Storms Of Lazarus by Karen Kincy

Storms Of Lazarus (Shadows of Asphodel #2) by Karen Kincy

Self published in July 2014.

How I got this book:

Bought the ebook from Amazon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazon.com / Amazon UK

The Book Depository

1913. Christmas Eve. Ardis hardly expects a quiet holiday with Wendel, between fleeing Constantinople and hiding from an ancient society of assassins. And they owe a debt to a certain archmage.

In Königsberg, Prussia, they work with Konstantin on the next evolution of Project Lazarus. Wendel once called Königsberg home, the city now besieged by the Russians and their clockwork engines of war. This may be Wendel’s last chance to save his family and find redemption, but he’s tormented by nightmares and tempted by laudanum. Ardis fears her love isn’t enough to save Wendel. Her hands are full working as a mercenary, and she’s terrified to tell him a secret of her own. Will they—and their love—survive the storms of war?

Storms of Lazarus is a fast-burn fantasy romance novel with lush worldbuilding and gritty fight scenes. Perfect for fans of enemies to lovers, secret royalty, and tortured bad boys who might not be redeemable.

Storms Of Lazarus is the sequel to Shadows Of Asphodel, a dieselpunk fantasy novel I read back in 2016 and absolutely adored. I amazed myself realising just how many years had passed between my reading the first and second novels. All credit is due to Karen Kincy's atmospheric and memorable writing that I had no problem picking up on the storyline and characters without having to re-read. Admittedly, Kincy does give hints, but I didn't notice any overlong reminder flashbacks. Quite to the contrary in fact because Storms Of Lazarus is a fast-paced action adventure set within the Balkan conflicts just prior to the Great War. I loved seeing how Kincy interweaves her dieselpunk magic with authentic historical fiction to create a narrative that's essentially fantasy, but felt genuine. Living in an era now when nanotechnology means tiny robots are reality, I could easily transfer my belief to the miniature clockwork marvels Kincy describes.

At the heart of Storms Of Lazarus however is the tempestuous romance between exiled assassin Ardis and traumatised necromancer Wendel. I was delighted to still find myself captivated by their relationship - and my crush on Wendel continues unabated! Ardis makes the perfect heroine for me - capable, quick-thinking and brave, but not impervious - and I felt as though she was always Wendel's equal. Overall I wasn't quite so blown away by Storms Of Lazarus as I had been by Shadows Of Asphodel, perhaps because the concept wasn't so new and unique this time around, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent immersed in the Asphodel world and will no doubt buy myself the third book in the trilogy in due course.

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Free by Lea Ypi

Free: Coming of Age at the End of History by Lea Ypi

Published by Penguin on the 28th October 2021.

How I got this book:

Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

'I never asked myself about the meaning of freedom until the day I hugged Stalin. From close up, he was much taller than I expected.'

Lea Ypi grew up in one of the most isolated countries on earth, a place where communist ideals had officially replaced religion. Albania, the last Stalinist outpost in Europe, was almost impossible to visit, almost impossible to leave. It was a place of queuing and scarcity, of political executions and secret police. To Lea, it was home. People were equal, neighbours helped each other, and children were expected to build a better world. There was community and hope.

Then, in December 1990, a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, everything changed. The statues of Stalin and Hoxha were toppled. Almost overnight, people could vote freely, wear what they liked and worship as they wished. There was no longer anything to fear from prying ears. But factories shut, jobs disappeared and thousands fled to Italy on crowded ships, only to be sent back. Predatory pyramid schemes eventually bankrupted the country, leading to violent conflict. As one generation's aspirations became another's disillusionment, and as her own family's secrets were revealed, Lea found herself questioning what freedom really meant.

Free is an engrossing memoir of coming of age amid political upheaval. With acute insight and wit, Lea Ypi traces the limits of progress and the burden of the past, illuminating the spaces between ideals and reality, and the hopes and fears of people pulled up by the sweep of history.

I cannot truly imagine just how bewildering it must be to have been raised with one set of beliefs, ones which you wholeheartedly embraced and thought you understood, then, just as you were about to embark on your adult life, the society that underpinned those beliefs was abruptly ripped away. You discovered that your immediate family had hidden most of your history from you and your foundations weren't the solid rock you had previously relied upon. This is Lea Ypi's early life and her book, Free, does a wonderful job of allowing readers insights into the nations that were socialist Albania, transitional Albania and, sadly, civil war-ridden Albania.

I was reminded at times of Haya Leah Molnar's memoir, Under A Red Sky, by the way in which Lea Ypi's family kept the truth about themselves from their children which ultimately led to divisions with each generation having very different experiences, expectations and political philosophies. I found it interesting that Ypi is now professor of political theory at the London School of Economics as I could see her being drawn towards philosophical study towards the end of Free as she attempts to make sense of the chaos consuming her country. 

Free is a very readable memoir and one which explores and explains quite complex issues in an accessible way. I appreciated how being shown Lea's childhood solely from her younger perspective allowed me to also see why she was so convinced of the benefits of socialism. Her love of 'Uncle Enver' reflected what I learned through reading Enver Hoxha by Blendi Fevziu. There are hints from part-hidden parental conversations that perhaps not everything is as rosy and clear as her teacher, Leta, makes out, but no one can be openly honest and Lea doesn't yet know how many layers of secrets are concealed. I enjoyed Free as a coming-of-age story as well as an eloquent history of post-war Albania.

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Kissing In Manhattan by David Schickler

Kissing in Manhattan by David Schickler

Published by Random House in 2001.

How I got this book:

Bought the paperback from a charity shop

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazon.com / Amazon UK

The Book Depository / Waterstones

Hilarious, sexy, and deeply tender, Kissing in Manhattan was one of the most celebrated debuts in recent years. Acclaimed author David Schickler’s collection of linked stories follows a troupe of love-hungry urbanites through a charmed metropolis and into the Preemption–a mythic Manhattan apartment building. The Preemption sets the stage for a romantic fantasy as exuberant, dark, and dazzling as the city it occupies. Behind closed doors, the paths of an improbable cast of tenants–a seductive perfume heiress; a crabby, misunderstood actor; a preternaturally sharp-sighted priest–tangle and cross, while a perilous love triangle builds around three characters: 

James Branch, a shy young accountant with an unusual love for the Preemption’s antique elevator, and a strange destiny… 

Patrick Rigg, a Wall Street lothario who soothes his pain by seducing 

beautiful women, carrying a gun, and attending the nightly sermons of a foreboding priest… 

Rally McWilliams, a fetching, hopeful young writer who roams the city at night, searching for the soulmate she believes in but can’t find…

Charged with joy and a deadly sense of humor, Kissing in Manhattan is a daring new writer’s vision of a world where men and women, good and evil, love and sex, meet, battle, and embrace on every street corner.

I first blogged this book review on Stephanie Jane in September 2014.

I've just read Kissing In Manhattan for at least the third time as there's something about the story collection that completely appeals to me. I'm not sure whether to describe it as linked short stories or whether the book is more a novel. Certainly there is some repetition of description as if it was originally intended as separate stories or to be serialised.

The characters are generally all odd in one way or another. My favourite is probably James Branch who is quiet, shy and spends time talking to the elevator in his building, The Preemption, to which all the characters have some connection. His housemate, Patrick, is fantastically psychologically damaged which makes for interesting reading! I've seen other reviews describing Kissing In Manhattan as misogynistic but I don't agree as the main female characters are better balanced and stronger than their male counterparts. Throughout, the humour is dark and sexy and I love how the overall story arc advances via different viewpoints. Perhaps the only thing lacking for me is a story starring Sender.

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Lionheart Girl by Yaba Badoe

Lionheart Girl by Yaba Badoe

Published by Zephyr on the 14th October 2021.

How I got this book:

Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

African myth and magic beat in the dark heart of this fable about witchcraft, superstition, the bonds we choose and those we cannot.

Born into a family of West African witches, Sheba's terrified of her mother who is deadly dangerous. But like mother, like daughter – magic runs through her blood and Sheba discovers powers of her own.

Her touch can unravel people's innermost thoughts; their hopes, their fears – their secrets. Sheba too can shape-shift. Through the communion of ancient magic, blood and friendship, she slowly uncovers the murderous truth about her stolen childhood and steels herself for the future. She must protect the hunted from the hunter – her mother.

Lionheart Girl is a fantastical coming of age story which encompasses strong intergenerational friendships, a dysfunctional family relationship, and first love in a wonderfully magical narrative. I was frequently left breathless as Yaba Badoe keeps her story moving at such a rapid pace, but it kept me glued to the pages and I almost completed the whole book in a single sitting! I loved witnessing Sheba's increasing maturity as she attempts to emerge from her overbearing mother's shadow, but for me the most satisfying relationship was that depicted between Sheba and her maternal grandmother, an elderly woman with immense power within their village. It's unusual to see older women in fantasy novels given a chief's role so I relished that portrayal here.

I previously enjoyed reading Wolf Light by Yaba Badoe and noticed some similarities in the magical fantasy elements, strong female roles, grandparents acting as surrogate parents. However I was drawn more strongly into Sheba's world in Lionheart Girl and am delighted to have spotted this second Yaba Badoe novel. She is definitely a novelist to watch out for and I will be keenly awaiting her next exciting fantasy adventure.

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In One Person by John Irving

In One Person by John Irving

Published by Simon And Schuster in May 2012.

How I got this book:

Borrowed the kindle edition from my partner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

A compelling novel of desire, secrecy, and sexual identity, In One Person is a story of unfulfilled love — tormented, funny, and affecting — and an impassioned embrace of our sexual differences. Billy, the bisexual narrator and main character, tells the tragicomic story (lasting more than half a century) of his life as a ‘sexual suspect’, a phrase first used by John Irving in 1978 — in his landmark novel of ‘terminal cases’, The World According to Garp.

His most political novel since The Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving’s In One Person is a poignant tribute to Billy’s friends and lovers — a theatrical cast of characters who defy category and convention. Not least, In One Person is an intimate and unforgettable portrait of the solitariness of a bisexual man who is dedicated to making himself ‘worthwhile’.

I first blogged this book review on Stephanie Jane in September 2014.
I've just finished my second of two back-to-back five-star reads! Not only was Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood fantastic but so was In One Person and, coincidentally, both books had similarities in their stories while also being completely different. Both are first-person narratives of growing up despite influential people around.

In One Person does tick a good selection of 'John Irving novel' boxes: New Hampshire, boarding school, sexuality, and wrestling. There's rather a lot of wrestling! However, although these common factors were included, I was completely hooked by the story of William Dean's life from very early in the book and had to force myself to set it aside periodically so as not to be bereft of that world too quickly. I loved the style and flow of the writing, the repetition of italics indicating the importance of visible gender, the claustrophobia of the closed school environment set against the expanse and possibilities of 'Europe', and the desperately sad series of epilogues that made up the last portion of the novel, each building up emotionally and persuasively.

Irving discusses a number of other novels and plays, several of which I already knew but a key few that I had overlooked. I'm going to be adding those to my Goodreads list now before I forget, just so I can understand all of In One Person before it fades from my memory.

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Transparent City by Ondjaki

Transparent City by Ondjaki

First published in Portuguese as Os Transparentes in December 2012. English language translation by Stephen Henighan published by Europa Editions in October 2021.

How I got this book:

Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

In a crumbling apartment block in the Angolan city of Luanda, families work, laugh, scheme, and get by. In the middle of it all is the melancholic Odonato, nostalgic for the country of his youth and searching for his lost son. As his hope drains away and as the city outside his doors changes beyond all recognition, Odonato’s flesh becomes transparent and his body increasingly weightless.

A captivating blend of magical realism, scathing political satire, tender comedy, and literary experimentation, Transparent City offers a gripping and joyful portrait of urban Africa quite unlike any before yet published in English, and places Ondjaki, indisputably, among the continent’s most accomplished writers

Transparent City revolves around the lives of the characters living in a dilapidated Luandan apartment block, one distinguished by an inexplicable waterflow through the first floor hallway. Ondjaki's tale is a satire on city life and the corruption of seemingly every public servant we encounter - with the possible exception of the grave digger - and the story is also steeped in magical realism so I could never be quite exactly how I was supposed to interpret particular events. I loved the apartment block setting which reminded me of such novels as The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany and Kissing In Manhattan by David Schickler, while its particularly Angolan vibe made Transparent City feel like a unique novel.

Ondjaki's characters are mostly larger than life, yet utterly plausible at the same time so I could believe in their actions and motivations while still being swept into a surrealism which appealed strongly to me. I am a big fan of magical realism novels. I felt that Transparent City is more of a slice-of-life story than a linear narrative so, while some of the individual characters' do experience a beginning-middle-end story arc, this wasn't the case for everyone so the whole book has a sense of timelessness to it. These people's lives will continue away from our scrutiny just as they did before we readers arrived, or if not these people exactly then other Angolans like them, other survivors of the war which shadows many of the pages and which, I understood, will haunt generations to come.

Ondjaki maintains a light, humorous touch throughout Transparent City which belies the seriousness of what his characters endure in their everyday lives. The city's imminent destruction as the result of the government's greed for oil revenues at any cost contrasts with more personal issues such as a grotesque untreated medical condition, widespread homelessness and a lack of basic facilities such as reliable water and electricity supplies. I was entertained by the idea of the rooftop cinema, for example, and Seashell Seller's bickering friendship with Blind Man. The way in which the building's residents pull together when needed is heartwarming, but the persistent undercurrent of corruption around them gave me the impression that however hard they tried, they might never be able to escape their circumstances.

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The Strangers in the House by Georges Simenon

The Strangers in the House by Georges Simenon

First published in French as Les Inconnus dans la maison in France by Gallimard in 1940. English language translation by Howard Curtis published by Penguin in 2021.

How I got this book:

Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com / Oxfam Online

The Book Depository / Waterstones

'I've just found a stranger in my house. In a bed on the second floor. He was dying when I got there. You're going to have to deal with it'

Hector Loursat has been a drunken recluse since his wife left him eighteen years ago. Shut away in his dilapidated mansion in the small town of Moulins, he barely speaks to his daughter. But when the sound of a gunshot penetrates the padded walls of his study one night, and he discovers a body, Loursat is forced to act. No longer able to ignore the world, he determines to get to the truth of what happened, and save an innocent life.

The Strangers in the House is a broodingly atmospheric novel which I felt was more of an intense character study than a crime fiction tale. There is indeed a crime to be solved - the story begins with a murder in the middle of the night - but its resolution takes second place to Simenon's portrayal of the man around whom the tale revolves, a reclusive alcoholic former lawyer named Hector Loursat. I absolutely loved how Simenon builds up his portrait of this man. From early details such as Loursat's daily pilgrimage to the cellar to retrieve his daily wine ration - three bottles of burgundy - to his attempts at personal rehabilitation in order to solve the case, Loursat is a pitiable figure, yet I found something compelling in the telling of his tale. Simenon completely understand Loursat and puts across, in gorgeously florid prose, the man's thoughts and compulsions as he steps back into the edges of town life for the first time in nearly two decades.

Unfortunately, compared to the care with which Simenon writes about Loursat, I thought the other characters were, at best, shallow and sometimes even just caricatures or speedy sketches of people. The ultimate unveiling of the guilty party also seemed somewhat rushed and slapdash as if Simenon, coming to the end of the novel, suddenly realised that he hadn't yet decided who his culprit should be. That that particular person was to blame (and I don't want to give their identity away in this review!) did make me feel quite uncomfortable too, especially given the era in which The Strangers In The House was first published.

I did love, however, the dark atmosphere of the town with Moulins itself becoming the second strongest character (in a way). This is noir writing at its best and I loved Howard Curtis' sympathetic translation. I wish my French was competent enough to have read this book in its original prose. I'm not sure that The Strangers In The House would be a good choice for Maigret crime fiction fans, but for readers who can put character and setting over plot, it is an engrossing read.

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The Tin Whistle by Kathleen Shoop + Giveaway

Inspired by a true story... 

1854 

Jacob Gusky wakes up hoping Santa has arrived. And he has... but not for Jacob, one of two Jewish boys living at the Boys’ Home of Manhattan. When a friend gifts him a tin whistle, Jacob learns the power of giving, the joy in receiving, and hears what he considers to be the sound of happiness. 

1881 

Recently widowed and completely out of options, Frannie takes her daughter Molly to the Home for the Friendless. “You’ll be back before Christmas?” Molly asks. Frannie gives Molly half a quilt square and keeps the other, choking on her reply. 

Now a happily married father of three, Jacob Gusky owns Gusky’s Grand Emporium, Pittsburgh’s first premier department store. After unearthing the tin whistle from the orphanage, he is reminded of what it felt like to have nothing, and decides to make a difference in the lives of others no matter their faith. But with so little time before Christmas morning, can he even begin to give the orphaned children of Pittsburgh what he knows they need? 

When giving is more important than receiving...

FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

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"This short novel is the MOST inspirational novel I have ever had the pleasure of reading."

"Beautiful, heartwarming story."

"A heartwarming and inspiring story. I highly recommend it."

"This is such a fantastic Christmas story with great characters and a very unique plot. There are also several wonderful messages on the importance of giving at this time of year. I am so glad I found this book."

"Terrific holiday story with well-defined characters and a setting that could have been any big city in the 19th century. Ms. Shoop’s novella reflects the good in human nature."

Above reviews from Amazon readers

Yes, I've started reading Christmas stories already this year even though it's not even the middle of November yet! When I was offered the opportunity to review a copy of Kathleen Shoop's seasonal novella, The Tin Whistle, I couldn't resist. Having read some of her stories before, I was confident I would enjoy this one too and I am delighted to be able to say that this is indeed the case. I loved that The Tin Whistle is, in part, based on the life of a real person - Jacob Gusky who did live in Pittsburgh during the 1800s. Shoop brings the 1880s city to life so I could easily imagine myself rushing into Gusky's Grand Emporium alongside the other eager shoppers or watching in amazement as the wagons rolled by. I appreciated how Shoop also deftly balances the emotional aspects of this story so, while I did actually have a tear in my eye at a couple of moments, I wasn't put off by it all becoming overly sentimental. The Tin Whistle is an endearing tale that focuses on the idea of charitable giving at Christmas and how small but heartfelt gestures are often the most memorable for both giver and recipient alike. In the wake of pandemic lockdowns when I feel we've all learned the importance of human connections over material posessions, and as we rush into the frenzy of the over-commercialised holiday season again, The Tin Whistle felt like a particularly apt and timely book for me to read.

"Writing this book was wonderful. Bringing aspects of the Guskys’ good works to life was more fun than I could have imagined!" ~ Kathleen Shoop

Also available...

Two days before Christmas, ornery Elliot Ebberts is tasked with school drop-off even though distracted by an important real estate transaction. In the holiday carpool chaos his extravagant, lucky coat goes missing. In a panic, he searches for his coat, tracing its path as it passes through the hands of good people in dire situations. Meanwhile, his plan to WOW his wife Libby with an ostentatious gift reveals Elliot’s shallowness to the world and mortifies his entire family. Is it too late for him to rediscover the meaning of Christmas, to remember who he is without all the trappings of the job that defines him? Can Libby and their children ever forgive him?

FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

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About Kathleen Shoop

Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, holds a PhD in reading education and has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. She writes historical fiction, women’s fiction and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered various awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Readers’ Favorite and the San Francisco Book Festival. Kathleen has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide to 2013. Her work has appeared in The Tribune-Review, four Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Pittsburgh Parent magazine. Kathleen coordinates Mindful Writing Retreats and is a regular presenter at conferences for writers.

I adore writing historical fiction (The Letter series, After the Fog and Donora Stories) but am having a blast writing romance like Home Again, Return to Love and Tending Her Heart (Endless Love series). Thank you so much for the time you take to read.

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I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

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Your Idea, Their Money by Saad AlSogair

Your Idea, Their Money by Saad AlSogair

Published by Austin Macauley Publishers FZE on the 28th October 2021.

How I got this book:

Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

The single largest problem that entrepreneurs face is fundraising. Aspiring business owners and grand product ideas are far from lacking, but the sad reality is that most start-ups fail to get off of the ground.

Your Idea, Their Money is aimed at those who struggle to find and close investors for their start-ups. While most entrepreneurs have the drive, few actually possess the skills, terminology, and knowledge required to effectively raise funds. In his book, Saad AlSogair covers not only the basics of entrepreneurship, but provides business owners with a blueprint for impressing investors.

Entrepreneurs who pick up this guide will learn about the investor’s mindset, the different means of investment, how to build executive summaries and business plans, how to put together pitches, and much more. Your Idea, Their Money is indispensable for any entrepreneur or business owner who is unsure of their next steps.

One of the unexpected rewards of my WorldReads project is the way in which it steers me to pick up books that I would likely never otherwise have even spotted, let alone actually thought to read, yet which turned out to be informative and interesting and that was exactly the case with Your Idea, Their Money by Saudi investor Saad AlSogair. The book provides a clear overview of the best ways to go about gaining funding for start-up businesses, taking readers through the planning and presentation process in easy to understand steps.

I would say that Your Idea, Their Money is aimed towards readers with some pre-existing business expertise, but AlSogair mostly manages to avoid too much in the way of niche terminology so, even with my minimal experience, I could understand the points he made and follow the reasoning behind them. I would have liked more in the way of real world examples to illustrate the various stages described. Your Idea, Their Money ends with three relevant case studies, but the majority of the book is purely theoretical and seems written to apply to as broad a variety of business start-ups as possible.

As a self-help guide for anyone considering turning their concept into a profitable business, I think Your Idea, Their Money could be an invaluable read early in the process. It approaches the topic of financing from both entrepreneur and investor's perspectives and manages to convey well just how much is involved in planning, pitching for and successfully gaining investment. I imagine realising the effort required might be enough to put less passionate entrepreneurs off before they even start, but this book would give the serious entrepreneur a good foundation and, potentially, a headstart on less prepared competitors.

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Kindred by Octavia E Butler

Kindred by Octavia E Butler

Published in America by Doubleday in June 1979.

How I got this book:

Bought the ebook from Amazon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

In 1976, Dana dreams of being a writer. In 1815, she is assumed a slave.

When Dana first meets Rufus on a Maryland plantation, he's drowning. She saves his life - and it will happen again and again.

Neither of them understands his power to summon her whenever his life is threatened, nor the significance of the ties that bind them.

And each time Dana saves him, the more aware she is that her own life might be over before it's even begun.

This is the extraordinary story of two people bound by blood, separated by so much more than time.

For much of the time I spent reading Kindred, I completely forgot that this novel was written in the 1970s - some 45 years ago now. Octavia Butler's ideas and prose style still feel fresh and I was glad that this important novel hasn't suffered from being 'of its time'. Other 1970s novels I've read have seemed dated but, in fact, Kindred came across as just as relevant now as it must have been to its first readers. On a personal level that was a good thing because it meant I could fully appreciate the story and everything it wanted to impart to me. I was also very aware though that this also illustrates how little progress has been achieved in terms of racial and gender equality over the past four decades. Slavery such as Dana experiences on the plantation may no longer be legal, but the attitudes it fostered are still very much with us as can be seen by the necessity for movements such as BLM.

Dana and Rufus are complicated, nuanced characters who find themselves tethered to each other by an inexplicable bond. I was surprised at how easily I could accept and believe in the time travel premise and think that this was achieved due to the authenticity of the main characters. I often felt that Dana could do more to help the slaves with whom she lived, but she isn't a 'superhero' movie character, rather a confused and frightened woman who struggles to adapt to the cold callousness of the Weylin family. To realise that she shares ancestry from both Rufus and Alice must have been so difficult to come to terms with, yet I loved seeing how Butler gives Dana hints of each of those characters within her own makeup.

Other than its scenes of extreme violence, Kindred was an easier read than I had expected. I think I was influenced by its reputation to expect a philosophical literary novel, but it is actually a compelling story that keeps up an exciting pace throughout. Butler was an accomplished storyteller who manages to impart what she wants to say without breaking the stride of her tale so, while I was left with plenty to think about after finishing Kindred, I never felt hectored or lectured whilst reading. A deserved classic.

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An Unusual Grief by Yewande Omotoso

An Unusual Grief by Yewande Omotoso

Published by Cassava Republic Press on the 9th November 2021.

How I got this book:

Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

How do you get to know your daughter when she is dead? 

This is the question which takes a mother on a journey of self-discovery. 

When her daughter Yinka dies, Mojisola is finally forced to stop running away from the difficulties in their relationship, and also come to terms with Yinka the woman. Mojisola’s grief leads her on a journey of self-discovery, as she moves into her daughter’s apartment and begins to unearth the life Yinka had built for herself there, away from her family. Through stepping into Yinka’s shoes, Mojisola comes to a better understanding not only of her estranged daughter, but also herself, as she learns to carve a place for herself in the world beyond the labels of wife and mother. A bold and unflinching tale of one women’s unconventional approach to life and loss.

An Unusual Grief turned out to not be the wryly humorous novel I had expected, based on having read Yewande Omotoso's previous novel The Woman Next Door, although it does have its lighter moments. Instead, Omotoso deeply explores how a mother, Mojisola, is traumatised by the death of her estranged daughter, Yinka, and how, in trying to search for both a explanation for her death and to recreate a connection, Mojisola discovers not only Yinka but herself too. Despite such potentially depressing subject matter, I found An Unusual Grief to be a very readable novel and quite the page-turner too.

Mojisola is a fascinating woman to spend time with. Taught to repress herself since fairly early childhood, it is not until overwhelming grief shatters her habitual closed demeanour that she realises just how much of her personality is made up of learned behaviours rather than being her true self. Perhaps never having thought before about her own ability to choose, the distance between herself and Yinka seemed partly driven by suppressed jealousy at the younger woman's freedom. An Unusual Grief does include several adult scenes as Mojisola embraces a darker path. I did occasionally wonder at the ease with which she accepted so many new experiences, but Omotoso understands her character so well that Mojisola's emotional journey always felt authentic an genuine - even while watching from my reader's perspective bordered on voyeuristic!

Mojisola is one of a number of strongly defined characters I liked. Prickly Zelda often made me chuckle as I - and Mojisola - saw through her stratagems to gain gossip, and I loved to despise Mojisola's inept and selfish husband, Titus, who I found to be a truly exasperating person. Women from Mojisola's past also put in appearances and I was impressed by how Omotoso handled scenes from different time periods. Seeing how Mojisola's childhood and youth led to the adult woman she became really helped me to understand her motivations and I appreciated the subtle links between mother and daughter too.

An Unusual Grief didn't feel like anything I had read before. Omotoso tackles themes around bereavement obviously, but also explores ideas about personal identity and how much of the person we project to others is what they want to see from us rather than who we really are. This was a thought-provoking, shocking and, ultimately, intensely satisfying novel to read.

Etsy Find!
	A5 Journal by Kamili Lifestyle Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

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Books by Yewande Omotoso / Contemporary fiction / Books from South Africa

WorldReads - Five Books From Serbia

If this is your first visit to my WorldReads blog series, the idea of the posts is to encourage and promote the reading of global literature. On the 5th of each month I highlight five books I have read by authors from a particular country. You can see links to previous countries' posts at the end of this post. From May 2016 until March 2020, WorldReads was hosted on my Stephanie Jane blog. From April 2020 onwards it is right here on Literary Flits
Click the cover images to visit their Literary Flits book review pages.

This month we are going to Serbia!

That's it for November's WorldReads from Serbia. I hope I have tempted you to try reading a book from this country and if you want more suggestions, click through to see all my Literary Flits reviews of Serbian-authored books!


If you missed any earlier WorldReads posts, I have already 'visited'

Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Zimbabwe,

Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, United States of America,

Asia: Afghanistan, China, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Syria, Turkey, Vietnam,

Australasia: Australia, New Zealand,

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Ukraine, Wales.

In December I will be highlighting five books by authors from Cameroon. See you on the 5th to find out which ones!

Speak Not: Empire, Identity and the Politics of Language by James Griffiths

Speak Not: Empire, Identity and the Politics of Language by James Griffiths

Published by Zed Books on the 21st October 2021.

How I got this book:

Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

As globalisation continues languages are disappearing faster than ever, leaving our planet's linguistic diversity leaping towards extinction. The science of how languages are acquired is becoming more advanced and the internet is bringing us new ways of teaching the next generation, however it is increasingly challenging for minority languages to survive in the face of a handful of hegemonic 'super-tongues'.

In Speak Not, James Griffiths reports from the frontlines of the battle to preserve minority languages, from his native Wales, Hawaii and indigenous American nations, to southern China and Hong Kong. He explores the revival of the Welsh language as a blueprint for how to ensure new generations are not robbed of their linguistic heritage, outlines how loss of indigenous languages is the direct result of colonialism and globalisation and examines how technology is both hindering and aiding the fight to prevent linguistic extinction.

Introducing readers to compelling characters and examining how indigenous communities are fighting for their languages, Griffiths ultimately explores how languages hang on, what happens when they don't, and how indigenous tongues can be preserved and brought back from the brink.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Speak Not, James Griffiths' exploration of three minority languages. Starting with Welsh and then going on to Hawai'ian and Cantonese, he takes readers through the history of these languages giving particular attention to how colonial pressures were the main contributors to each language becoming endangered and - in the cases of Welsh and Hawai'ian - the extreme efforts which had to be taken in order to ensure their survival. Cantonese was an interesting inclusion as this language, spoken widely in Hong Kong, but not on mainland China, is at the beginning of its suppression. I have noticed in reading historical fiction from around the world that local language speaking is often strongly discouraged or outright forbidden when foreign powers take over a nation. Maori children were solely taught in English when Britain ruled New Zealand for example, and the long-term negative effects of how being excluded from ones language, and in consequence ones culture and heritage, are now more widely understood.

Griffiths speaks from personal experience when talking about the fight for Welsh in Wales, and he also currently lives in Hong Kong so can appreciate the parallels between the two. I felt his reportage writing style especially suited this book as he brought the main protagonists to life for me on the page as well as imparting lots of information without the book ever feeling dry. As a side note, I'm currently learning Scottish Gaelic with Duolingo, the language app, Griffiths mentions within the text, so I felt this minority language experience of my own gave me an additional sense of connection to Speak Not. I am delighted to have discovered Speak Not as it was just about a perfect read for me and I would highly recommend it as a companion to Four Words for Friend by Marek Kohn.

Etsy Find!
	Welsh Numbers print by The Freckled Penguin Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

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Books by James Griffiths / Sociology books / Books from Wales

The Bad Immigrant by Sefi Atta

The Bad Immigrant by Sefi Atta

Published by Interlink today, the 2nd November 2021.

How I got this book:

Received a review copy from the publisher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / The Book Depository

An account of an immigrant family's struggle and the lessons learned about diversity.

Writing at the height of her powers, The Bad Immigrant cements Sefi Atta's place as one of the best storytellers of our time. Through the voice of her first male protagonist, Lukmon, Atta peels away nuanced layers to expose the realities of migration from Nigeria to the USA, such as the strains of adjustment and the stifling pressure to conform without loss of identity.

Covering a wide range of issues, including interracial and intra-racial tensions, and familial strains exacerbated in a new geographic and cultural environment, this novel is a thoroughgoing exposition of the many challenges that confront a modern migrant, told from the perspective of a protagonist whose sophistication and educational prowess is no guarantee of success in a country that is prone to valuing conformity over merit. Atta grounds Lukmon's narrative in a wide array of cultural and literary allusions that testify to the author's wit and sophisticated management of complicated matters in a manner at once erudite and accessible.

In The Bad Immigrant, Atta deftly drives the narrative forward with repartee that forges deep intimacy with the characters and engenders sympathy for all of them, even those we find infuriating.

I remembered unfortunately being underwhelmed by the previous Sefi Atta novel I read, The Bead Collector, so decided to give her writing a second try when I saw review copies of her newest novel, The Bad Immigrant, offered on NetGalley. This story of a reluctant immigrant to America from Nigeria has an interesting premise with our protagonist, Lukmon, continually finding fault with his American life while his wife, Moriam, and their two children seem to find their feet pretty swiftly. It's not a 'happy immigration' novel. However, Lukmon tells his story in the first person so, as readers, we only ever really know what he thinks about things or the way in which he chooses to interpret what other characters say to him.

Personally, I didn't get on with Lukmon at all which I think has a lot to do with my ultimately only feeling lukewarm about the novel as a whole. I felt as though he was perpetually whining and blaming everyone else around him for his lack of American progress and his passive-aggressive attitude frequently irritated me. I can enjoy reading about unlikeable characters if I find their stories capture my attention, but in The Bad Immigrant I more often found myself wishing I were reading from Moriam's point of view instead. Lukmon's failures to engage left me unable to really understand what he wanted - other than to go back to Nigeria. It's a shame because Atta has a lot to say about racism and sexism in America, particularly in relation to the cultural norms that the family grew up with in Nigeria. I found lots to think about in the characters arguments, their opposing views of the situations they encounter opening my eyes to ideas that were new to me. However this wasn't enough to overcome Lukmon's tiresome litany of complaints. 

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Books by Sefi Atta / Contemporary fiction / Books from Nigeria