The first one is Blood Feast-The complete short stories by Malik Moustradaf translated by Alice Guthrie; It is prudent to state that the writer, Malik, is a renown feminist icon as far as contemporary Moroccan literature is concerned; she has shown her undying passion in addressing the gender and sexuality concerns in North Africa. This is to say, Blood Feast is not any different ! It is a short fiction of 14 stories that are to any readers’ interest untying the issues of sexuality, hidden desires, absence of choice and gender norms to say the least! The stories unfold the glimmering pain of characters from- a breastfeeding mother flirting on the internet, to an intersex sex worker, to a young man grappling with desire itself; notforgetting, A teenage girl suffers through a dystopian rite of passage, a man with kidney disease makes desperate attempts to secure treatment, and a mother schemes to ensure her daughter passes a virginity test.
Secondly is A Biography of Can Themba; The Making and Breaking of the intellectual Tsotsi by Siphiwo Mahala; This book gives insight into who Can Themba was as a person and an iconic South African literary journalist for Drum magazine and author, best known for his classic book ‘The Suit’; that was banned during the apatheid regime. Can Themba died while in exile in Swaziland, 1967. The biography explores in detail Can Themba’s social, political and intellectual side. If you have no idea who Can Themba was, it is high time you grab this copy!
The third one is Green; Sighs of Our Ailing Planet by Niyi; I must say that this is the first poetry collection I have come across that passionately communicates about the need for us to put everything on hold and take care of our environment and the beauty it beholds! The message in the poems is a personal desperate plea to stop environmental destruction - a moment to ponder on the abundant lush land we lived in before we destroyed it. Nonetheless, It is not too late for us to change and give our planet- the sighs of healthy relief!
The Fourth postmodern book is by a kenyan writer Troy Onyango- For What are Butterflies without their wings; The title is quite thought-provoking. It is a collection of twelve stories that centers around the theme of loss. Weird enough, I wonder why Troy’s storylines always evoke a sense of loss? Is it a question of personal experience or just an author's obsessive interest- In one of the stories, a sister loses a brother/ In ‘Sunset Dreams, a mother loses her teenage son/In Origami- the protagonist loses a part of his face/In This Little Light of Mine, a character lost the use of his legs/
Fifth book, Bridges are For Burning by Bina; Do you actually think bridges are for burning? Would you compromise your peace of mind to keep a secret? How far would you be willing to go to safeguard this secret? Or are you the one who burns bridges at a given moment assuring yourself what the worst that could happen? There you go!, ‘Bridges are For Burning’ - is a tale of three women, three secrets, three lies. The story encircles one woman named Gigi who is at a betwixt with a bestfriend on one end, and a sister on another. It was on the eve of Valentine’s day, where she couldn't take it any longer! Off to eye roll moments!
The sixth book is; On Rotation by Shirlen Obuobi; As the subtitle states; Life doesn’t come with a prescription; This is a story that literally brings to life the notion of ‘All hell break loose’ to a once ‘ perfect emblem- of who a daughter should be’ one who has enrolled to an elite medical school with perfect credentials, one who has snagged off a handsome lawyer as a boyfriend, one who has surrounded herself with a gaggle of successful loyal friends. To say the least, all the boxes have been checked! Until, suddenly, everything started falling apart; a peak in time to reconsider and re-route! It is such a relatable story in our contemporary society. Ohh..do you remember the medical drama series, Grey’s
