one thing is for sure, he is HILARIOUS.
This book is written with so much heart, it is nuanced, fresh, engaging and offers so much food for thought. I want everyone to read this book. If you loved How To Love A Jamaican or Frying Plantain Please watch out for this truly amazing debut novel- I could not get enough of it!...more
Relevant, timeless and a must read especially for African Women
This is the book I needed to read that I didn't know I needed to read. A great, in-de Relevant, timeless and a must read especially for African Women
This is the book I needed to read that I didn't know I needed to read. A great, in-depth look at the sex lives of African women who are living on and off the continent. I felt the collection was layered, informative and truly a great addition to African and African Diaspora reads. It is not every day you pick up a book that delves deeply into the intimate lives of Black Women and I wanted a lot more.
I cannot recommend this collection enough. ...more
More books told from the perspective of persons over 60 please!
I absolutely love Elizabeth Strout’s writing and her ability to write about everythin More books told from the perspective of persons over 60 please!
I absolutely love Elizabeth Strout’s writing and her ability to write about everything and nothing. It take a special kind of writer to keep you interested when if feels like nothing is happen. Oh, William!” is about Lucy Barton and her ex-husband, William. Lucy recently lost her husband and is still grieving, added t o that William’s younger wife for years finally left him. William must now navigate life alone, a lot is being thrown his way, including finding out some major family secrets.
I gobbled this book up- it was unpretentious, charming and had you rooting for Lucy and William in so many ways. I love reading books about characters who are still going through it even in their 60s. Strout is able to introduce so many things and it is well crafted.
Truly a charming read that you won’t want to end....more
BookOfCinz Book Club Pick Absolutely loved this book and of course I had to make it a book club pick!
Lest We Find Gold is Melanie Schwapp's sophomor BookOfCinz Book Club Pick Absolutely loved this book and of course I had to make it a book club pick!
Lest We Find Gold is Melanie Schwapp's sophomore novel. The book follows the life of Milly from her early years to her present life with her husband. Milly has a lot going for her, well educated, a practicing nurse with a big future ahead of her. She meets her husband when he comes into the hospital for heart palpitations and since then Milly finds herself dying a little daily.
I really enjoyed this book, Melanie Schwapp really did a great job of painting such a full picture of Milly my heart ached for her and her suffering. I loved how the book was formatted, we get insight to Milly's early life with the backdrop of her current life. I particularly loved the exploration of the mother-daughter relationship, that for me was so well done. As a Jamaican, I particularly loved how Jamaican the book felt, from the descriptions, to the various cultural nuances-it was great!
My only complaint was I felt the husband's character could have been a bit more. Maybe this is me looking for a reason why some men turn out the way they do but... I also would have liked to hear more about the sister, I felt her character could have gotten some more airplay.
If you are looking for a great read, with a lead female character who is brave I highly recommend this read....more
You are going to laugh, cry, get enraged and fall madly in love with Ronke, Simi and Boo! This book is not just a pretty cover! It is engaging , trulyYou are going to laugh, cry, get enraged and fall madly in love with Ronke, Simi and Boo! This book is not just a pretty cover! It is engaging , truly unputdownable you wont want to leave your new friend behind!
I am a little annoyed that the publishers choose to compare these amazing ladies to those other characters because I feel like I relate more to them than four white women living in New York City… but I digress. In Wahala we meet three Nigerian women Ronke, Boo, and Simi who are all living in London. They all met while in University and bonded because of their Nigerian background. Years later and their friendships are strong as ever even though they are all in different stages of their lives.
Ronke is still searching for her happily ever after and thinks she’s found it with Kayode who can be a bit sketchy, added to that, her friends don’t really like him but he’s been showing up and doing better- that counts for something right? On the outside Boo seems to have everything going for her, a wonderful husband, rambunctious daughter and a job she gets to go into when she feels like. Even with all of this, she still feels unfulfilled and like something is missing. Simi is that friend who just seems to shine- you can never catch her faltering…but what happens when the shine wears off and she let her hair down?
Simi introduces her two friend to her long time childhood friend Isobel… Isobel swoops in and charms everyone excluding Boo… Boo thinks something is “off” about her, but everyone tells her she is being ridiculous… will they see what Boo is talking about before it’s too late?
Y’all I LOVED this one. I ate is up! I truly enjoyed being in the lives of these three women- they felt real and truly relatable. I could pinpoint exactly which friend was who and that is what I exactly why I was enamored with this book. The writing is fresh, engaging and I could not get enough of the pop references.
Nikki May does a great job of showcasing Black Women and friendship in a way that was not overdone and eye-rolling and I want more persons to experience this. Truly an experience you won’t forget!...more
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