seeyouinorbit's reviews
75 reviews

The Dragonfly Sea by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor

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adventurous emotional funny informative reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

This is a 500 page story of epic proportions about a young girl navigating borders, alienation, and womanhood. In the book Ayaana travels to China where she becomes the revered “Descendant” there to bridge past and future East Africa - Asia relations. When she goes to Turkey she’s promised luxury and wealth. She returns to Pate Island disillusioned, but with new knowledge and eyes that see the future differently. She realizes she can’t play whatever role others want from her anymore, she simply wants to be herself and to sail the waters of her homeland.
Ayaana is the sea and her island personified. Much like her home, she’s left in the margins of Kenya living as a pariah with her single mother. Until one day foreigners find something unique in her. Not her talent but her genes. Her genealogy grants her status and a chance to study in China. It’s full of promise to tie two nations together in the name of history. But there was always something more. To cement this relationship so the Chinese can have a foot hold to start projects like drilling for oil and controlling the port along the coast. In Turkey it’s the same thing, no genuine relationships built on the basis of mutual respect. She’s exoticized and her autonomy stripped away. People dictate to her how to dress and when to smile. Her relationship turns abusive because of the power imbalance between her and his far wealthier family. A metaphor I think about how there is no developing a brotherhood or fair trading when the GDP of these two countries is very different. However, in all this, the sea keeps Ayaana constant and her memories of her mother and chosen father keep her going. I’m glad she got a happy ending with the man that loves and understands her.
This book used very descriptive language and metaphors. At times it was to its advantage and it created strong visual imagery in my head, but most times I kept pushing myself to keep reading walls of text. However, the dialogue was entertaining and I was gasping and laughing at these well written characters with complex backstories.
Since this was based on real life events/ locations, but not directly on actual people. I believe this was well researched and a lot of care was put into telling a story about Pate Island and the other countries. With all their nuisances and not in a way that others them. I think the author did a good job bringing Pate to the forefront again.
As a Kenyan I’ve mostly heard of Lamu Island, but almost never hear of Pate Island. But now I have and it’s on my radar. I’ll definitely visit it one day.

A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

The Truth of the Aleke by Moses Ose Utomi

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I didn’t like how similar the plot was to the first book. I was going to give it two and a half stars because of that, but that ending changed my rating. I wasn’t expecting that! This world is imaginative and really cool, but it needs a full length book to explore it. We’re not spending enough time with the characters and what their motivations are. I’m swept away by the fantasy elements and backstory so much so I overlook the characters.

Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid

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emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lucy has many layers and I got to know her as each of them was peeled back to reveal this complex woman. I felt like I knew her, I’ve had thoughts and feelings like her, I was her. Her sense of alienation at home, the tumultuous relationship with her mother, her anger at the world and navigating the world as a Black woman in a patriarchal society. I loved how she chose to go against all of this and the expectations given to her to be a “good” woman. She’s a strong character. She knows what she wants, but other times she doesn’t. She’s also callous and vulnerable. Through her vulnerabilities and strong emotions you learn she wants what everyone wants in their life, to belong somewhere and to be loved. She felt so real- I think she’s become one of my favorite literary characters. I got to live vicariously through her and cheer her on in her journey of rebellion and falling in love with herself. Lucy, and Jamaica Kincaid’s writing, had such astute observations I was swept away by the descriptions. It was exhilarating to see how she sees the world because I see the world like that too.

The Seep by Chana Porter

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Refreshing read. I liked the diversity in characters. The aliens in The Seep help the planet instead of destroying it. This is a world I would totally like to live in! It’s a witty and colorful story, but it also takes the time to question this new world; what it means to change and to grieve the past.

Land Without Thunder and other stories by Grace Ogot

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adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

Travelling While Black: Essays Inspired by a Life on the Move by Nanjala Nyabola

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adventurous informative inspiring

5.0

Shuri: The Search for Black Panther by Nnedi Okorafor

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3.0

The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi