The House of Rust: A Novel | 
My #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin reads for April are a couple of short weird novels. Looking forward to both
Thanks @thearomaofbooks !
Currently reading the tagged & the May #naturalitsy Language of butterflies. Plus whatever else takes my fancy.
#MagnificentMay Readathon, @Andrew365
1. Their eyes were watching God by Zora Neale Thurston.
2. This is hard! I don't know if the tagged book has a storm in it, but the father of the mc is lost at sea, so I'm counting it. Other candidates include Storms of my grandchildren by James Hansen and Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala if m in the mood for sad memoir.
3. Any, but especially storms when I'm cozy & dry inside.
#SundayFunday, @ozma.of.oz, #NaturalLitsy
Yes to both questions! I'm participating in Santa Thing on Library Thing this year. I had lots of fun choosing books for my giftee.
#Two4Tuesday, @TheSpineView
pickThis is a staggering, challenging, beautiful book and one of the best I‘ve read in a long time. Seeking to rescue her father, Aisha risks the sea with little skill and no knowledge of the dangers. Guided by a cat, she faces three monsters. On her return she must choose the life others want for her, or to seek the promised House of Rust.
“Her destiny stretched before her. And eager, and afraid, and whole of heart, she went to meet it.”
so-soI‘ve been reading more diversely of late, and it‘s not always smooth-sailing. House of Rust won the Graywolf Press African Fiction prize; it‘s a story with a particular sense of place (Mombasa, Kenya), infused with African folklore and legend. I connected most with Aisha‘s profound and complex love for the sea but I struggled with pacing and with comprehension. It wasn‘t always clear to me what was happening. 👇
Enjoying outdoor activities before the rain rolls in.
so-soI really wanted to love this book, and it had a good beginning. However, the author didn‘t do as well with the ending. It was well-written, yet the House of Rust didn‘t even come into play until the last 60 pages. The ending was rather ambiguous about what was going to happen. It was nice to read a fantasy set in Africa, though
#DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks
#WyrdAndWonder @imyril
Next up is this fantasy set in Africa.
#WyrdAndWonder @imyril
so-soI liked the first half pretty well but then it kind of meandered. I wanted to like it more than I did but had a hard time finishing it. Still very creative.
I'm going to try this magic realism novel I picked up at a Free Little Library in the area. I am not always into this type but I'll see how it goes. I will find out something about the Hadrami culture looks like.
https://youtu.be/bp17RwAY2fs
A playlist of all episodes in the Bite-sized Book Chat series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU-61cZp1pQdBH5V0Zb9q-2ujl4PY8nhf
Chat #1: with Nyambura from Nairobi
(they/them/Elle)
The House of Rust by Khadija Abdalla Bajaber
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies - Deesha Philyaw
Things They Lost by Okwiri Oduor
Chat #2: with Ericka from Baton Rouge
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
Started this yesterday and really enjoying it so far.
bailed
