Books I Read and Loved in March
and a new personal reading challenge
*unrelated to my March reads, but April related — the International Booker Prize 2024 shortlist will be announced on 9th April.
Friends,
Here’s a list of books I’ve loved in March, and a new personal reading challenge that I’m pretty excited about. (small hint: 🦁)
In Foreign Lands, Trees Speak Arabic - Usama Al Shahmani (translated from the Arabic)
A short story narrated by Usama about leaving his native Iraq and living as an asylum-seeker in Switzerland. Funny in parts (he thinks the Swiss habit of walking in woods is slightly bananas) and sad too — made me think about the day to day struggles refugees face when they arrive in a brand new country.
This helpful book describes the ways in which the so-called 'deadly sins' have been used by the patriarchy to control women throughout our history. (Lust. Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Wrath. Envy. Pride.) Biggest takeaway for me was the ways in which we as women operate from a scarcity mindset when it comes to jobs (justifiably so) and to recognise when it’s coming up.
Rifqa - Mohammed El-Kurd
Named for Mohammed’s grandmother (her name was Rifqa), this is the Palestinian poet’s debut collection.
A Small Place - Jamaica Kincaid
A Small Place is an essay drawing on Kincaid's experiences growing up in Antigua. She covers the Antiguan government, the tourism industry and Antigua's British colonial legacy.
A Little Luck - Claudia Piñeiro (translated from the Spanish)
Still thinking about this book! Anything I say may ruin it, so will just say — in short, Mary Lohan returns to her birth home of Buenos Aires 20 years after an accident that changed her life. She left as María Elena Lauría (or Marilé), and now she’s back to face the memories from her past. I devoured this book. Will definitely re-read.
How to Think Like a Woman: Four Women Philosophers Who Taught Me How to Love the Life of the Mind - Regan Penaluna
‘Where were the women philosophers?’ Regan asked when she embarked on her life long dream to study philosophy. Turns out they were there all along, just purposefully ignored or erased from history. Great insight into the teachings of Western philosophy at American universities, as well as the misogyny, harassment and devaluation of women and their intellect.
poyums - Len Pennie
I found Len during the pandemic via her Instagram where she generously shares meanings behind her ‘Scots word of the day’. If you’ve never heard of her then please do take a listen - I’m half-Scottish so am 50% biased - it is a wonderful language! This is her debut poetry collection and it’s exceptional. (note ‘poyums’ = ‘poems’)
Literary Places - Sarah Baxter
Illustrated by Amy Grimes, Sarah shares 25 literary places around the globe, as well as how they intersect with the lives of the authors and the works that make them significant. Inspired me to take a lot more literary-themed trips!
Malibongwe: Poems from the Struggle by ANC Women - Sono Molefe
From GoodPress:
“In the late 1970s, Lindiwe Mabuza, a.k.a. Sono Molefe, sent out a call for poems written by women in ANC camps and offices throughout Africa and the world. The book that resulted, published and distributed in Europe in the early 1980s, was banned by the apartheid regime. Half-forgotten, it has never appeared in a South African edition - until now.”
I loved every poem ❤️
GIRL - Jamaica Kincaid
The shortest ‘book’ I’ve ever read - in fact, I couldn’t get hold of a book so I found a pdf (here) which is just 2 pages. Two of the most thought provoking pages I’ve read this year.
Excited to share a personal reading challenge I’ve started this year. My own reading journey – shaped by my early years in South Africa and the move to the UK in my 20s – has so far been extremely lacking in African literature. Not for long though — I’ve decided this year to focus on my roots and am excited to be Reading My Way Through Africa. I’ll be reading a book from every one of the 54 countries in Africa and you are welcome to follow along :)
So far I’m at 4/54 with authors from Rwanda; Somalia; South Africa & Togo. I have TBR books for April & May from Botswana; Cameroon; Kenya; Libya; Zambia and Zimbabwe.
I’d love to hear any recommendations you may have — let me know if you’ve read any African authors that I need to add to my list —
ps: in case you missed it - here are the books i loved in february & january
What a great selection. I am inspired!
I absolutely loved Penaluna's book--what a joy to see other women's voices held up from history, to know there are so many.