A review by lilyreads01
The Selfless Act of Breathing by J.J. Bola

4.0

The Selfless Act of Breathing by JJ Bola is a deep, lyrical story of unraveling. Michael Kabongo is a British-Congolese teacher living in London. He is living two lives on the surface he looks to inspire his students and protect his mother but inside he is drowning as he witnesses injustice, discrimination and the violence that isolates the young black men around him. After a tragedy, Michael decides to leave for America with his life savings, his journey is a ticking clock as he finds himself spiralling into depression and darkness. On this journey he finds love, friendship and loss. The prose is beautiful and rich creating a tender portrait of a man in crisis. Each chapter changes setting and timeframe and this can be difficult to navigate and some chapters I wish were more expansive on Michael’s journey, Overall, this is a moving, important book on the power of hope and opening ourselves up to vulnerability. For fans of contemporary fiction 4 stars ⭐️.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.