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A Moonless, Starless Sky
A Moonless, Starless Sky: Ordinary Women and Men Fighting Extremism in Africa | Alexis Okeowo
13 posts | 9 read | 46 to read
In the tradition of Behind the Beautiful Forevers and Nothing to Envy, this is a masterful, humane work of literary journalism by New Yorker staff writer Alexis Okeowo--a vivid narrative of Africans, many of them women, who are courageously resisting their continent's wave of fundamentalism. In A Moonless, Starless Sky Okeowo weaves together four narratives that form a powerful tapestry of modern Africa: a young couple, kidnap victims of Joseph Kony's LRA; a Mauritanian waging a lonely campaign against modern-day slavery; a women's basketball team flourishing amid war-torn Somalia; and a vigilante who takes up arms against the extremist group Boko Haram. This debut book by one of America's most acclaimed young journalists illuminates the inner lives of ordinary people doing the extraordinary--lives that are too often hidden, underreported, or ignored by the rest of the world.
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Billypar
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#TheMoonSong #MayMovieMagic
Like so many of the books on my TBR, I forgot about this nonfiction entry about citizens fighting extremism in Africa. Just put a hold on the audio version to remedy that.
Thanks to @rohit-sawant and @Cinfhen for another month of music and book magic...and for getting me more acquainted with my TBR!

RohitSawant Thanks for joining in! 😊💙 5y
Cinfhen Loved your “theme” this month!!! I need to visit my TBR!!! 5y
Suet624 I read this a while back. Will be interested to hear what you think of it. 5y
37 likes3 comments
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Suet624
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Two books up for grabs if anyone is interested.

vumblereads Were you giving these away? 🙂 5y
Suet624 @vumblereads Yes indeed. If you‘d like one or both contact me at SueT624 at gmail with your name and address and I‘ll send them out. 5y
62 likes2 comments
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Suet624
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Pickpick

Four stories of fundamentalism in four areas of Africa and the narrative of those who have survived it (so far) while attempting to change the culture. I think it‘s a very important read but it just broke my heart. Each of the four narratives were powerful, but the last one in which a teenage girl risks her life to play basketball, amid constant death threats, just did me in. I‘m giving it a “pick” but be forewarned. It‘s a tough one.

73 likes4 stack adds
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Jas16
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Pickpick

Another book I never would have heard of without Litsy. I really enjoyed this audiobook about people who are resisting extremism in Africa. It is accessible, informative, and ultimately inspiring.

readtheworld Yes, this was so good on audio! 5y
76 likes7 stack adds1 comment
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8little_paws
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#2018checkin
1. 115
2. 150
3. The book tagged
4. Rather than name a book I'll say i'm most excited for the national book award longlist later this week! Even though i'm still not finished with 2017 or 2018! 😂

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8little_paws
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Pickpick

I read almost all of this in one sitting. The most underrated book I can think of as of late, another book I don't understand why i'm not hearing more about. The author does a great job bringing the people to life and making them feel like everyday people, and she also communicates the political history of the region in a way that's easy to understand. I can't recommend this enough, a favorite of 2018.

46 likes5 stack adds
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8little_paws
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Litsy! I'm still checking in, liking and commenting. But I haven't posted because I've been so busy enjoying READING! Here's my immediate tbr.

Billypar That's the craziest excuse I've ever heard 😆 6y
BarbaraBB Tell us about it! The reading I mean 😀 6y
77 likes2 comments
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amygetslit
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I'm starting this one today.

coffeewithbooks Not sure if I have the same girl has Instagram but if so you won a bookmark giveaway and trying to message you in there to send it to u 6y
2 likes1 stack add1 comment
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FashionableObserver

That‘s the thing about fighting extremism—each victory, tiny and large, can feel monumental.

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FashionableObserver

What are the ethics of resisting? When extreme circumstances are forced upon a person, what is she allowed to do to survive? Can she commit apostasy as a religious person, or kill a relative? The answers are complex, possibly unknowable. The idea of survival becomes hazy...

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Expandingbookshelf
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“They are not only activists and vigilantes, but also ordinary people. I became interested in subtler forms of resistance, ways of fighting that are not easy to notice. Preserving your way of live amid extreme situations is also a vital struggle.” 💜💜💜

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ontheBL
Pickpick

A Moonless, Starless Sky is a must read. Okeowo writes with intensity and honesty about the issues, the people, and her experiences along the way. Shrouded in atrocity, human rights violations, terrorism, and more, she manages to have of humor and sarcasm. The book is so relatably human in it‘s approach to such a heavy topic saturated in monstrosity. Okeowo‘s words will haunt your thoughts long after the book has been closed.

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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post 6! #BEA17 edition! Expected early October release. "New Yorker" staff writer engages in literary journalism showing the fight against fundamentalism in Africa. She weaves 4 narratives: a young couple, kidnapped by Joseph Kony's LRA; a Mauritanian campaigning against modern-day slavery; a women's basketball team in war-torn Somalia; & a vigilante who takes up arms against Boko Haram. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook ?#Coale photobomb

IamIamIam Listen, if you're looking for foster homes for these books until you can properly care for them, I'm just saying that I'm here and I'm available... I'd hate to see them waiting to be loved until you're done with the ones you're reading now... 😂😂😂 7y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 7y
78 likes17 stack adds2 comments