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I was contacted by Chinedu Achebe, a Nigerian-American author, a few months ago and asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing his debut novel Blunted on Reality.


Blunted on Reality is the story of Obi Ifeanyi, a Nigerian-American living in Houston (little Naija). Obi has just turned 29 and is contemplating the stage he's at in his life. He's a lawyer, but doesn't feel fulfilled in his job. He's also looking for a relationship, someone to settle down with - Mrs. Ifeanyi (his family also think it's time for him to settle down to). It is also the year Barack Obama gets elected as America's first African American President, and we get to see an African perspective on this historic election, Barack Obama and American politics in general. Oh and there's also a fair bit of sex (and it's not PG-13).  

I was interested in reading Blunted on Reality because I realised that when I read about the Nigerian (or African) diaspora I usually sway more to the African experience in Europe. So I was curious to find out about the Nigerian diaspora in America, especially as the novel is set in two American cities (Houston and D.C.) known for their Nigerian population. While reading, I genuinely felt that the narratives between Obi, his family, and his friends could be the sort of conversations young and old Nigerian-Americans have. It did make me wonder if Chinedu Achebe might possibly be drawing from some real experiences in life with family, friends and women. I have to say Obi does strike a nice balance. He isn't your traditional old-school Nigerian living in America but he also doesn't seem to have forgotten his Nigerian heritage. He seems to straddle both sides of his identity well and doesn't seem to be conflicted by either his Nigerian or American heritage. 

It was interesting to read Nigerians perspectives on Obama being elected from not only the older generation of Nigerians in America (like Obi's parents and uncle), but also younger Nigerian-Americans like Obi, his cousin and friends. The novel highlighted how Africans in America identified with Obama as an African man, how they may have also felt a bit left out as Africans in black America, and how they wanted Obama to engage in real dialogue with Africans. His family and friends also provide us with different perspectives of the Nigerian-Amerian experience. Blunted on Reality also highlights the relationship between Africans and African Americans and the divisions between these two groups, as well as the current state on Nigeria economically, politically and socially. 

Have I mentioned that there's also sex - because there's a bit of it, and no it's not subtle. When it comes to sex the characters in the novel know what they want and they really are not afraid to talk about it or ask for it. I'm all for the inclusion of sex in novels, and especially in African novels because we need to dispel this myth that Africans do not have sex, but sometimes I found it a bit too much particularly the ways in which it was described (but that might just be me).


I also have to be honest and say I did feel in some parts that this was a novel based on stereotypes, and while I found it insightful, not being one for stereotypes those sections didn't sit too well with me. For example:
"Obi's parents didn't dislike akatas (black Americans), but felt that their lack of culture would influence their own kids to not follow theirs if they got married. They also heard stories from other Nigerians about black American women refusing to take their husband's Nigerian name, not wanting their kids to have Nigerian names, or go to Nigeria to see their relatives. The final thing was the akata women refusing to learn to cook Nigerian foods"
I may not know much about the Nigerian-American experience or the relationship between African Americans and Africans but I didn't particularly like reading that non-Nigerian women  have no culture. While I understand that Blunted on Reality may have been trying to show the attitudes and views that may exist between Africans and African Americans, I personally couldn't take such one-sided views of black non-Nigerian women. Maybe because I know of many women, like my mother, that adopt the culture, take their husbands name, give their children Nigerian names, and even learn how to cook Nigerian food. I did find out later on that while Obi's uncle preferred his son married a Nigerian woman he also accepted that " ... a lot of Nigerian women weren't easy to deal with and he didn't want to put them on a pedestal as the best choice", but still sections like those weren't fun reading for me. 

While personally the presence of stereotypes is not something that sits well with me, reading Blunted on Reality showed me a lot of things I didn't know before and brought a new perspective on the Nigerian diaspora in America. One of my major concerns when reading the book was if the stereotypes it portrayed were based on fiction or fact, so I had to ask a few friends (both Nigerians in America, as well as African Americans). I did get some insight but I still would like to know if these views of African American women genuinely exist in the Nigerian-American community, what really is the relationship between Africans (or in this case Nigerians) and African Americans, and is akata a derogatory term? 
11:18 7 Comments
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I am beginning to think that I might be terrible at reading challenges. I had an inkling when I first started blogging that I might be, which is why I only signed up for two at the beginning of the year - Kinna Reads African Reading Challenge and Helen's Book Blog Middle East Challenge. Both challenges were fairly straightforward. Kinna's challenge asked for 5 books over the course of the year - shouldn't be too hard, I thought. I average around 4 or 5 books a month. For Kinna's challenge I decided to focus on North African literature (my reading list is here). To make it even easier for me Helen's challenge included North African literature, and she didn't specify the number of books to be read. I figured I could cheat a little (terrible, I know) and make the two reading challenges overlap. Simple! I didn't want cheat too much so I felt that for Helen's challenge I would try and read 2 or 3 additional books not included in my list for Kinna's challenge. I should add that I also gave myself a personal challenge to read an iconic African author a month (as I realised I read a lot more contemporary African books than I do the classics).

How have I done? Well, we are now in the 9th month of the year and I have read 2 out of 5 (if I am honest 2 out of 7, as ones's a trilogy) books for Kinna's challenge and 2 books for Helen's. I have done even worse on my personal challenge 3 out of 12. I keep a record of my reading challenges here.

I realise I have just confessed that I might actually be terrible at reading challenges (and I'm not sure how that makes me feel. Actually, I do! It makes me feel a little sad), so I am not going to give myself another challenge to finish my challenges, but I'm also determined to finish these challenges. There's more than enough time - 3 months to try and read about 16 novels (5 for Kinna's challenge, maybe 2 for Helen's challenge, and 9 for my personal challenge). Shouldn't be too difficult, especially as for Kinna's Challenge I chose books I wanted to read, and as for Helen's and my personal challenge I decided instead to not make a list but to choose books I felt like reading that were either North African or iconic. 

Am I the only one who is terrible at reading challenges? Has anyone started and finished one? If you have what's the secret to your success? How do you finish reading challenges, because I would really love to know. Also with a few months before the year ends, how are your reading challenges going? I really hope better than mine.

Here's to the next 3 months, my reading challenges and I. Wish me luck!
13:07 3 Comments
I dedicated August to reading the four Alain Mabanckou novels that have been translated into English. The final novel I read was Black Bazaar, (published in French in 2009 and translated into English in 2012). This review is coming in much later than I would have hoped, but I finally got the chance to finish reading Black Bazaar. 

Unlike the first three books I read, which were set in unnamed African countries (possibly Congo-Brazzaville where the author is from), Black Bazaar is set in Paris and presents the African immigrant experience in France. Also there are full stops, paragraphs, and sentences begin with capital letters (just in case you read Broken Glass and Memoirs of a Porcupine and really couldn't get into that style of writing).

Our narrator, Buttologist (he can describe a woman's character just from her behind), works at a printing works and has lived in Paris for fifteen years. He is currently living in a small studio he and his ex-girlfriend, Original Colour, used to live in. This was before Original Colour left him, with their daughter, for another man - the Hybrid. Buttologist is a sapeur (a member of the Society of Ambience-makers and People of Elegance), who can tell you about a man from the way he knots his tie, and spends time at an Afro-Cuban bar with other African immigrants in Paris. He is also an aspiring writer. Black Bazaar is his journal on everything - his relationship with Original Colour, his experiences with his racist neighbour, the 'Arab around the corner', his time at the Afro-Cuban bar with his friends, and even his view on colonialism and post-colonial Africa. 

Black Bazaar really is about an African immigrants experience in Paris, and we get to experience that through Buttologist and the people he knows (or meets) and the places he goes. I don't know much about being an African immigrant in Paris, but I found it very interesting to read about it. I also loved the dialogue Buttologist had with different characters in the book, especially his racist neighbour and the 'Arab around the corner'. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read and Alain Mabanckou has found himself a new fan.

4 out of 5 stars.
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I'm not sure how many people out there loved the movie Scott Pilgrim vs the World, but I was one of them. I mean I love Michael Cera (and everything he has been in - from Arrested Development to Youth in Revolt and I can't wait for The End of the World) and I also love the director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead is still one of my favourite movies ever. I also really liked Hot Fuzz). So when I was gifted the first 5 volumes of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels I was super excited. I've just finished volume 2, and it's even better than the movie. As much as I would love to talk about how amazing Scott Pilgrim is, this post isn't about that. It's about what it got me thinking about while I was reading it - African Graphic novels. 

In January 2011, Geoff Ryman wrote an article on African Graphic Novels in which he looked at mainly Francophone Africa Graphic Novels and commented on the fact that "writing and illustration ... is often of the very highest quality". Interesting article to read, but if I had to choose a one stop guide to all things African graphic novels/comics, it would be bombasticelement. As a secret graphic novel/comic book lover (not-so-secret anymore), the wealth of information on African comics it provides is amazing. Here's an article on African Comics by A Bombastic Element, and this wonderful list of African comics from 1970s to 2010 - An English Reader's List of African Comics by Bombastic Element. As for African Graphic Novels, here are a few I'd like to read. 

Metro is Magdy El Shafee's first graphic novel and was translated by Chip Rossetti. Set in Cairo, it tells the story of a bank robbery and two friend's in Mubarak's corrupt, oppressive Egypt. Metro was published in Egypt in 2008, but was banned on publication in Egypt in 2008 for "offending public morals". 

Aya de Yopougon by Ivorian author Marguerite Abouet is a graphic novel I've been wanting to read for the longest time. Set in Ivory Coast in 1978, Aya tells the story of its nineteen-year old heroin, the studious and clear sighted Aya, her easy going friends Adjoua and Bintou, and their meddling relatives and neighbours. There are 6 volume's in total, but that's in French. For English speakers there are only 3 translated volumes, but you can read excerpts here and here.  I really might need to learn French.


This I want to read because DRC Congo seems a country with a number of African comics/graphic novels. In fact the BBC wrote an article on comics from Kinshasha. Congo 50  brings together 8 Congolese artists depicting the history of the country since gaining independence in 1960. All 8 artists were asked to draw the lives of twins, Dipenda and Lipenda, who were born on Independence Day. Through 8 stories, the book follows the twins lives on Congo's turbulent journey.

June 12: The Struggle for Power in Nigeria by Abraham Oshoko is one I'm curious to read. June 12, 1993 is quite a significant date in Nigerian history. On that day, Nigerians elected a new president after a decade of military rule. The election was said to be free and fair, yet less than a week later, a powerful conspiracy to abort the transfer of power began to unfold. June 12 touches on much of the fact and fiction related to this turbulent period in Nigeria's history. I am curious to see how the June 12 Presidential election is translated into a graphic novel.
Francophone Africa clearly dominates this genre and a few that make me go, "Why can't I speak French" include the Eva K (a political trilogy) and Mandrill series, which were both collaborations between Congolese (DRC) comic writer and artist Barly Barutti and French comic writer, Frank Giroud. There's also the two-part graphic novel by Patrick Masioni (also Congolese) on the 1994 Rwandan genocide - Descente en enfer and Le camp de la vie. The DRC really does produce a lot of comics/graphic novels. Another one I'd really love to read is La vie de Pahe by Gabonese comic, Patrick Essono. In La vie de Pahe, Patrick shares his experiences as a boy growing up in a traditional African society. I did find a preview here in English, but if I am honest, I'm not even sure if it's available in English. Would be great if they all were.

Also definitely check out Vusamazulu  Comix to read excerpts of MA: An African Epic, part of the Tree of Life Trilogy.
21:44 1 Comments
The 'Meet' Series will be a chance for me to interview authors, publishers, book cover designers (really anyone I would love to meet) that is involved with African literature. I am very fortunate to announce the second person in the 'Meet' Series is Sue Nyathi. I absolutely loved her debut novel, The Polygamist, so I was really happy when she agreed to be interviewed. Enjoy!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself (where you’re from, what you do, interests and hobbies, any fun details)
           
I became Sue because my 3rd grade teacher couldn’t get her tongue around Sukoluhle, which is a Ndebele name which means “Beautiful Day.” I guess it must have been when I made my debut into the world exactly 34 years ago in a city called Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. Growing up I was the proverbial bookworm. I used to lose myself in books. Even doing my homework lacked lustre as compared to being completely immersed in literature. This passion for reading, soon translated itself into my desire to write which is a hobby I have nursed from a young age. All my classmates figured I would become a bestselling author but as life would have it, I ended up studying finance and investment. Nonetheless I remained a closet writer. However it feels great to have finally come out! When I’m not writing I prefer good food and good wine in the company of good people with good music playing in the background . Cooking relaxes me. I go to gym out of necessity. I love travelling, discovering new things and new places. I also love collecting things from memories to mementos.

What was the first piece you ever wrote?

I was actually a  poet first and received a lot of acclaim for poetry at school. The first piece I ever wrote was called “Crazy Over You” and I was fourteen. It was a teenage love story. You must remember I grew up in an era when the Sweet Valley High series was our staple diet.

What draws you to writing?

I express myself better on paper. Moreover it’s sheer escapism. I can disappear into a world of make believe where I create people and have absolute control over what happens to them!  

What do you do when you are not writing?

I work full time for an economic development and strategic planning firm. The hours are    grueling and the work can be consuming. I do a lot of report writing so my work life is Fact over fiction.
On Publishing, Being an Author, and African Literature
Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?
I can’t say I had many challenges getting this book published. I got the first rejection letter and then had success with Logogog, a small independent publisher who believed in me and the rest as they say is history.  
As an author, what’s the toughest criticism and best compliment you have received?
The toughest criticism I ever received was in the form of a 2 page letter from Irene Staunton of Weaver Press about 6 years ago after I had submitted a manuscript to them. I was devastated and I wanted to give up writing. However my late cousin said to me “if they can write you a 2 page rejection letter then there is something there.” I used that letter to hone my writing skills. Ironically  it is actually the best thing that ever happened to me. The compliments have been numerous. I don’t think they have been exhausted for me to single out the best one.

bookshy is all about promoting and celebrating African fiction, what is your take on African fiction and where do you hope to see it go?

I think Africa has a wealth of talent which remains largely unknown, never mind celebrated. We need more Book Shys to put African literature on the map. It makes me proud to see more African writers emerging and telling African stories. No one else is better placed to tell our stories.

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About me

Founded in 2011, bookshy represents two things: the young me who was so shy I escaped through books, and the older me whose shelf is always one book shy of being full.

bookshy is a space where I celebrate, promote and recognise contemporary African literature - although sometimes I go back in time to commemorate the greats. It is about the books I love, the books I have read and the books that I am dying to read.

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      • Book Review: Chinedu Achebe's "Blunted on Reality"
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      • Meet ... Sue Nyathi
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