It's May 10th and, yes, I've actually read this novella, so my review is honest. It's fantastic. It's May 10th and, yes, I've actually read this novella, so my review is honest. It's fantastic. ...more
It's awesome. And I know this because I'VE actually read it. :-) <3 August 28, 2015It's awesome. And I know this because I'VE actually read it. :-) <3 August 28, 2015...more
I loved writing this, though I tried so hard not to write it at all; it just kept coming and coming. And I had to see how it ended...or shall I say, hI loved writing this, though I tried so hard not to write it at all; it just kept coming and coming. And I had to see how it ended...or shall I say, how it all started. I tell people that WHO FEARS DEATH and THE BOOK OF PHOENIX are sisters. THE BOOK OF PHOENIX (the prequel to WHO FEARS DEATH) is older and angrier.
I wrote this on my blog and I still stand by the statement: "How do the stories connect? Who is Phoenix to Onyesownu and Onyesonwu to Phoenix? You'll have to read them to find out. Don't bother going in with expectations; you'll probably be wrong. ;-)."
This was one of those novels that takes the well trodden (but almost always readable) path of the African women's novel and turns it on it's head. I bThis was one of those novels that takes the well trodden (but almost always readable) path of the African women's novel and turns it on it's head. I burned through novels by Buchi Emecheta and Flora Nwapa because of their raw unapologetic honesty in portraying the lives of Nigerian women. Still, after reading six or seven in a row, I'd find myself just fuming with anger and need for justice. Their books weren't about meting out justice or even a bit of rebellion. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives is that book. In this polygamous household there is complexity, hypocrisy, power, weakness, and a plethora of agendas. These women aren't just voiceless lumps nor are they all powerful goddesses. This man is the head and butt of his household. This novel was hyper real in that it managed to show so many angles of real life all in one narrative. I couldn't put this book down until it was finished and what a satisfying ending. Even if you don't normally read this type of book, I recommend it. You will emerge from this novel with a broadened perspective.
I've read this many times over the years, so I can definitely speak on it, haha.
I’m so excited to present this tale of a black boy embracing his poweI've read this many times over the years, so I can definitely speak on it, haha.
I’m so excited to present this tale of a black boy embracing his power on his own terms in the face of strife. It’s both a universal and specific narrative, full of mysticism and adventure, and it was an absolute joy to write. ...more
Gloriously bizarre. The world building is incredible. Within the first night I started reading this, I had nightmares. There's an icky flying bear thaGloriously bizarre. The world building is incredible. Within the first night I started reading this, I had nightmares. There's an icky flying bear that is sort of a GMO cautionary tale. The biotech is wicked (heehee, there's a pun in there, but you have to read the book to get it). This novel grows as you read it, just like it's titular character Borne. ...more
I don’t do that thing where I say it’s this meets that, even when there are familiar elements. Doing that is a great way to make everything you encounI don’t do that thing where I say it’s this meets that, even when there are familiar elements. Doing that is a great way to make everything you encounter boring, including things that aren't boring. I take each story as its own thing.
This novella surprised me and didn’t. It didn’t surprise me because it’s Stephen King and just about everything he writes draws me in. He has a way with story that almost always keeps me reading on, even when I have criticisms.
The way I felt at the end surprised me...I burst into tears. It was the imagery of the last few paragraphs...no spoilers, so I won’t say more.
I love novellas because they pack so much story into something I can read in a few days (I’m not a fast reader, nor do I have a ton of time to sit and read, these days). After reading good novellas I feel heavy (pun intended) because I’ve taken in so much in such a short period of time. This did all that.
Also, I enjoyed the political aspects woven into the story, even if it were a bit clumsy. That’s reality (no character is devoid of politics and I'm glad these ones were written as if they were) and it pulled me in even more.
It's a weird and simple, warm-hearted tale. Exactly what I needed right now.
Loved it. Read it. Beautifully told. Creepy as HECK. Imho, this is his best work since Neverwhere. He took a part of his soul and placed it in this boLoved it. Read it. Beautifully told. Creepy as HECK. Imho, this is his best work since Neverwhere. He took a part of his soul and placed it in this book and it shows. This book reads differently, its voice is unique. It's clear that he worked hard on it, right down to the cadence of the words. That's really really cool. Well done....more
i'll be brief: a ton of info dumping, but what a world and what ideas and what atmosphere ...just wow. i LOVED this novel. i do with there had been a i'll be brief: a ton of info dumping, but what a world and what ideas and what atmosphere ...just wow. i LOVED this novel. i do with there had been a more focused plot, but whatever, that's a different novel that i can write myself, haha. but this i really enjoyed. i could just settle into it and be there and say wow and oh and ah and wtf? and noooooo, etc. this is the type of science fiction i can sink my teeth into and i wish i had found works like this when i was a teen or in my 20s. but better late than never. my only true gripe (that which i wish were different in the novel) is i didn't like that africa was...such a damn stereotype. read it and find out what i mean. ...more
So of my reactions as I read (warning: mild vague spoilers):
Who? She's dead. Aw, what a sweet but sad relationship. He did what? Jerk. Ew, mold. Ew, mold tSo of my reactions as I read (warning: mild vague spoilers):
Who? She's dead. Aw, what a sweet but sad relationship. He did what? Jerk. Ew, mold. Ew, mold that makes words. Now SHE'S dead, too? Come on. Don't go in there again, idiot! Everyone's dying! I don't... What's going on? Ooh, pretty butterfly. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? D: I'm scared.
PS- I didn't like the voice of the reader of the audio book. She did too good of a job in sounding sterile and detached. This is realistic for the book, but it got annoying by the time I was halfway through. Better to read it....more
I'm very excited that you will all be able to finally read the novella that Alan Dean Foster and I wrote called Kabu Kabu. It's a trip (pun intended).I'm very excited that you will all be able to finally read the novella that Alan Dean Foster and I wrote called Kabu Kabu. It's a trip (pun intended). And the story titled "The Black Stain" (a story from Who Fears Death) is some heavy heavy stuff. But I needed to write it. I have other favorites in here like The Magical Negro (that neeeever gets old) and the Arro-yo stories (the first windseeker I wrote about. Writing about her led to Zahrah). There are stories about hardcore hunchbacks, magic carpets, baboons with secrets, rogue robots and much more.
Note: You can trust THIS review this early in the game because *I* have actually read Kabu Kabu (this book will not be published until October. We're still in the editing process. So anyone else reviewing this book right now is making sh*t up). ...more
Oh yeah, definitely a must read. This was good good Igbo village storytelling. If anyone's work should be compared to Chinua Achebe, it's this one. BuOh yeah, definitely a must read. This was good good Igbo village storytelling. If anyone's work should be compared to Chinua Achebe, it's this one. But it's also got its own unique voice. There were times when it meandered a bit too much for my taste; sometimes there were details that felt included in order to pull the voice away from the point-of-view of a ten year old (these felt heavy-handed and often out of place)... but these moments didn't keep me from continuing. It's not a perfect novel (there is no such thing as a perfect novel), but it's a great first novel and it's the type of story that I love. Plus, I love a good tragedy. ;-) *Applause*. ...more
I love a good preachy cheeky biting timely book. Americanah is all of that. Chimamanda pokes at those sore spots between the people of the Black DiaspI love a good preachy cheeky biting timely book. Americanah is all of that. Chimamanda pokes at those sore spots between the people of the Black Diaspora with a sharp stick. Being American-born and of Nigerian Igbo blood, I knew many of the issues well. It was nice to see them addressed in a novel. The difference between seeing them addressed in a novel verses some book of nonfiction is you get to see the issues in action. I think they are clearer that way; you see the source and consequences more easily.
I also loved how she addressed the hair issue. Yeah, it was very in your face. I could hear Chimamanda's voice clearly in every scene where it came up, but so what? Some of that stuff was hilarious; all of it was real. I think those parts of the book will make a lot of women (and men...though not as many men because many men opt out of dialoguing about the hair issue AS they perpetuate its negatives, which annoys me to no end because the hair issue is really just another way of talking about racism and sexism, because let's face it the stigma against African hair is racist and sexist) angry, self-reflective, defensive, quietly snicker, etc.
This book will illicit a response from black people, in particular. I think it'll fascinate, intrigue outsiders.It's good storytelling and it's nice t see Chimamanda change gears.
One last thing...the main character, MAN, I did NOT like her at all. From cover to cover I wanted to slap her and kick her out of the book and tell her to stfu. No comment about the ending. ...more
It's Octavia Butler sounding very Octavia Butler-esque. That in itself warrants five stars. That said, in my opinion, these aren't Octavia at her bestIt's Octavia Butler sounding very Octavia Butler-esque. That in itself warrants five stars. That said, in my opinion, these aren't Octavia at her best. I found the first story, "A Necessary Being", was fascinating and thought-provoking. Again, Octavia explores ideas of hierarchy, communication and relationships, something I've always loved about her...but when you have characters with blue skin, I couldn't help thinking of the Navi and Krishna. That's not a bad thing by definition but for this story, it was unavoidable and definitely affected how I imagined the characters. And that's not really Octavia's fault as it was mine, haha. Anyway, this story started off exciting and then slowed to a lot of talking and negotiating by the end. And the interaction between Diut and Tahneh felt a lot like the interactions between Doro and Anyanwu and Rye and Obsidian, etc. This made me wonder when these stories were written and if some of this story bled into the rendered of those other characters. Or vice versa. I also had a hard time keeping up with all the names and who was on whose side.
Childfinder was pretty short and I wish it were longer. I wanted to know about those children. It had echoes and aromas of Parable of the Sower. It was also seriously pessimistic. And her afterword was even more pessimistic. Especially the very last line of her afterword.
If you like stories that makes you think and reexamine how you relate to the world and your fellow human being and the future, this is a must-read and a must-discuss. ...more
I've loved this slim novel since I read it for the first time in an undergrad literature class. It's beautifully written, addictive as heck and featurI've loved this slim novel since I read it for the first time in an undergrad literature class. It's beautifully written, addictive as heck and features a harrowing main character. It's simply written and that gives room for the complex narrative (this my favorite type of writing). This book was an enormous influence on my own novel Who Fears Death. And rereading it really reminded me why. ...more