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Naija Book Bae

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GOODREADS – LARA KAREEM

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Hi! My name is Lara Kareem, creator of this website. I’m a big literary lover, who also loves her heritage, hence the name Naija. I’m a Nigerian born and bred in Lagos… (read more)

Latest Posts

  • A Gift Guide for Book Lovers 11th December 2019
  • Book Review: Manchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi 2nd December 2019
  • Falling Down the Rabbit Hole that is Bully Romance. 26th November 2019
  • On Writing David Mogo, Godhunter Q&A with Suyi Davies Okungbowa 17th November 2019
  • I Published A Guide Book to Self-Publishing! 8th November 2019
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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 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. 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” 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. 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 & expressions and be crying about the—*blasphemous* fact that 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! Don’t stop here though this isn’t the full review, continue reading on the blog, link can be found in my bio 😊
Hello 👋🏾 long time no seeeee! To start imagine carrying this books around for days all because you need to get them signed! At least I could carry mine around in several bags unlike someone I know who was lugging a suitcase with books around 🌚 This posts features my Ake Festival book haul as well as books I already own but had to present to their various authors because of the sheer greatness of all the female authors. I didn’t want to carry extra books or the remaining three of my Nnedi books would be part of this pile and my copy of We Won’t Fade into Darkness signed also. Spy that little booklet over there, I got various authors and poets to sign so when I finally put their books in my library the signed pages become a book plate because *insert meme of popular black guy, touching his head in the universe acknowledgement that you’re smart* Ake Festival 2019 was amazing, I was in the same space and sharing the same oxygen with many of my superstars, nothing can really beat that and this is why it will remain in top 5 of my highlights this year. Here’s also to the wonderful connections and friendships it also birthed for me. Btw you can watch my full recap over on my YouTube channel, link in my bio and if you want the red little book about discussing sexual violence do not hesitate to message me. Until my review of Manchester Happened by Jennifer Makumbi
I’m not currently reading “With the Fire on High” but I’m savouring it for a delicious day where I am doing absolutely nothing, because Elizabeth Acevedo won me over with Poet X and such beautiful poetic writing, that was very inspiring I wrote several haikus. - With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life—and all the rules everyone expects her to play by—once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free. - I held a poll and although Girl, Woman, Other got the lead votes followed by She Would be King then Manchester Happened and finally Patsy. I am reading Manchester Happened because I’m sync reading it with Koye 😬. What are you reading this weekend? Also I’m hosting a giveaway over @bookishspecies featuring @bookgiftco items
Reading is Lit! I’ve read 84 books so far this year and I’m so thrilled because although I didn’t set a Goodreads Reading Challenge this year I challenged myself to read at least 100 books and save N200 for each book I read, which I was diligently doing until @akefestival came up, I took all my reading savings and bought me some new books 😊. What’s the damage to your reading list this year? I love bookish swag. I have so much custom tote bags, previously had bookish mugs which are all broken now, which is why I’m so thrilled I now have @bookgiftco’s mug! book sleeves (I make lol), custom bookmarks, custom pins and stickers, prints etc. Bookish swag is life and you also can own yours so honestly checkout the sales that’s happening at @bookgiftco p.s. I will be giving away some @bookgiftco items over @bookishspecies very soon, so if you’re not following better do now 🥰
A book I really can’t wait to dig into! Written by my favourite of course (@aminahmae) What’s the book about? “Sana Khan is a cheerleader and a straight A student. She's the classic (somewhat obnoxious) overachiever determined to win. Rachel Recht is a wannabe director who's obsesssed with movies and ready to make her own masterpiece. As she's casting her senior film project, she knows she's found the perfect lead - Sana. There's only one problem. Rachel hates Sana. Rachel was the first girl Sana ever asked out, but Rachel thought it was a cruel prank and has detested Sana ever since. Told in alternative viewpoints and inspired by classic romantic comedies, this engaging and edgy YA novel follows two strongwilled young women falling for each other despite themselves.” Which brings me to ask, when’s the last time you read a sapphic book and what book would you say is your favourite? Btw spy my @bookgiftco goodies! I launched my “Lit! I Mean Literature” tote bag at @akefestival and it was nice spring another attendee with the same exact bag! And my favourite new mug “Reading is Lit” Which you can also get your hands on at a discounted price since there’s a current ongoing sales @bookgiftco.
Final day at #AkeFestival until next year!
Day two at #AkeFestival and the literary love fest continues with the intellectual thoughts being shared and panellists being savages. There’s a group picture of I and other bookstagrammers on someone’s device with Lola Shoneyin photobombing us lol, can’t wait to see it. I put aside my hate for the camera and got pictures with a lot of awesome authors which was so out of my comfort zone, my smiles are weird 😂 but I’m a cutie. #AkeFest19 though has being quite the exercise of my muscles by carrying bags of books around I believe this is why I am always so exhausted at the end of a day. Today I’m thankful for authors, for the gifts I received, for my friends and the whole Ake Festival team! Until tomorrow.
#AkeFestival official day one was very eventful and fun! I got to meet favourite authors from all over Africa I probably won’t have met otherwise and had various conversations with a couple of them, peak fangirling. I unlearnt and learnt from the wonderful panels I went for and the greatest thing was they were completely safe spaces and we can all agree on one thing fuck patriarchy! I got to reconnect with old friends, met more #bookstagrammers which I can’t wait to take pictures with tomorrow! And made a couple of new friends 😊 Day one (officially) was great and now I shall sleep and do it all again tomorrow! #AkeFest19 #BlackBodiesGreyMatter
A Small Silence by Jumoke Verissimo is a very suspenseful book that will have you turning the next page because you just have to know what’s going to happen. The story explores the aftermath of a traumatic experience, how darkness can be a security blanket and also dangerous for the mind. The story showcases different experiences of the main characters and side characters that are intertwined with their lives. The story predominantly takes places in a university setting being that the main characters of the story have links to it, with Prof. being a retired professor and Desire being a current student. This is a book that is going to spark a lot of conversations when it hits the Nigerian market and I can’t wait to partake in it.

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