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aish_dols's reviews
92 reviews
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
5.0
"And they themselves mocked Africa, trading stories of absurdity, of stupidity, and they felt safe to mock, because it was mockery born of longing and of the heartbroken desire to see a place made whole again."
Separated by the quest for a better life, teenage lovers, Ifemelu and Obinze deal with conflicting emotions, the shape shifting circumstances of their lives, the long distance, and everything the universe wrapped up to spread out in over a decade to challenge this thing called love but Americanah isn't just a book about love but the nigerian militory dictatorship, racial segregation, race and class, hints of antisemitism, 9/11, immigration, feminism, and so much more. Characters branched from the lives of characters and Chimamanda's effortless artistry engaged me, sucked all the attention needed for me to breathe every word of this book in.
Ifemelu discovered Race in America, the detailed difference from colour to assent to hair. Adichie wrote of how tasking it is to keep up with natural hair in a country where blacks are expected to conform. I was open to the nuances of race, and several types in America. The novel wove stories from three different continents, which is sheer brilliant. Ifemelu was also a race blogger and I enjoyed reading her blog posts, Adichie highlighted the challenges a creative faces like how having an audience can frighten and exhilarate you, sometimes making your quest for knowledge double up, how addictive interaction is but how intimidating too especially if you've an intelligent audience.
Americanah was written back and forth, the pages shifting between Ifemelu and Obinze's past and present until the end. The lovers had several obstacles with Ifemelu diving in and out of relationships, one with her White-American boyfriend & Black-American academic lover but she always didn't 'feel what she wanted to feel' and decided to go back to Nigeria but to whom? To a married Obinze? Who's now a father? Americanah holds complications, turns and just when you think you've reached a cul-de-sac, you see a tunnel. I liked the end because Chimamanda is unpredictable. I didn't know what to expect. Americanah is a masterpiece.
Separated by the quest for a better life, teenage lovers, Ifemelu and Obinze deal with conflicting emotions, the shape shifting circumstances of their lives, the long distance, and everything the universe wrapped up to spread out in over a decade to challenge this thing called love but Americanah isn't just a book about love but the nigerian militory dictatorship, racial segregation, race and class, hints of antisemitism, 9/11, immigration, feminism, and so much more. Characters branched from the lives of characters and Chimamanda's effortless artistry engaged me, sucked all the attention needed for me to breathe every word of this book in.
Ifemelu discovered Race in America, the detailed difference from colour to assent to hair. Adichie wrote of how tasking it is to keep up with natural hair in a country where blacks are expected to conform. I was open to the nuances of race, and several types in America. The novel wove stories from three different continents, which is sheer brilliant. Ifemelu was also a race blogger and I enjoyed reading her blog posts, Adichie highlighted the challenges a creative faces like how having an audience can frighten and exhilarate you, sometimes making your quest for knowledge double up, how addictive interaction is but how intimidating too especially if you've an intelligent audience.
Americanah was written back and forth, the pages shifting between Ifemelu and Obinze's past and present until the end. The lovers had several obstacles with Ifemelu diving in and out of relationships, one with her White-American boyfriend & Black-American academic lover but she always didn't 'feel what she wanted to feel' and decided to go back to Nigeria but to whom? To a married Obinze? Who's now a father? Americanah holds complications, turns and just when you think you've reached a cul-de-sac, you see a tunnel. I liked the end because Chimamanda is unpredictable. I didn't know what to expect. Americanah is a masterpiece.
Elsewhere Home by Leila Aboulela
4.0
"It seemed that the fate of our generation is separation, from our country or our family. We are ready to go anywhere in search of the work we cannot find at home."
Elsewhere, Home shifts between places people are from in Africa (like Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia) and where they live abroad, like Scotland, or London. It is a collection of stories that echo the significance of home, the imperfections of it, the longing when you're in a foreign country, how easy it is to forget but miss traditions and its people. The comparisons of those still rooted in their roots and those who would rather wash off scents of their homes from their skins after having tasted convenience in a foreign land. Between the lines are religion (Islam mainly, being a convert, practising in a foreign land.), racism, love, loss, homesickness, separation, worldly and spiritual struggles, home and abroad.
I found all thirteen stories intriguing but my favourites are The Museum (– a story about Shadia, an MSc in Statistics student in a British university whose colleague Bryan does his calculations as easy as a breeze and is interested in Africa, cuts his hair and pulls off his earring for Shadia, the engaged, homesick Sudanese girl). The Aromatherapist's husband (here a woman is more interested in the spirit world than her husband and two girls), Pages of Fruit (A devoted and avid reader after so much obsession with her favourite author finds out that the author she has always loved doesn't give her the same vibe as her books do), Circle Line (a 34 year old woman has to settle down and finds it difficult since her last relationship failed), Expecting to give (Chronicles of a pregnant woman whose husband always goes onshore) and Coloured Lights (The story of a woman whose brother died on his wedding day).
LeilaAboulela writes unpredictably. I absolutely recommend this. I enjoyed reading and her writing style is impeccable.
Elsewhere, Home shifts between places people are from in Africa (like Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia) and where they live abroad, like Scotland, or London. It is a collection of stories that echo the significance of home, the imperfections of it, the longing when you're in a foreign country, how easy it is to forget but miss traditions and its people. The comparisons of those still rooted in their roots and those who would rather wash off scents of their homes from their skins after having tasted convenience in a foreign land. Between the lines are religion (Islam mainly, being a convert, practising in a foreign land.), racism, love, loss, homesickness, separation, worldly and spiritual struggles, home and abroad.
I found all thirteen stories intriguing but my favourites are The Museum (– a story about Shadia, an MSc in Statistics student in a British university whose colleague Bryan does his calculations as easy as a breeze and is interested in Africa, cuts his hair and pulls off his earring for Shadia, the engaged, homesick Sudanese girl). The Aromatherapist's husband (here a woman is more interested in the spirit world than her husband and two girls), Pages of Fruit (A devoted and avid reader after so much obsession with her favourite author finds out that the author she has always loved doesn't give her the same vibe as her books do), Circle Line (a 34 year old woman has to settle down and finds it difficult since her last relationship failed), Expecting to give (Chronicles of a pregnant woman whose husband always goes onshore) and Coloured Lights (The story of a woman whose brother died on his wedding day).
LeilaAboulela writes unpredictably. I absolutely recommend this. I enjoyed reading and her writing style is impeccable.
Not Just Another Interlude by Lara T. Kareem
5.0
Not Just Another Interlude is an unapologetic romance novel that will put the reader on a seesaw even with its subtleness because you'd be guessing things you shouldn't. In the first Chapter, Sewa, actually makes a move on her 'friend', Lucas and gets rejected but she took it well because she is a woman who would rather define a relationship than be misled. That's the only spoiler I'm letting out because I feel you should read this without much prior knowledge.
In Not Just Another Interlude, there were subtle and glaring messages. The friends Sewa had were there for each other than backstabbing, envious freaks which promotes the idea that women should support women and refrain from the hate/jealousy society expects female relationships to have.
I did cringe several times because I mean, love is the major theme and the author defined it finely with her debut. The way the author wrote about emotions, feelings and affection was very evident that it sort of lured me to want to be in wonderland but my realistic side tapped me several times back to the reality. But in all honesty I was wishing for a quick wedding or something. Very contagious.
It's an extremely light read. So if you want to rest your heart and feed it positivity (Like, with a balanced diet that has the nutrients saying 'Give Love A Chance Dear. Give It A Chance Again.), you should read this.
Another part I like is the originality. It's a romance story about Nigerians and the author, Lara @laratkareem made me feel at home. I like that she talked about creatives thriving in their fields, we need more representation indeed. Sewa and Jide were passionate about their lines of work. One, a creative designer that works for a publishing firm and the other, a game application creator and investor.
The romance will parade itself in your face so don't say I didn't warn you (especially if you're a rock natured person or hard girl/hard guy) but it was mature, and relaxing and really, just relax while reading. We need more positive vibes, don't we?
In Not Just Another Interlude, there were subtle and glaring messages. The friends Sewa had were there for each other than backstabbing, envious freaks which promotes the idea that women should support women and refrain from the hate/jealousy society expects female relationships to have.
I did cringe several times because I mean, love is the major theme and the author defined it finely with her debut. The way the author wrote about emotions, feelings and affection was very evident that it sort of lured me to want to be in wonderland but my realistic side tapped me several times back to the reality. But in all honesty I was wishing for a quick wedding or something. Very contagious.
It's an extremely light read. So if you want to rest your heart and feed it positivity (Like, with a balanced diet that has the nutrients saying 'Give Love A Chance Dear. Give It A Chance Again.), you should read this.
Another part I like is the originality. It's a romance story about Nigerians and the author, Lara @laratkareem made me feel at home. I like that she talked about creatives thriving in their fields, we need more representation indeed. Sewa and Jide were passionate about their lines of work. One, a creative designer that works for a publishing firm and the other, a game application creator and investor.
The romance will parade itself in your face so don't say I didn't warn you (especially if you're a rock natured person or hard girl/hard guy) but it was mature, and relaxing and really, just relax while reading. We need more positive vibes, don't we?
From My Sisters' Lips by Na'ima B. Robert
5.0
. . .My parents had left apartheid South Africa and settled in Leeds, where I was born. We then travelled to Ethiopia and then Zimbabwe, where I spent the next twelve years, attending primary and high school, living the life of your average middle-class Southern Africa teenager. My peers and I played, partied and preened in accordance with our cultural influences, namely, American music videos and films. At seventeen, I left what I considered the 'small town mentality' of Harare and came to London to study. . .While At University, I was exposed to new ways of thinking and living – I became more aware of world issues and like many Social Students, became more radical and politicized becoming quite a militant Afrocentric Black Nationalist. However it was on a trip to Egypt that I first encountered Islam.
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For those who don't really know 'The Secret lives of Muslim women/men', I recommend this nonfiction book. It's not all that secret if you ask/research though but from the right sources. Media is very crazy.
From My Sisters' Lips isn't only Naima's ( @naimabrobert ) story and bits of stories of other women/of their paths to Islam (including reverts & Muslims born into the religion who found their way again). But it describes their lives and beliefs before Islam – the drugs/ parties/sex & relationships/the wild life and what attracted them to the religion before they did their own investigations and decided to learn out of curiousities.
It shone light on love, sex, marriage, childbirth in Islam and more. If you've had any questions like, Why would anyone choose to be a Muslim? What is this thing that makes Muslims so confident? Why do Muslim women cover? What is the main purpose of being a Muslim? What do Muslims think about love, about sex? Do Muslims believe in Jesus? Why give up so much flipping stuff for a religion?
FMSL answers that and more. I also like that it emphasized the rights of women, duties of men, and smoothened out what Islam really is, not some falsified stuff/what twisted minds think they can bend it to be (in their favour).
"My days of being a man's trophy were over."
"Islam has been a religion of study and scholarship."
•
•
•
For those who don't really know 'The Secret lives of Muslim women/men', I recommend this nonfiction book. It's not all that secret if you ask/research though but from the right sources. Media is very crazy.
From My Sisters' Lips isn't only Naima's ( @naimabrobert ) story and bits of stories of other women/of their paths to Islam (including reverts & Muslims born into the religion who found their way again). But it describes their lives and beliefs before Islam – the drugs/ parties/sex & relationships/the wild life and what attracted them to the religion before they did their own investigations and decided to learn out of curiousities.
It shone light on love, sex, marriage, childbirth in Islam and more. If you've had any questions like, Why would anyone choose to be a Muslim? What is this thing that makes Muslims so confident? Why do Muslim women cover? What is the main purpose of being a Muslim? What do Muslims think about love, about sex? Do Muslims believe in Jesus? Why give up so much flipping stuff for a religion?
FMSL answers that and more. I also like that it emphasized the rights of women, duties of men, and smoothened out what Islam really is, not some falsified stuff/what twisted minds think they can bend it to be (in their favour).
"My days of being a man's trophy were over."
"Islam has been a religion of study and scholarship."
Inferno of Silence by Tolu' A. Akinyemi
5.0
Can we talk about how inclusive an Inferno of Silence by Tolu Akinyemi is?
This collection is a collage of stories that even the strictest critique will admit to relate to most. A footballer, whose skills are unarguably magical is exposed to racism in the European league he plays for. On the pitch, in trains, everywhere, racism stands taller than his skills that he has to reassure himself that 'Black Lives Matter'. He uses the hate to fuel his confidence instead.
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"Hard to find a fine boy who is not a fuck boy." Richard Brady, the famous on air personality on Metro Radio Joked
The Return Journey deals with the unfortunate love life of Ade, who is a successful tech guru, poet but a shameless womanizer. Religion and fate will build a wall against him after he meets Miriam, the soul of his soul.
"Miriam refused to take his calls for weeks and months. She stayed away from his apartment and moved in with her dreadlocked Jamaican friend, Khenan. She spent her days praying on her mat with her beads more than she ever did on normal days. It was as if heartbreak was a call to spirituality."
Inferno of Silence, the title story, is one I really loved. It echoes the pain of men in a shattering way as a young man mastered the art of swallowing his words to deal with this wife's emotional and psychological abuse. Their crumbling marriage is thanks to her volcanic eruptions.
This is Tolu Akinyemi's transition from poetry into story telling and while reading I smiled at the recognition of a poet because poetry does help accentuate prose. The stories are imperative. They tell us not only of the sufferings of men but that of women too. They also hammer the essence of mental health and the effects of tossing it aside. .
"He is burning like unattended meat left to cook by a wandering seller."
I am ecstatic about the online launch party also! I cant wait for 6:30pm WAT today, 23/5/2020 to witness it.
This collection is a collage of stories that even the strictest critique will admit to relate to most. A footballer, whose skills are unarguably magical is exposed to racism in the European league he plays for. On the pitch, in trains, everywhere, racism stands taller than his skills that he has to reassure himself that 'Black Lives Matter'. He uses the hate to fuel his confidence instead.
_
"Hard to find a fine boy who is not a fuck boy." Richard Brady, the famous on air personality on Metro Radio Joked
The Return Journey deals with the unfortunate love life of Ade, who is a successful tech guru, poet but a shameless womanizer. Religion and fate will build a wall against him after he meets Miriam, the soul of his soul.
"Miriam refused to take his calls for weeks and months. She stayed away from his apartment and moved in with her dreadlocked Jamaican friend, Khenan. She spent her days praying on her mat with her beads more than she ever did on normal days. It was as if heartbreak was a call to spirituality."
Inferno of Silence, the title story, is one I really loved. It echoes the pain of men in a shattering way as a young man mastered the art of swallowing his words to deal with this wife's emotional and psychological abuse. Their crumbling marriage is thanks to her volcanic eruptions.
This is Tolu Akinyemi's transition from poetry into story telling and while reading I smiled at the recognition of a poet because poetry does help accentuate prose. The stories are imperative. They tell us not only of the sufferings of men but that of women too. They also hammer the essence of mental health and the effects of tossing it aside. .
"He is burning like unattended meat left to cook by a wandering seller."
I am ecstatic about the online launch party also! I cant wait for 6:30pm WAT today, 23/5/2020 to witness it.