Reviews

Sister Killjoy is travelling and observing the strange customs of the people (like eating cold food in Germany, the loneliness of the people and the shadows of the nazi regime) - but she is also pointing out the racism, sexism, thinly veiled slavery she meets along her way - and the strange (and mostly poor) lives of the brightest of Africans studying in London - and pointing out how they lie about the conditions to those at home, and refusing togo home. But she does this while telling stories of love and life, and not in a preaching or overly analytical way (this is not Memmi). Which make this powerful writing, from a lady who doesn’t believe she should shut up, even if she is a woman.

And if you are not reading it for the story and opinions, read it for it’s interesting modernist style - with prose poem intermissions between the trains of thought and more classic parts.

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Our Sister Killjoy follows Sissie as she pursues her education in Ghana, gains government support to study in Germany and then returns via England. It is divided into four sections and was very inventive incorporating an epistolary element, poetic elements and some unique typographical layouts alongside the more conventional fictional structure. Content wise the standout for me was the various ways colonialism was highlighted and called out, and the role of education in perpetuating colonialism’s legacy. I also liked the way she interrogated the practice of international students opting to stay there rather than return to their home country, pointing out that disadvantages of doing so. Lots of good intersectional elements as well - race, gender, sexuality - with all feeling intrinsic to Sissie’s story.

Content Warnings

emilykatereads's review against another edition

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4.0

This is a book that I think I will have to re-read to fully grasp. Nevertheless, this was a great read.

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