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aish_dols's reviews
94 reviews
Nearly All The Men In Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku
4.0
Are nearly all the men in Lagos truly insane?
"'Anyone who could keep a white shirt clean at the end of the day in Lagos deserved a standing ovation. But I should have known that any man who could keep a white shirt clean at the end of a Lagos work day would be dangerous"
Nearly All The Men In Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku is a catch of a collection of 12 versatile stories converging to draw the reader into a fictional world which reads not-so-fictitive, as the reality is nearly all Lagos men were well captured in this book. I liked only one male character, Lekan. Imagine. Majority of the rest made me feel like grabbing a pestel or turning stick. Not that the women were perfect, but the men were too toxic. Women in different chapters had to deal with objectification, oversexualization, condemnation, rape, second guessing of themselves. I like how most women stood up for themselves though.
There were men afraid of commitment, power thirsty ones, egoistic, and all collectively felt like Kings that deserved to objectify women, use them as tools, have their way; like women were created to dance to their tunes with whatever melody as long as it suited their low desires or gave them that absurd high of being overentitled and unaccountable for their deeds. When the sexual content was repetitive (which can make you cringe at some point due to the raw descriptions), I asked myself if all what most men care about is their physical desires.
My favourites were International relations, A Lovers Vendetta, Side Lined, Independence Day and Beard Gang - something about its crudeness, factuality and engagement was hooking. I was marvelled at how real it felt. The writing is beyond words. It's a remarkable debut.
"'Anyone who could keep a white shirt clean at the end of the day in Lagos deserved a standing ovation. But I should have known that any man who could keep a white shirt clean at the end of a Lagos work day would be dangerous"
Nearly All The Men In Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku is a catch of a collection of 12 versatile stories converging to draw the reader into a fictional world which reads not-so-fictitive, as the reality is nearly all Lagos men were well captured in this book. I liked only one male character, Lekan. Imagine. Majority of the rest made me feel like grabbing a pestel or turning stick. Not that the women were perfect, but the men were too toxic. Women in different chapters had to deal with objectification, oversexualization, condemnation, rape, second guessing of themselves. I like how most women stood up for themselves though.
There were men afraid of commitment, power thirsty ones, egoistic, and all collectively felt like Kings that deserved to objectify women, use them as tools, have their way; like women were created to dance to their tunes with whatever melody as long as it suited their low desires or gave them that absurd high of being overentitled and unaccountable for their deeds. When the sexual content was repetitive (which can make you cringe at some point due to the raw descriptions), I asked myself if all what most men care about is their physical desires.
My favourites were International relations, A Lovers Vendetta, Side Lined, Independence Day and Beard Gang - something about its crudeness, factuality and engagement was hooking. I was marvelled at how real it felt. The writing is beyond words. It's a remarkable debut.
In Every Mirror She's Black by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström
3.0
"I was done performing for society in every way..."
Brittany-rae's beauty might have given her comfort and wealth but is it truly hers when she must be a trophy for the man that truly wields that privilege directly?
Kemi's brilliance in the Marketing world inevitably gets her a big position at one of the biggest global Marketing firms, is in the shadows of her identity. She is instantly seen for what her body than brain can offer.
Muna's depressing story sheds her identity with every page. She loses family, friends, and dreams in a country that she ran to for hope.
In 392 pages, In Every Mirror She's Black, words the lives of three black women; Nigerian-American, Kemi, a Jamiacan-American, Brittany-rae and Muna, a Somalian refugee. The three find themselves in Sweden for reasons like work, love and refuge; their experiences as black women in a white dominated country where they battle racism and sexism is sharp. I was attached and detached to the book and characters several times and had my head spinning around their stories. It may or mayn't be for you because it's not a light read. However it's a worthy debut that reflects important topics for discussion in today's world.
Brittany-rae's beauty might have given her comfort and wealth but is it truly hers when she must be a trophy for the man that truly wields that privilege directly?
Kemi's brilliance in the Marketing world inevitably gets her a big position at one of the biggest global Marketing firms, is in the shadows of her identity. She is instantly seen for what her body than brain can offer.
Muna's depressing story sheds her identity with every page. She loses family, friends, and dreams in a country that she ran to for hope.
In 392 pages, In Every Mirror She's Black, words the lives of three black women; Nigerian-American, Kemi, a Jamiacan-American, Brittany-rae and Muna, a Somalian refugee. The three find themselves in Sweden for reasons like work, love and refuge; their experiences as black women in a white dominated country where they battle racism and sexism is sharp. I was attached and detached to the book and characters several times and had my head spinning around their stories. It may or mayn't be for you because it's not a light read. However it's a worthy debut that reflects important topics for discussion in today's world.
Letter, Stamps and Seals. by Olohuntosin Agbaje Omolara
4.0
"The problem with making people your major source of serotonin is that when they leave, your soul becomes an apocalyptic ghost town"
We can't deny that every soul has that need for another, and will dangerously nurture hope to actualize that need but what happens when it goes south?
In Omolara Abgaje's ♡Letters, Stamps & Seals♡, I had one too many reflections. Flipping the pages is hearing the voice of the protagonist deal with herself and unrequited love. There's heavy vulnerability, that you know the protagonist was hurting, trying to heal, screaming for freedom from captivity, wanted to be let loose from a sticky web of unreliable emotions that spilled anxiety, self doubt and whatnot.
It really is dangerous to attach ourselves to people, that we tend to dim in the shadows of a light that we, in fact, did illuminate around these people. We tend to look up towards them when we, put them that high on that pedestal. It's creating a force that is fueled by your mind yet allowing it to swallow you.
Even with requited love, each person must have their own space for breathing, for growth. There's much strength in learning how to be with someone yet loving you and not losing who you are, because forming a bond and connection with oneself is very powerful and freeing. This is why I love the last letter, and how the book itself ended.
"We are no longer a war-ravaged country. We no longer wake up with our stomach tied up in knots and our heart an empty vacant space. You're probably shaking your head in disbelief now but you have to believe me." - Letters, Stamps & Seals // Omolara Agbaje.
We can't deny that every soul has that need for another, and will dangerously nurture hope to actualize that need but what happens when it goes south?
In Omolara Abgaje's ♡Letters, Stamps & Seals♡, I had one too many reflections. Flipping the pages is hearing the voice of the protagonist deal with herself and unrequited love. There's heavy vulnerability, that you know the protagonist was hurting, trying to heal, screaming for freedom from captivity, wanted to be let loose from a sticky web of unreliable emotions that spilled anxiety, self doubt and whatnot.
It really is dangerous to attach ourselves to people, that we tend to dim in the shadows of a light that we, in fact, did illuminate around these people. We tend to look up towards them when we, put them that high on that pedestal. It's creating a force that is fueled by your mind yet allowing it to swallow you.
Even with requited love, each person must have their own space for breathing, for growth. There's much strength in learning how to be with someone yet loving you and not losing who you are, because forming a bond and connection with oneself is very powerful and freeing. This is why I love the last letter, and how the book itself ended.
"We are no longer a war-ravaged country. We no longer wake up with our stomach tied up in knots and our heart an empty vacant space. You're probably shaking your head in disbelief now but you have to believe me." - Letters, Stamps & Seals // Omolara Agbaje.
Rekiya & Z by Muti'ah Badruddeen
5.0
'If the lone tree falls and there's no forest to hear the sound it makes, did it exist?'
'Why do you do this Z?'//'Do what?'//'You sabotage relationships. You tell yourself you couldn't possibly be good enough, that things must be too good to be true. And you pull back. Or worse, you wait for the other shoe to drop. You never let things just be right. You poke until it gives. Isn't that what you're doing now?'
"The pain does not go away; time does blunt the edges. The sharp lances become dull aches, they scab over and we heal the best way we can. The invisible scars, occasional twinges and aches that remain are the lasting reminders of all we have lost. The hard-won gains we will always treasure."
Rekiya & Z by Mutiah Badrudeen is written with switching points of view between Rekiya and Zaynunah in the first person narrative as it shifts between present and past events.
With evident Muslim characterization, the pages hold bold representations and some are Mental Health, Therapy, Faith (The loss of it/the struggle between a shivering and firm hold and the focus faith here is Islam), Friendship, Career, Tribe, Family, Loss, Women's rights, Motherhood, Sexual Assault, Trauma, Infertility.
Reading this fixed my mind to a world that's fictional yet so tangible that I could relate to a lot and the narrative style flipped between two perspectives which brought the story together, from different parts, as a whole.
So what is the plot like? What's the story about?
Rekiya & Zaynunah are teenage girls when they accidentally become friends, pushing away their social class/family background differences away until Rekiya leaves the country and several years pass with lots of experiences and new mental/emotional baggage, the women meet again thanks to a shared loss. Two best friends now meet as strangers while they try to relive what they used to share.
I liked the character development and the way the portrayal of emotions with Mutiah Badrudeen's words were real. I could feel every emotion gone good or wrong. There was a really good description of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state in Nigeria and I loved that too. Rekiya schooled in Houston, Texas and wherever any character was, Mutiah described with efficiency which is important for a book to stand when it comes to plot. Rekiya & Z gives us an insight on how family and friendship play an important role in our personalities, behaviour and mentality, how faith should be balanced with knowledge, wisdom, patience and compassion, how girls can become women and lose what they once had, how love and friendship can be found in the most unexpected ways/circumstances/people.
It's a book worth reading till the end.
I can not wait to read more works of this author.
I received the ARC from qamar blog tours. Thank you guys, I absolutely enjoyed this one.
'Why do you do this Z?'//'Do what?'//'You sabotage relationships. You tell yourself you couldn't possibly be good enough, that things must be too good to be true. And you pull back. Or worse, you wait for the other shoe to drop. You never let things just be right. You poke until it gives. Isn't that what you're doing now?'
"The pain does not go away; time does blunt the edges. The sharp lances become dull aches, they scab over and we heal the best way we can. The invisible scars, occasional twinges and aches that remain are the lasting reminders of all we have lost. The hard-won gains we will always treasure."
Rekiya & Z by Mutiah Badrudeen is written with switching points of view between Rekiya and Zaynunah in the first person narrative as it shifts between present and past events.
With evident Muslim characterization, the pages hold bold representations and some are Mental Health, Therapy, Faith (The loss of it/the struggle between a shivering and firm hold and the focus faith here is Islam), Friendship, Career, Tribe, Family, Loss, Women's rights, Motherhood, Sexual Assault, Trauma, Infertility.
Reading this fixed my mind to a world that's fictional yet so tangible that I could relate to a lot and the narrative style flipped between two perspectives which brought the story together, from different parts, as a whole.
So what is the plot like? What's the story about?
Rekiya & Zaynunah are teenage girls when they accidentally become friends, pushing away their social class/family background differences away until Rekiya leaves the country and several years pass with lots of experiences and new mental/emotional baggage, the women meet again thanks to a shared loss. Two best friends now meet as strangers while they try to relive what they used to share.
I liked the character development and the way the portrayal of emotions with Mutiah Badrudeen's words were real. I could feel every emotion gone good or wrong. There was a really good description of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state in Nigeria and I loved that too. Rekiya schooled in Houston, Texas and wherever any character was, Mutiah described with efficiency which is important for a book to stand when it comes to plot. Rekiya & Z gives us an insight on how family and friendship play an important role in our personalities, behaviour and mentality, how faith should be balanced with knowledge, wisdom, patience and compassion, how girls can become women and lose what they once had, how love and friendship can be found in the most unexpected ways/circumstances/people.
It's a book worth reading till the end.
I can not wait to read more works of this author.
I received the ARC from qamar blog tours. Thank you guys, I absolutely enjoyed this one.
Men Don't Cry by Faïza Guène
3.0
To be fully French, you've to deny part of your heritage, part of your identity, part of your history, part of your beliefs and yet even when you succeed in achieving all of that, you're still endlessly reminded of your origins so what's the point?
An Algerian family of five; three kids and their immigrant parents live in the city of Nice in France and deal with integration as their Algerian culture clash with the secularism in France. Dounia, the first will leave home in a bid to free herself from tradition that, she believes, holds her in shackles, while Mina will follow her parents wishes to fill in the gap that Dounia left. Mourad, the only son narrates the story and expresses in the chapters what it means to not be fully French regardless of being born in the country (because of identity crisis). We follow him as he leaves for Paris to teach and the story unrolls itself. // Words elude me as I type because I got little from what I yearned for. It was the typical immigrant family story, the usual effect it may or mayn't have on the kids who choose to break or unbreak tradition/their heritage, with themes like patriachy, feminism, secularism, and misogyny. It didn't hit hard for me.
An Algerian family of five; three kids and their immigrant parents live in the city of Nice in France and deal with integration as their Algerian culture clash with the secularism in France. Dounia, the first will leave home in a bid to free herself from tradition that, she believes, holds her in shackles, while Mina will follow her parents wishes to fill in the gap that Dounia left. Mourad, the only son narrates the story and expresses in the chapters what it means to not be fully French regardless of being born in the country (because of identity crisis). We follow him as he leaves for Paris to teach and the story unrolls itself. // Words elude me as I type because I got little from what I yearned for. It was the typical immigrant family story, the usual effect it may or mayn't have on the kids who choose to break or unbreak tradition/their heritage, with themes like patriachy, feminism, secularism, and misogyny. It didn't hit hard for me.
The Silence We Eat by Oyindamola Shoola
5.0
"I want to tell you that my pain is building a tsunami of words that will avenge me and wash everything you think you are away."
"The poetry of my love for you, roughs against my tongue like two stones in a hunter's palms setting moments and these words ablaze."
I just finished 'The Silence We Eat' by @oyindamolashoola & her way with words can be likened to a swordsman's way with swords. The book has poems & short stories that are not only intriguing but cut deep. She speaks on transitions. Pain and silence correlating with pain and religion, pain giving way to love, pain teaching that you can find your feet and find yourself.
There was justice to the many definitions of silence, how it sneaks in to entrap us in cloaks of pretty things or words that sound cool but actually destroy us from within.
Oyindamola uses her poems to define love in many shades and one can be the few moments you take appreciating yourself, investing in your interest and hobbies. "Recently, I realized that falling in love Sometimes, it is taking two steps backward for a second glance after takiing a glimpse of my body in the mirror. Sometimes it is standing in the sun for a while, to admire the beauty of my reflection." I loved the short stories too but they left me longing for more.
QUOTE: "Know that you can always have the power to purge toxic people away from your life and no one is indispensable. So give yourself a voice today. Enough with the silence you eat that swallows you whole." – Aisha Oredola.
"The poetry of my love for you, roughs against my tongue like two stones in a hunter's palms setting moments and these words ablaze."
I just finished 'The Silence We Eat' by @oyindamolashoola & her way with words can be likened to a swordsman's way with swords. The book has poems & short stories that are not only intriguing but cut deep. She speaks on transitions. Pain and silence correlating with pain and religion, pain giving way to love, pain teaching that you can find your feet and find yourself.
There was justice to the many definitions of silence, how it sneaks in to entrap us in cloaks of pretty things or words that sound cool but actually destroy us from within.
Oyindamola uses her poems to define love in many shades and one can be the few moments you take appreciating yourself, investing in your interest and hobbies. "Recently, I realized that falling in love Sometimes, it is taking two steps backward for a second glance after takiing a glimpse of my body in the mirror. Sometimes it is standing in the sun for a while, to admire the beauty of my reflection." I loved the short stories too but they left me longing for more.
QUOTE: "Know that you can always have the power to purge toxic people away from your life and no one is indispensable. So give yourself a voice today. Enough with the silence you eat that swallows you whole." – Aisha Oredola.
Tawbah: Turning To Allah In Repentance by Ibn Qayyim Al - Jawziyyah
5.0
This book helped me so much. I read it in Ramadan and it opened my eyes to so many things. The light this book holds will make you look within yourself and cry. You'll want to drop your sins and reading it in solitude is the most blessed thing that can happen to you.
Tawbah gives us Quran verses, Hadiths, Stories of the Sahaba, and a lot of analogies on seeking forgiveness, finding Allah and the importance of quick repentance.
I would read it over and over again.
Tawbah gives us Quran verses, Hadiths, Stories of the Sahaba, and a lot of analogies on seeking forgiveness, finding Allah and the importance of quick repentance.
I would read it over and over again.