Scan barcode
laurenkd89's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Nyokabi - her family's Responsible Oldest Daughter - loses her brother to suicide. Just before the funeral, Nyokabi's auntie gives her a home remedy that allows her to wake up in times when her brother was still alive. She tries and tries to keep him alive, to fight the inevitable. But Nyokabi learns deep lessons about fate, pain, and time.
The book is beautiful and almost transcends time-bound perspectives, shifting between Nyokabi's lifetime, colonial Kenya, and her mother and great-grandmother's lifetimes. Some parts of this were a bit confusing, and there is a lot of untranslated Swahili through the book that I wish was footnoted to give a bit more understanding of the conversations - but nonetheless, it's a powerful and beautifully written book about grief and love.
The book is beautiful and almost transcends time-bound perspectives, shifting between Nyokabi's lifetime, colonial Kenya, and her mother and great-grandmother's lifetimes. Some parts of this were a bit confusing, and there is a lot of untranslated Swahili through the book that I wish was footnoted to give a bit more understanding of the conversations - but nonetheless, it's a powerful and beautifully written book about grief and love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Homophobia
lavenderdafrog1's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
inkychaotics's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
"Time will make you forget that some things hurt as deeply as they did..."
This was such an interesting read with incredibly fluid viewpoints -- it took me a few chapters to get into the way the story was being told through all of the different characters, but I ended up really enjoying how the tale moved between these connected lives. There are so many poignant moments and reflections on grief. Heartbreaking and beautiful, overall.
This was such an interesting read with incredibly fluid viewpoints -- it took me a few chapters to get into the way the story was being told through all of the different characters, but I ended up really enjoying how the tale moved between these connected lives. There are so many poignant moments and reflections on grief. Heartbreaking and beautiful, overall.
anajoanreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
alic59books's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tyrshand's review against another edition
5.0
I've been pondering this book for days now, trying to figure out what to say and how to say it. I don't know that I'm really there yet, but after watching "Midnight Mass" on Netflix, maybe I have some coherent thoughts.
Both stories explore what death means and what trying to avoid it does, though the show is obviously a horror rather than fantasy story, though I would also say that the character arcs are equally horrific -- but also strangely beautiful. Both stories are incredibly moving and don't pull their punches and, in the end, reach similar conclusions about what comes after. There's the grief and tragedy and trauma, for sure. It's not GOOD to die before your time. But... maybe what comes after isn't the worst.
Of course, that's where the two stories diverge with their messages. "Midnight Mass" is about outside forces, whereas "And This is How to Stay Alive" begins with a suicide. And believe me, reading about a queer person deciding they can't last in this world is typically the LAST thing I want to read about. I understand if that keeps you away from this. But, despite the tragedy, the musings on death and hopelessness were cathartic rather than misery porn. There's a lot of guilt to go around with the different perspectives, but not really blame, I think. (also, I typically dislike books with multiple POVs because they just slow everything down... but this tiny book used the POVs perfectly) A bit that resonated with me was how being "rescued" can feel from the other side... It certainly has me thinking about when I get into rescue mode, but also how I feel when I need it...
Anyway, I am ridiculously impressed with how much power and insight and emotion was packed into a hundred pages and I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.
Both stories explore what death means and what trying to avoid it does, though the show is obviously a horror rather than fantasy story, though I would also say that the character arcs are equally horrific -- but also strangely beautiful. Both stories are incredibly moving and don't pull their punches and, in the end, reach similar conclusions about what comes after. There's the grief and tragedy and trauma, for sure. It's not GOOD to die before your time. But... maybe what comes after isn't the worst.
Of course, that's where the two stories diverge with their messages. "Midnight Mass" is about outside forces, whereas "And This is How to Stay Alive" begins with a suicide. And believe me, reading about a queer person deciding they can't last in this world is typically the LAST thing I want to read about. I understand if that keeps you away from this. But, despite the tragedy, the musings on death and hopelessness were cathartic rather than misery porn. There's a lot of guilt to go around with the different perspectives, but not really blame, I think. (also, I typically dislike books with multiple POVs because they just slow everything down... but this tiny book used the POVs perfectly) A bit that resonated with me was how being "rescued" can feel from the other side... It certainly has me thinking about when I get into rescue mode, but also how I feel when I need it...
Anyway, I am ridiculously impressed with how much power and insight and emotion was packed into a hundred pages and I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.
smittenbystories's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
“I could hear it calling me. Not the box—the thing inside it. I could smell so many different things from within: sweet and bitter, sour, salty, honey, savoury, pungent, thick, but also soft, lingering. The past and the future.
The smell of time is heavy.”
I lovelovelove this novella. It is magical. A beautiful book of grief and siblings told through short chapters of different characters’ points of view. Just… wow.
The smell of time is heavy.”
I lovelovelove this novella. It is magical. A beautiful book of grief and siblings told through short chapters of different characters’ points of view. Just… wow.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Suicide
halcyon_nights's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Homophobia, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
neridah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5