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axmed's reviews
820 reviews
Speaking of Summer by Kalisha Buckhanon
emotional
slow-paced
2.0
i was confused why there were so many moments of casual copaganda all over the novel and then at the end i read the about page and the author is 'true crime expert'. this is the first 2025 book that i should have DNF'ed.
Prince of Monkeys by Nnamdi Ehirim
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
this book was good in many ways, with bangers like this from Tanzanian anti-colonial activist and political theorist Julius Nyerere (aun):
“Let’s see if you recognize these words—‘Africans had never aspired to wealth and status just for the sake of dominating his brothers. He had never had laborers to do his work for him till the foreign capitalists rowed up to the shore in their fancy boats. They were wealthy. They were powerful. And the African naturally started wanting to be wealthy too, which led to exploitation. There is now a need for Africans to re-educate themselves and regain their former sense of community. And so in rejecting the capitalist attitude of mind which colonialism brought into Africa, we must reject also the capitalist methods which go with it.’”
there were so many things in this novel that were clearly deeply thought through, but to then throw in harmful some anti-lgbt line in there in a very convoluted way and to let that stand, knowing what was going on on the African continent and more specifically in Nigeria, was such a terrible thing to do by a your author. and as always, people who have to intelect to take apart complicated dynamics resote to reactionary rhetoric when pushing harmful anti-lgbt or other rhetoric which is punching down at ppl already marginalized. examples that come to mind by celebrated authors are Chimamanda and J. K.
“Let’s see if you recognize these words—‘Africans had never aspired to wealth and status just for the sake of dominating his brothers. He had never had laborers to do his work for him till the foreign capitalists rowed up to the shore in their fancy boats. They were wealthy. They were powerful. And the African naturally started wanting to be wealthy too, which led to exploitation. There is now a need for Africans to re-educate themselves and regain their former sense of community. And so in rejecting the capitalist attitude of mind which colonialism brought into Africa, we must reject also the capitalist methods which go with it.’”
there were so many things in this novel that were clearly deeply thought through, but to then throw in harmful some anti-lgbt line in there in a very convoluted way and to let that stand, knowing what was going on on the African continent and more specifically in Nigeria, was such a terrible thing to do by a your author. and as always, people who have to intelect to take apart complicated dynamics resote to reactionary rhetoric when pushing harmful anti-lgbt or other rhetoric which is punching down at ppl already marginalized. examples that come to mind by celebrated authors are Chimamanda and J. K.
Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
Men Don't Cry by Faïza Guène
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
No One Dies Yet by Kobby Ben Ben
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
i need to know the thoughts of queer Ghanians on this book! would definitely love to do a buddy-read of this! there is sooooo much going on!
Unbury Our Dead With Song by Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ
funny
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
3.0
the writing about music and all the emotions and history and more that is wrapped around it was my favourite part of the book. but i really disliked that there was so much focus on the 'complicated' and 'tortured' lives of people with so much wealth and power, while those who are the most oppressed are hardly given any voice, but instead only discussed by the wealthy and powerful.