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bookedupandbusy's reviews
152 reviews
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
5.0
A great book which illustrates black love at its best. I did start to dislike the main character Celestial, the characters are described and written so well that you get to know each of them in depth. This book is a must read
Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo
5.0
Bernadine Evaristo is a genius. She has the ability to write from the perspective of a 70 year old Caribbean gay man. Growing up in a Caribbean household the narratives were very true and I have nothing but praise for how the themes were executed. The book focuses on the stigma of being gay in the black community.
Barry is a flawed character but I could not help but love him and root for him. This is a must read.
Barry is a flawed character but I could not help but love him and root for him. This is a must read.
Butter Honey Pig Bread by francesca ekwuyasi
4.0
The author’s writing is a work of art.
Taiye and Kehinde are reunited in Nigeria after more than a decade with their mother, Kambirinachi, who has believed her entire life that she is an Ọgbanje (an Igbo expression when the same child dies and is born over and over again to the same mother). She is also convinced she has passed on that legacy of misfortune to her children.
This multi-generational story is packed with so many themes, folklore, family, spirits, forgiveness, love, trauma, queer love, drugs, mental health and FOOD just to name a few and the story travelled, from Nigeria to London, to Canada and more, the story spanned over three continents.
There is a big display of family and relationship struggles and unstableness to the point where I felt so awkward reading some of the interactions, it was as if I was there with the characters, experiencing the elephant in the room. This is a sign of great writing.
The twins reunite after years apart after a traumatic event. I would have liked to have read a few more chapters on their reunion and the feelings and obstacles to rebuild their relationship. This was absent and a disappointing end to the story.
Taiye and Kehinde are reunited in Nigeria after more than a decade with their mother, Kambirinachi, who has believed her entire life that she is an Ọgbanje (an Igbo expression when the same child dies and is born over and over again to the same mother). She is also convinced she has passed on that legacy of misfortune to her children.
This multi-generational story is packed with so many themes, folklore, family, spirits, forgiveness, love, trauma, queer love, drugs, mental health and FOOD just to name a few and the story travelled, from Nigeria to London, to Canada and more, the story spanned over three continents.
There is a big display of family and relationship struggles and unstableness to the point where I felt so awkward reading some of the interactions, it was as if I was there with the characters, experiencing the elephant in the room. This is a sign of great writing.
The twins reunite after years apart after a traumatic event. I would have liked to have read a few more chapters on their reunion and the feelings and obstacles to rebuild their relationship. This was absent and a disappointing end to the story.