Okay, so off the bat let me just say I had never heard of South African Author Gail Schimmel. I may seem like I’ve been living under a rock considering the pleasant surprise this first encounter was. But alas, here I are. The Accident follows the life of Julia, a woman raised by a broken mother, Catherine, following a fatal accident. Julia has sort of had to mother herself and navigate through life on wobbly terms as her deeply depressed mother has practically just washed her hands off all responsibility. Until. The Accident – Schimmel’s FOURTH novel – is a tale of second chances. In here is a lesson on…
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ON THE COME UP|| Angie Thomas
Let me just start off by saying I STAN A QUEEN!! Good heavens, I’m not even sure when the last time I was so madly in love with someone I didn’t know was. Here’s the thing about Angie – (lol I can myself with the first names sometimes), her writing is relatable. Sometimes contemporary is pitched above our heads – but then there are times when true craftsmanship can make today’s ailments matter through literature. I do believe we’ve been blessed with such a talent in Angie. Did I mention how hard I Stan??!! Okay, okay. Into the book ALSO KNOWN AS my very first EVER ARC! I definitely did…
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OUR DARK DUET|| V.E. Schwab
If you watched my IGTV Review you will know that I had a longing for a romance to be explored in this sequel … well, hopefully you’ve followed my Instagram Account to find my review of OUR Dark Duet. I have come to conclude that Schwab is a scene setter – she cannot help it, she MUST place you in a certain position before she can take you on the journey – and such is the case in this book as well. However, in hindsight I’ve found myself wondering if all that scene setting at the start served any purpose at all – no really. I want to say I…
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THIS SAVAGE SONG|| V.E. Schwab
I remember when I was still toying around with the idea of book tube, bookstagram and a book blog, the Monsters of Verity Duology was all over the place, as in literally everywhere. Yet still I managed to avoid the spoilers. Did I know I’d read this one day, maybe, perhaps, who knows? Ok enough about that. This Savage Song follows the lives of human Kate Harker and monster August Flynn. Verity is a city in which the most gruesome acts by human beings leave monsters in their wake. If you ask me, Verity may be synonymous to planet earth. That’s if you are asking. This book is broken up…
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BECOMING|| Michelle Obama
I think it’s safe to say that this is one of those Autobiographies that will be raved about for a VERY VERY long time. Just when you thought the first black POTUS was all that and a bag of crisps came the first black FLOTUS! Good grief I wasn’t ready! Yeman!!!! wow! Michelle Obama is a dream. She is a brilliant story teller and she lived an enchanted life. If her book is anything to go by, which it will be for many of us the world over, then she was blessed with a reasoning ability way above her young years which she harnessed throughout the years. I do think…
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MY TOP 3 BOOKS|| Of 2018
As it turns out of the 14 books I read last year only 3 got 5 star reviews. And get this, all three were written by black women. What are the chances, two of which were debuts - GET OUT OF TOWN.
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TWO DARK REIGNS|| Kendare Blake
The mist has always held some level of mystery in the Three Dark Crowns series. It’s as though Kendare brought us up to have a sense of awe about it. So once it is laid bare in front of us, we do not merely feel privy to the knowledge but we are also enthralled by its true existence. With that come plenty other questions I only wish will be answered in the fourth book. The third book in the series ends with a simple ‘To Be Continued’ which is how I am certain book four is underway or actually already completed. Maybe this year then? Kendare is the master of…
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INTRUDERS|| Mohale Mashigo
I have chosen to break each of these short stories into mini-reviews for purposes of this review. I hope this gives you a glimpse into how special and worthwhile this book is. If in anyway this whets your appetite then do not hesitate to grab a copy, if only to realise that there’s something mystical in every ‘ordinary’ person. ManokaWe truly are nothing without our mothers. In a patriarchal black world where we are taught our identity lies in the paternal – we really truly do still need our mothers. The issue of identity as coming from a mother, passed on through the intimacies of giving birth and breastfeeding shines…
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HALF OF A YELLOW SUN|| Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The world was silent when we died … the title of the book within this book encapsulates the message of Adichie’s story. If I’m honest, the idea of war has always been as real as what I’ve seen on tv. Nothing quite as heart pulling and soul wrenching as this story. That’s the power of fiction I wish many experienced. The next time I read, watch or listen the news about a war torn country I will remember these characters and each of their stories and my empathy will be amplified. It is vital that we tell our stories. If only just for this. Half of a Yellow Sun follows…
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ONE DARK THRONE|| Kendare Blake
This is the sequel to Three Dark Crowns and therefore cannot be read or reviewed in isolation. In this sequel, the real games begin. At the end of Three Dark Crowns we were left with a breathtaking cliff hanger and all sorts of questions unanswered. So, the sequel was a definite must. The triplets are still scrambling for the crown, and though we thought we had lost one, it turns out we thought wrong, and what is about to ensue is a twisted story of the need for family and the hunger for power. Blake adds dimensions to her world that we didn’t particularly expect. We finally also learn if…
