"There's a tenderness you're offering her. A tenderness she offers you. And, from what I know now, there ain't much in this world sexier than that "There's a tenderness you're offering her. A tenderness she offers you. And, from what I know now, there ain't much in this world sexier than that."
In the week that the Netflix-serie Adolescence premiered, this YA novel felt like its antithesis: a tender and honest story about masculinity, romantic relationships, and (the first time having) sex.
As 17-year old Neon prepares himself to take the next step with his long-term girlfriend Aria, we read about the conversations he has with his parents, his sister, and his friends. Neon is likeable and relatable from the start: although he has to deal with awkward conversations and nerves, Neon's doubts are about the act, not about the deep love him and Aria share. They don't want to have sex out of lust, but out of love and trust.
The writing - a stream-of-consciousness style - doesn't leave much room for side-character development, but the mature and compassionate conversations Neon has with his family are beautiful. It might feel worndown, but its so important teenage girls and boys are told that sex isn't a competition, it's an act emotional for both parties, and being mindful of (each other's) boundaries makes your relationship even stronger.
Some might find the message overriding the story, but the characters feel too realistic to let that happen. A YA novel that I hope finds its way into the hands of many teenagers: 3,5 stars....more
"I tell the priest about hurting Bo's feelings, and getting drunk. I confess all the things I feel guilty about. But liking girls? I feel like I c "I tell the priest about hurting Bo's feelings, and getting drunk. I confess all the things I feel guilty about. But liking girls? I feel like I can be okay with that part of myself, or at least try to, even if others can't."
"This city. You think you'll never be a part of the things you hate; you think you're protected somehow, like the rot won't ever get to you. Then "This city. You think you'll never be a part of the things you hate; you think you're protected somehow, like the rot won't ever get to you. Then you wake up one day and you're chest deep in it."
Emezi's newest book isn't for the faint of heart - not that the author is known for writing soft stories - but this was one of the most graphic novels I read in 2024. In Little Rot, Emezi paints a world in which people follow their desire - for sex, for blood, for absolution - and the consequences that this search has for themselves and the people around them.
We follow six people over the course of one weekend in Lagos. Kalu and Aima, both reeling from their break-up, seek distraction and spend separate nights lost in music, drugs and pleasure. But during Kalu's visit to an exclusive sex party, hosted by Kalu's best friend Ahmed, Kalu makes an enemy too powerful to escape. During her weekend, Aima discovers new sides to herself and her best friend Ijendu that should've better stayed hidden. And on the other side of Lagos, escorts Ola and Souraya, beautiful and insidious, make plans to meet up with their clients. Clients with strong connections to the city's corrupt and depraved underworld.
"One of Ahmed's exes used to email Kalu. "He scares me a little", she'd written. "It's like loving a snake who think it's a man and can't see it's a snake. The skin doesn't fit well."
This is a dark work of fiction, a psychological thriller with a relentless pace, in which we witness intense scenes showing violent debauchery, religious hypocrisy and how sex can be a mirror, a tool to survive, or an act that can be turned against you. Just like the characters, you'll be tainted by the story, so mind the trigger warnings.
To be swept up in such a seedy world isn't pleasant, but Emezi's atmospheric writing is. It doesn't just illustrate the darkness but the spots of love and light that these struggling people carry. The friendship between Ahmed and Kalu has deep roots. Despite her doubts, Aima's love for Kalu is true. Ola and Souraya's beauty and spirit has saved them during their lowest points, and it might be able to save others.
Little Rot is a vicious and violent novel, not pleasant to read but fascinating for anyone wanting to look darkness in the eye. Trigger warnings: Violence, Sexual Assault, Rape, Drug and Substance Use, Sexually Explicit Scenes, Pedophilia...more
"Maybe you're not aware, but many of these folks you see around here were born into my hands. I'm the mother who catches them from the womb. And j "Maybe you're not aware, but many of these folks you see around here were born into my hands. I'm the mother who catches them from the womb. And just like I welcomed each one into my hands, I birthed this land. You understand what I'm saying? This land lives in me," she pounded her chest, "it sprouted within me and took root. Right here", she pounded her chest again, "right here is where the land lives. I'm part of this land, with all my people. Água Negra lives in my heart, not on that piece of paper that belongs to you and your husband. You can yank me from this land like a weed, but you'll never take the land from me."
"Ik liet me maar in vorm kneden daarmee ontstond het eerste misverstand, want na drie of vier keer te zijn omgekneed wist niemand nog wat mijn oorspronk"Ik liet me maar in vorm kneden daarmee ontstond het eerste misverstand, want na drie of vier keer te zijn omgekneed wist niemand nog wat mijn oorspronkelijke vorm geweest was ik kon nooit meer mezelf worden en ik werd nergens meer herkend" (Vleeswording)
In deze prachtige bundel is Fabias op zoek naar haar 'thuis': vind je dat in je eigen lichaam of in het lichaam van anderen, is dat de plaats waar je nu woont of waar je voorouders vandaan komen? De gedichten van Fabias laten je niet altijd gelijk binnen, je daalt samen met de schrijfster door het donker af naar de kern, en ondertussen roepen de zinnen allerlei prikkelende, kleurrijke of smeulende beelden op.
"het is goed om naast de vijand te slapen zei mijn moeder ooit doch het is veel beter om mét de vijand te slapen het is alleen geen gezicht want in dit weinige licht heeft hij geen gezicht en zijn schaduw lijkt een beetje op de mijne" (Oorlog)
In het eerste gedeelte 'uitzicht met kokosnoot' hebben de gedichten nog iets grappigs of schurends, vol spot zoals in reisgids, maar in 'rib' en 'aantoonbare geleverde spanning' maakt de humor plaats voor het duister. Mensen houden zich daar schuil: gevaarlijke of liegende mannen (stille beschouwing in het donker), je ergste vijand (oorlog), zwervers op straat (tuig), of vreemdelingen die niet zo eng zijn als je dacht (gieser wildeman)
Ik durf niet te beweren dat ik Fabias's gedichten allemaal begrijp, maar spannend en zinderd vond ik deze bundel zelf. Een aanrader (misschien niet voor beginners) en ik ben benieuwd naar Obstructies!
"ik vind je in het onderstel van de pier bij de zee natuurlijk vind ik je aan zee je zit eerst in de vleugel van een hongerige meeuw dan vind ik je boven de zee in de nacht die valt om op jou te lijken" (ik zoek je in de stad)...more
“I didn't want only street festivals and carnivals, I wanted work commutes and the banal humanity of everyday life, which is closer to the reality o “I didn't want only street festivals and carnivals, I wanted work commutes and the banal humanity of everyday life, which is closer to the reality of the black experience in Europe: we do more than just dance, sing and grin.”
A fascinating account of Black communities in European capitals and their current position in society. Pitts shares a lot of information about (colonial) history, sociology and politics and mixes that with interviews with people he meets along the way. From frustrated teenagers in the banlieues of Paris, the motivated staff of the Black Archives in Amsterdam, to the cautious students of Moscow University, Pitts questions them about their understanding of blackness in Europe. What is the Afropean identity?
The writing is quite dense, academically sometimes, but I learned a lot from this book. I already knew about the infamous Africa Museum in Tervuren (Belgium) and Germany performing horrific scientific experiments in Namibia during their colonial regime, but other (historic) facts were completely new. Rastafarianism, Pushkin's African heritage, the role the Soviet Union played during decolonisation (and America's violent response), Claude McKay's connection to Marseille, and much more.
Pitts made me look at Europe, its history and its citizens with different eyes, and I'm really grateful for that: 3,75/4 stars.
"Their friendship [between author Caryl Phillips and poet Linton Kwesi] personified what the construct of Black Britain should be at its core: an unifying search for truth and identity against the backdrop of colonial hegemony and misinformation, the creation or unveiling of a history that has been disfigured by the place you call home." ...more
"Your wife requires coaxing, compliments, massages, and other romantic gestures to get into the mood to have sex with you. I require no such thing "Your wife requires coaxing, compliments, massages, and other romantic gestures to get into the mood to have sex with you. I require no such thing. I build monuments to my impulses and desires on the backs of men like you."
I had a great time discussing this rich story-collection, full of stories about mother-daughter relations, God and religious rules (and the men who dictate them), and women sharing their hidden desires with us. A secret romance, a burning craving for revenge, or the 'simple' wish to be seen by the world as they are. 4,5 stars and I can't wait to read more from Philyaw in the future!...more
An incredible novel in verse: powerful, heartbreaking and raw. Will's older brother Shawn was shot and killed yesterday, and now Will is set out to foAn incredible novel in verse: powerful, heartbreaking and raw. Will's older brother Shawn was shot and killed yesterday, and now Will is set out to follow the Rules meant for the broken people to follow. No crying. No snitching. Find the one responsible, and kill them.
On his way to kill the guy that (maybe?) killed Shawn, people get in the elevator with Will. Every one of them has been touched by a bullet: some are the accidental victim of one, others got caught in the cycle of retribution. If you can't depend on the police, your community or society to keep you and your loved ones safe, what else is there?
Reynolds never choses a side, only showing us the life of a young black boy in contemporary America, the far-reaching effects of (teenage) gun violence, and how difficult it is to break away from the Rules. 4 stars and much love for Chris Priestley's illustrations.
People always said
He was taught to do good but doing bad was in his blood.
And there's that night-time Mom always be talking about.
It'll snatch your teaching from you,
put a gun in your hand a grumble in your gut and some sharp in your teeth. ...more
"There is life in the sinking", the water at my feet says."Life in the descent", the aquifer's whisper intones. "Naw", I say. "This ain't living."
Jeswy"There is life in the sinking", the water at my feet says."Life in the descent", the aquifer's whisper intones. "Naw", I say. "This ain't living."
Jeswyn Ward's latest novel Let us Descend takes us to on a harrowing journey: not to the seven terraces of hell, but something close to it. Grief is a central theme - three years ago, Ward's first partner suddenly died - and that heartbreak is prevalent throughout this haunting book.
Annis is one of the dozen slaves that have to survive the landscapes of 17th century American South. Sold by her old master, she gets separated from her beloved mother and send to work on a Louisina sugar plantation. Annis however has the ability to see the spiritual world; spirits like Mama Aza, who crossed over from Africa to America and try to find new connections to this land and its citizen. Many black people are praying for help, but the spirits are mercurial and always demand a prize for their aid. And if you don't even own yourself, what can (or are you willing) to give away?
"I am hollow with hunger. After the walk south, I thought the river of jarring steps had etched me to nothing, but now, this place, I find there is more to lose to the lady, the house, to the fields. From the line of my thigh to the cave of my belly to the indents between my ribs: this place is paring what little was left of me.”
I've have to admit, it took me 100 pages to get into this story: Ward's lyrical writing and magical-realism often keeping me out of reality and unable to form a connection to the human characters. Maybe she choose this writing style to soften the horrifying events, but I'm caring for Annis and the others because of what's going on in the physical world, so let me feel that world.
But I was moved by Annis and her journey, and how she eventually understood that leaning too much on the spirits like Mama Aza isn't the way to survive; similar to Beloved and Sing, Unburied, Sing, you have to learn to live with the pain of loss. It's the love and support from other women like Safi, Phyllis, Esther, and Mary that give Annis real strength to carry on and fight to stay alive.
I might've missed elements due to this story being linked to Dante's The Divine Comedy but I greatly admire Annis' (inner) strenght and determination. 3 stars....more
I don't care that the mystery is so easy to solve and the plot kinda predictable - the chemistry between Yadriel and Julian is EVERYTHING. Also, I reaI don't care that the mystery is so easy to solve and the plot kinda predictable - the chemistry between Yadriel and Julian is EVERYTHING. Also, I really liked the exploration of the brujx community. A warm community that holds and protects their traditions, yet those traditions can also be frigid if people (like Yadriel) don't fit within those boundaries. The juxtaposition between the brujx with powers over the living and the death, while being on the sidelines in the real world was fascinating as well. The audiobook was great too, so overall 3,75/4 stars.
“Only after you were gone did I finally begin to think. Only with your death, at dusk, did I know, did I understand that I would no longer listen “Only after you were gone did I finally begin to think. Only with your death, at dusk, did I know, did I understand that I would no longer listen to the voice of duty, the voice that commands, the voice that leads the way. But it was too late.”
A dizzying, brutal and strangely beautiful tale of a black soldier in the French trenches of World War I. After losing his more-than-a-brother Mademba, Alfa sets out every night to cut off the hands of his enemies. But this act of revenge makes him a madman, a djemm, in the eyes of his fellow (black and white) soldiers, and slowly Alfa loses grasp on humanity - but do rules of life even matter in this horrible, meaningless war?
Diop's novel reminded me of Dante's Divine Comedy: just like Dante goes down into the pits of Hell, we similarly sink lower and lower in Alfa's mind, where his memories of Senegal mix with the brutal events of the present. Near the end the author lost me a little; maybe because I've only got to experience Mademba and Alfa's relationship through the eyes of the latter, but overall the conclusion shows well the deep and powerful bond of brotherhood.
I'm very impressed by the author's writing and talent, so 3,5 stars and I can't wait to read more from Diop in the future....more
"Jij wil een engel die vast kan houden wie je bent Een engel die belooft jou terug te geven als jij jou nodig hebt"
Een ontroerende en persoonlijk "Jij wil een engel die vast kan houden wie je bent Een engel die belooft jou terug te geven als jij jou nodig hebt"
Een ontroerende en persoonlijke poëziebundel over Gershwin, Gush, die opgroeide in een wereld vol kleine en grote problemen. De beste weg van school naar huis, armoede, dyslexie, familiebanden, racisme, en de stoere jongens op het Prinsenplein. Bonevacia's gedichten zijn heel toegankelijk, maar bevatten een kracht en emotie die me soms echt stil maakte. Mijn favorieten: 'Plakband', 'Doe dat (niet)', 'Er zijn regels', 'Zelf, 'We zijn onderweg' en 'Peter Pan'. 3,5 sterren en ik kijk ernaar uit Bonevacia eens live zijn gedichten te horen voordragen.
"Onthoud het grootste gedeelte van jezelf moet je houden Onthoud het grootste gedeelte van jezelf mag je houden Onthoud het grootste gedeelte van jezelf kan je houden" ...more
"Als jullie ons wegzetten in een hoekje, dan zullen we van dat hoekje en feest maken en vanuit dat feest zullen we beschrijven wat we zien."
Raoul de "Als jullie ons wegzetten in een hoekje, dan zullen we van dat hoekje en feest maken en vanuit dat feest zullen we beschrijven wat we zien."
Raoul de Jong laat zijn lezers op laagdrempelige wijze kennismaken met belangrijke 20e-eeuwse zwarte schrijvers, hun connectie met hun moederland, en hoe deze zich vertaalden naar indrukwekkende romans en biografieën. Voor lezers van Jaguarman zal dit essay een herkenning zijn van Raoul's lichtvoetige (zal ik zeggen, swingend?) schrijfstijl waarmee hij geschiedenisverhalen en persoonlijke belevenissen met ons deelt. Je merkt wel dat Raoul te weinig pagina's heeft om zijn betoog te beschrijven, waardoor bepaalde onderdelen onderbelicht blijven; de heftige 'tegenwerking' van zwarte auteurs wordt maar in een paar zinnen beschreven.
Hopelijk zet het essay mensen aan om de boeken van Anton de Kom, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes en anderen op te zoeken, want die verhalen zijn aanraders voor alle lezers. Op dit feestje wil je iedereen zien dansen....more
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