Category: Books
Attending a Book Picnic!
Have you ever wondered how the name Picnic came to be? Me neither until right now as I was writing this post, I guess afterwards I will google the origins and sate my curiosity.
On the 8th of December, 2019 I was invited for a Book Picnic, organised by one of my countries leading bookstore Roving Heights, I even got a special invitation because they noticed how I try to give back and encourage reading with my spaces on the internet, as well as my recommendations to their store.
I had nothing better to do, well I had work to do and was healing from an ailment but I preferred hanging out with bookish people, so of course, I got dressed and was on my way.
But that’s not all, I decided to Vlog because I realised it’s wonderful content for my Booktube account, which needs more love from the literary community by the way. I am taking the advice from one of my friends and now every time I share a video, I shall create a post for it as well on my blog.
I do hope more people watch my videos and give me more advice so I can become better with my youtube channel. Anyway here is the Vlog for the Roving Heights Book Picnic below.
Book Review: Manchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
Title – Manchester Happened
Author – Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
Publication – May 23rd, 2019.
Publisher – One World Publications
Genre – Short Story Collection & Ugandan Fiction
An ambitious and assured collection of short stories from the internationally acclaimed author of Kintu
If there’s one thing the characters in Jennifer Makumbi’s stories know, it’s how to field a question.
‘Let me buy you a cup of tea… what are you doing in England?’
‘Do these children of yours speak any Luganda?’
‘Did you know that man Idi Amin?’
But perhaps the most difficult question of all is the one they ask themselves: ‘You mean this is England?’
Told with empathy, humour and compassion, these vibrant, kaleidoscopic stories re-imagine the journey of Ugandans who choose to make England their home. Weaving between Manchester and Kampala, this dazzling, polyphonic collection will captivate anyone who has ever wondered what it means to truly belong.
I’ve read many collections of short stories which endings leave me feeling unsettled and bothered because of how abrupt the stories end but this isn’t the case with this book. All stories end perfectly and I found myself chuckling out loud in public spaces while reading this book, which is the best collections of short stories I have ever read since my primary school days.
I laugh in the face of people who think writing short stories is easier than writing a novel. And not just any kind of short story, one with the all the best characteristics of a novel, go ahead…try it, let’s see how easy it is.
I highly love Jennifer Makumbi’s writing and I am so happy she fought for this collection to be published! This pressed on the fact I need to read Kintu ASAP.
One thing I learnt from reading this collection is that we African’s really have characteristics that bind us despite how different our traditions and culture are. I really loved reading about the Ugandans and is it just me but I spotted some connections in the stories that were told, like “Our Allies the Colonies” and “The Nod”
“Let’s Tell This Story Properly” had my heart in my throat and my anger, but what is wonderful throughout is how powerful and inspiring Nnam is.
Of course, my favourite story in the collection is “Memoirs of a Namaaso” because hello a huge canine lover over here. It’s also a story that leaves me 100% curious because of how bittersweet it is.
Of all the humans in the story my favourite was Poonah and I love how we get to follow her in not one but two stories. “In Love Made in Manchester” Masaaba had me in shock and anticipating how the story would end and I love I felt all the intended emotions the story was meant to evoke.
If I was a white person or someone of lower intellect I would be complaining about how this book doesn’t explain the many Ugandan words and expression and be crying about the—*blasphemous* fact there’s no glossary to explain them. Ladies and gentlemen, there’s google and let it be the norm for writers whose indigenous languages aren’t English to use their indigenous words in their books because it is 100% normal for them.
Each of the stories are wonderful and portray beautiful people going about their normal lives. The writing is well put together and definitely unproblematic. The storytelling is seamless and easy to follow. Need I say more? What are you waiting for? Add this book to your TBR if you’ve not read it already!
Falling Down the Rabbit Hole that is Bully Romance.
It started with a twitter thread about a high school bully romance The Secret Girl by C.M. Stunich and I was intrigued because I love reading enemies-to-lovers stories…I didn’t know getting my hands on this book would set me on a dangerous path down the world of bully romance that can be alarmingly dark at times and I haven’t really reflected on what that says about me because I read them.
I only know I’m able to dissociate because I take it for the fictional narrative it is and I definitely do not want any of the so-called bullies in my life as a romantic partner, because I give back as good as I get, I will not take anyone’s bullshit ever. I will snitch and do everything in my power to protect my mental health, hence my favourite reads in the category are ones with heroines that kick ass.
From reading The Secret Girl, I found myself joining C.M. Stunich Facebook page because I needed the next book ASAP and wanted to be kept in the loop, I didn’t know I would stumble upon so many recommended reads and I went further into inhaling books in the category and with this category comes many Reverse Harem books, in which a girl has more than one or two love interests, where she doesn’t have to make a choice but gets them all.
FYI I actually have read other bully romance over the years prior to this year but I didn’t actually know they were defined as Bully Romance. The book that started this journey for me was Bully by Penelope Douglas, I read it the year it got republished and was eagerly devouring each book in the series and other books Penelope released, but still the category didn’t click even though it was glaring lol.
Another obvious sign was when I read The Royal Series by Erin Watt A reminder I won’t take for any kind of bullying, mansplaining, dominating, domineering, possessiveness or controlling spirit from a man, in reality, so I really don’t understand why reading such in books releases my endorphins, which is why I devour so many dark-themed romances.
Don’t get me wrong some of them are just plain bad, which perpetuates nasty and bad actions that need to be burnt to ashes and condemned so I shall not be giving them any spotlight in this post.
Fall Away Series by Penelope Douglas
The Royals Series by Erin Watt
Adamson All-Boys Academy Series by C.M. Stunich
And there you have my recommendations but please proceed at your own caution.
On Writing David Mogo, Godhunter Q&A with Suyi Davies Okungbowa
Title – David Mogo, Godhunter
Author – Suyi Davies Okungbowa
Publication – July 9th, 2019.
Publisher – Abaddon
Genre – Urban Fantasy
Since the Orisha War that rained thousands of deities down on the streets of Lagos, David Mogo, demigod, scours Eko’s dank underbelly for a living wage as a freelance Godhunter. Despite pulling his biggest feat yet by capturing a high god for a renowned Eko wizard, David knows his job’s bad luck. He’s proved right when the wizard conjures a legion of Taboos—feral godling-child hybrids—to seize Lagos for himself. To fix his mistake and keep Lagos standing, David teams up with his foster wizard, the high god’s twin sister and a speech-impaired Muslim teenage girl to defeat the wizard.
