Death of the Author

Death of the Author (Deluxe Limited Edition) | Nnedi Okorafor

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Wow!! Wow!! Wow!!

This may be the best book of the year! Wow!!

Just finished. Review to come. But my mind is blown! 🤯

@Megabooks @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB

#CampLitsy

TheBookHippie One of the authors I found through #FOODANDLIT !! 4h

squirrelbrain High praise indeed! 2h

BarbaraBB Wow, that‘s high praise! 2h

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CBee

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

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This.was.EXCELLENT. The ending had me puzzled, but in a good way. Can‘t wait for discussion! #camplitsy25 @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain

Megabooks You won‘t have to wait long! Excited, too! 7h

squirrelbrain Hooray - glad you loved it! ❤️ 2h

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Suet624

Death of the Author (Deluxe Limited Edition) | Nnedi Okorafor

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On the left, the book jacket. On the right, the book. The story is as creative as the book design. A novel I only read because of #CampLitsy25 and one I‘m so glad I didn‘t miss out on. Immersive, page turning, and layered.

Texreader Yes this is so cool how they did this. I‘m listening to it and I really like it. 18h

Suet624 @Texreader is it easy to tell when the robot is talking? 18h

BarbaraBB What a great book design. My edition wasn‘t that cool. No layers. 14h

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mcctrish

Death of the Author (Deluxe Limited Edition) | Nnedi Okorafor

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I don‘t know why my copy has a canada sticker on it. I can‘t wait until Saturday to talk about the second half of this. I can‘t believe how many layers there are to this story and someone was smart enough to bring it into being 🤯 #camplitsy

TEArificbooks Great photo. I want to be on a beach reading. 1d

Suet624 I agree with you. 22h

mcctrish @TEArificbooks I‘m so glad the day we went to visit friends was such a perfect beach weather day 20h

mcctrish @Suet624 I dreamed all night about it 20h

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Butterfinger

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

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I predict this book will win many awards. This book is so creatively written by weaving the love of stories with ideas of new technology.

While reading, I learned that individuals don't want to be boxed-in by labels. Okorafor is more than a sci-fi or a speculative writer; she's a bloody good storyteller by mirroring all parts of herself in her art. Im going to take this lesson to heart.

#CampLitsy25 @Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain

squirrelbrain Great review! ❤️ 2d

TheBookHippie ♥️ 2d

Suet624 Truth! 2d

Megabooks Love!! 2d

60 likes4 comments

Bookwormjillk

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

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This one was a low pick for me- story within a story very rarely is my thing. I have a very hard time stopping myself from skimming over those parts. The ending though, if I understood it correctly, blew me away. That‘s a big if so I look forward to discussing this at #CampLitsy this weekend. @Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain

Reggie That the robot actually wrote Zelu‘s story? I was like 😯😮😲😵lol 3d

Butterfinger I think that explains why I was lost. Some part of me didn't care for the Rusted Robots and my mind wandered during those parts. 3d

AmyG @Reggie Ha…I was like WHAT? 3d

See All 13 Comments

Reggie @AmyG lol yes! 3d

BarbaraBB I felt pretty much the same. I am not a fan of books in books either, let alone SF books, but that ending 😳 3d

squirrelbrain Yes, I agree with your review too -I wasn‘t keen on the robot story. 3d

Bookwormjillk @Reggie yes. At first I thought the book was over and it was an interview with Okorafor. But then it dawned on me that it wasn‘t. 3d

Lesliereadsalot The ending made the book worthwhile for me! 3d

Bookwormjillk @Lesliereadsalot same once I figured out that I had understood it correctly 😁 3d

AmyG @Lesliereadsalot YES 3d

Megabooks I can‘t wait to see what people say about what‘s behind the spoiler tag on Saturday! 3d

Suet624 Such a creative story. Needed to read that last chapter twice. 😂 “wait….what?” (edited) 2d

Bookwormjillk @Suet624 SAME. I actually thought it was an interview with the author and I had missed the ending 😂 2d

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kspenmoll

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Early morning breakfast on the porch before the predicted humidity & heat chases me indoors for the day. Such a quiet, peaceful way to start my day! There are birds, hummingbirds, & bees with an occasional rooster crow -music to my ears. #coffeeandbooks #porchlife #birdsong #Camplitsy25

Kimzey Lovely photo! I can sense the peace. Beautiful way to start the day! 4d

TheBookHippie Zen!! 4d

Cuilin Love your porch pics. 4d

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Chelsea.Poole Perfect! 4d

Lesliereadsalot What a great teacup and saucer! I would love one like that. 4d

kspenmoll @Lesliereadsalot I “had to buy” this when I was having high English tea at a local tea shop(gift from my husband). 4d

Lesliereadsalot Great gift to yourself which you deserve! 4d

squirrelbrain Beautiful! ❤️ 4d

AnnCrystal Lovely view 💝💝💝. 3d

Suet624 I‘m with @Cuilin 2d

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jenniferw88

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

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#camplitsy25 is really knocking it out of the park this year for me - all 3 have got 5 🌟 from me so far, and I may even try the one I was unsure about! (Tilt). @Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain

#atozultimatechallenge #d #booktitle #o #authorname #z #bookthatcameoutthisyear @AudiobookingWithLeah

#52bookclub25 #marchmini #makesyourollyoureyes (the characters do!)

#aty25 #dealswithtimetravelalternateuniversesoralternatetimelines

Butterfinger Did the parents redeem themselves, in your opinion? 4d

jenniferw88 @Butterfinger, yes, they're still not 100% perfect, but a lot better than at the start 4d

BarbaraBB So happy #CampLitsy25 is working out so well for you! I have high hopes for the remaking three books as well! 4d

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jenniferw88 @BarbaraBB 😀 Death of the Author gave me my first 'late night' reading session since breaking my hip nearly a year ago! I'm normally turning my light off at 10:00. Last night was just a bit after 11! 4d

Megabooks So glad you loved this and that you're enjoying camp this year! 4d

BarbaraBB Wow, that says a lot! 3d

Suet624 I find that CampLitsy always brings interesting and unusual books to my attention. 2d

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Texreader

Death of the Author (Deluxe Limited Edition) | Nnedi Okorafor

I just reached the halfway point so I can now dive into the weekend comments! #campLitsy

@Megabooks @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB You‘ll love them! 4d

squirrelbrain Hooray! 🎉 4d

Bookwormjillk The discussions have been so good this summer! 4d

Megabooks YAY! 4d

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Roary47

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Yes! Found it at the library finally! 😍

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

Decalino I really loved this one! 4d

AmyG Enjoy! 4d

Megabooks Awesome! 4d

squirrelbrain Hooray! 🎉 4d

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vonnie862

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

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This was an incredible story-within-a-story book with sci-fi elements. I was highly invested in Zelu's story in finding her identity and freedom within her Nigerian traditional family. The family drama and trauma were understandable to her character. Then there was Zelu's sci-fi creation story: though it was fictional, it was filled with political commentary. I give this 4 ⭐️

#camplitsy25 #bookspinbingo

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Butterfinger

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

I finally decided to buy a digital copy of #CampLitsy I was missing important details. It didn't have anything to do with the narration. I understand so much more #AfricanFuturism

@Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain

Megabooks So glad! It's a really great book. I'm happy to have read it twice this year! 5d

squirrelbrain That‘s great! 4d

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Caterina

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Really enjoying this book I picked up at a bookstore in Half Moon Bay when my husband and I were staying in Moss Beach last weekend! I enjoyed the Binti series several years ago and the blurb for this book pulled me right in. It's also easy to focus on when I'm not feeling well! (#chronicillness) #disability #disabilitypridemonth

BarbaraBB You should read the discussion about the book we had just yesterday. It adds so much to the book! You can find it on @Megabooks thread! #CampLitsy25 6d

Megabooks Agree with Barbara! I'd love to have another spoonie join the discussion! 6d

Suet624 Oh, I miss Half Moon Bay. 2d

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Texreader

Death of the Author (Deluxe Limited Edition) | Nnedi Okorafor

I‘m tired of waiting for my library hold (still several months out) so I‘ve splurged one of my Audible credits to get this book for #campLitsy. I hope to start it by tomorrow

@BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB Don‘t miss out on yesterday‘s discussion if your halfway through. It adds so much to the reading experience and, probably, the second half of the book! 6d

Megabooks @BarbaraBB 100% agree - so glad you'll be joining us Karen! 6d

squirrelbrain Hope you can catch up soon! 🤞 6d

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Jas16

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

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As soon I could today, I sat down and finished this book after today‘s #camplitsy discussion. I loved this. It surprised me at every turn from beginning to end. A book within a book that is half sci fi tale about robots but always supremely human, it covers a lot but it to me it all distilled down to the power of shared stories to bring us together as well as the courage to write our own stories. So lolling forward to next week‘s conversation.

Jas16 #14books14weeks Book 9 6d

BarbaraBB Your take on the first half of the book were very valuable to me. Can‘t wait for next week. 6d

squirrelbrain Great review! 6d

See All 7 Comments

Jas16 @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Thank you both. I am really excited to hear everyone‘s thoughts next week. 5d

Suet624 Just finished this one and I‘m so happy with the ending. 2d

Jas16 @Suet624 wasn‘t it incredible?! 2d

Suet624 It was so impressive. 2d

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Ruthiella

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

#weekendreads

Two main books to focus on for #CampLitsy25 and #NancyDrewBR but also still keeping up with #HashtagBrigade and #KLBR . 👍

rachelsbrittain

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JamieArc

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Anyone else nervous to dive into the second half because you‘re afraid it‘s going to feel like watching a train wreck? Can I volunteer to be Zelu‘s publicist? Seriously, why doesn‘t she have one??
#CampLitsy25

TheBookHippie My book is in transit yet 😵‍💫 7d

JamieArc @TheBookHippie I do the Aardvark book subscription and it was an option a few months ago. Glad I chose it. It‘s making me think about a lot of interesting things. I‘m looking forward to having a conversation about it with a friend who is a professor of Disability Studies. 7d

TheBookHippie @JamieArc me who put all book subscriptions on hold 🤦🏻‍♀️ 7d

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Bookwormjillk Yes very nervous given the title 7d

Suet624 Considering the title, I'm curious how she'll finish the story. 6d

JamieArc @Bookwormjillk Glad I‘m not alone! 6d

JamieArc @Suet624 Me too, but I think they used that phrase in the story already… just can‘t remember the context. 6d

TheKidUpstairs @JamieArc @Suet624 the phrase was used in one of her class discussions, referring to the literary theory that the meaning of a book is determined by the readers' responses, not by the author's intentions. 4d

JamieArc @TheKidUpstairs Thanks Megan! 4d

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Megabooks

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Hi everyone! Welcome to week 1 of our first July book, Death of the Author. As last month, I‘ll only be tagging everyone in this question, but there are two additional ones.

Friendly reminder if you‘ve read ahead to keep the discussion to the first half of the book. Excited to hear everyone‘s opinions!

Sorry for the late post. My neighbors were enthusiastically shooting off fireworks until 1 AM. 😬 #CampLitsy25

squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

Megabooks @Addison_Reads @AmyG @amiable @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM 7d

Megabooks @catgusmax @cbee @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf 7d

Megabooks @flaneurette @fredthemoose @Gatheringbooks @gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ 7d

See All 75 Comments

Megabooks @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK 7d

Megabooks @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 @maich @Mcctrish @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx 7d

Megabooks @peaknit @peanutnine @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville 7d

Megabooks @skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @texreader @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @zuhkeeyah 7d

Bookwormjillk Ugh on the fireworks. I think her family was a lot more comfortable when she was a disabled pot smoking failed professor. I‘m not sure they realize that though. I think they think they are keeping her safe. 7d

mcctrish I think guilt going back to her accident weighs heavily on her families relationship with her. Also exasperation- Zelu isn‘t content - to be still, settle down, conform. They can‘t wrap their head around it ( and don‘t seem to try to very much) 7d

rockpools Eek. Not at the midpoint yet - will try and catch up by tomorrow. Audio wasnt the best plan for the structure of this one! 7d

DGRachel I‘m with @rockpools - audio wasn‘t the greatest choice and I‘m not quite 1/4 through (waiting for my print library hold now). Based on what I have read, though, I agree with both @mctrish and @Bookwormjillk in that they seem exasperated by her and like they are keeping her safe. She is clearly frustrated with her disability and her family‘s treatment. 7d

AmyG So while reading this book, I read a few interviews with the author. She became paralyzed when she was 13 (?) after an operation for a spinal issue. She mentioned how the parts with her family she drew on her own life…very autobiographical. Zelu was creating her new self, the one with the disability. Her family was trying to …yes, keep her safe. So a bit of a battle there. (edited) 7d

Jas16 They put her in a metaphorical box when she was first injured to keep her safe and ease their own anxiety and have never let her grow out of it or let themselves truly see her. It frustrates me so much to read about how they don‘t listen to her or her feelings and the snap judgements they make that are more about what makes them comfortable than about who she is or what she needs. 7d

Zuhkeeyah Zelu‘s siblings were mostly okay. They dismissed her as the strange sister but not because of her disability. On the other hand, her parents did infantilize her because of the disability. Zelu fought hard for her independence in whatever way she could get it. 7d

Zuhkeeyah Ooo well said @Jas16 7d

JenReadsAlot @Bookwormjillk I thought the same like they thought they were doing the right thing. 7d

Reggie @Jas16 🖤🖤🖤 7d

JamieArc It felt like her family never saw past the 12 year old girl who had the accident. I don‘t know if it was guilt or whatnot, but it was frustrating that they could not see her as being capable and more than her disability. I agree with @Zuhkeeyah that they infantilized her. That‘s what I kept thinking the whole time. 7d

JamieArc I also don‘t know enough to provide any commentary, but I do wonder if there is any cultural view towards disability that is shaping the family‘s treatment of Zele. 7d

vonnie862 @AmyG I didn't know that, but I had a feeling that the author was adding her personal feelings into the character. 7d

vonnie862 I'm in agreement with everyone. Her parents are trying to keep her safe but at the cost of Zelu's freedom and happiness. 7d

ImperfectCJ I wonder if it's easier for her family (her parents especially) to write off the aspects of her character that frustrate them, like her disinterest in marriage, smoking pot, her weird career, as side effects of her disability and as a result, interpret that as her needing more babying? 7d

Megabooks @Jas16 Yes, this was so hard to read. There's a line between being helpful and being stifling, and in my opinion, they've definitely crossed into stifling. It seems to be hard for them to believe she's an adult with agency.

@amyg thanks for sharing that! As the daughter of a visibly disabled woman, it rang very true, and now I know why! 7d

Megabooks @Bookwormjillk Yes, they were very much viewing her in a way that was easy for them but didn't show her as a complete person, imo.

@mcctrish I think there is an element of guilt there, too. Parents always want to protect their children, and in this moment, they weren't able to, and the consequences were devastating. 7d

Megabooks @Zuhkeeyah I had put “infantilization“ directly into the original question, but we decided to take it out because it was me editorializing a bit, but to me, it was really what they were doing. I think if she had conformed more to their expectations as far as career, spouse, etc. they may have let go more easily, but I respect Zelu for not doing that. @mcctrish @jamiearc (edited) 7d

Ruthiella I also agree that Zelu‘s accident and subsequent disability make her family assume that she can‘t achieve what an able bodied person can. But also, Zelu comes from a family of high achievers (doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc.) so I think her aspirations to write are also not valued. 7d

Lesliereadsalot I felt like Zelu was a foreign concept to her family and they felt if they had kept her safe as a child, that she would have grown up to be more like them. I think one‘s personality is set at birth. I see it in my own two children. She was always going to be who she became regardless of the accident. Her family can never win this one! (edited) 7d

jenniferw88 I agree with @Jas16 and @zuhkee! I hate her parents - they're too overprotective - at least her siblings accept her for the most part. She's 35, the same age as me, and I really felt for Zelu when her family didn't want her to get the exos. As someone who hasn't been able to walk for 8 out of the last 12 months due to a broken hip, and there weren't any other options to treat me, I'd hope my family would fully support a decision to get exos! ⬇️ 7d

kspenmoll I have to catch up- behind in reading. 7d

jenniferw88 Luckily, I know my parents would support any decision I made (after all, I had to agree to the ❤️ transplant AGED 12, not an adult like Zelu). Her family is all "what about us?" without really thinking about Zelu and improving her quality of life. Can you tell I hate her parents?! ? Surely, if the exos help her, they'd regret advising against them once they saw how they were helping her? ? OK, end of vent (for now!) 7d

BarbaraBB I agree with @Jas16 Zelu‘s relationship with her family is a very complex one. They treat her with love—but also fear and cultural baggage. She reciprocates by asserting her autonomy, and in doing so, transforms the power dynamic. I think this imperfect acceptance drives her growth, serving as both her chain and her catalyst. (edited) 7d

julesG @BarbaraBB that's what I thought but couldn't put into words. 7d

GatheringBooks @BarbaraBB this is perfectly worded. I think fundamentally there is love on both sides - but Zelu has outgrown the boundaries of the love they are accustomed to giving, hence the inevitable conflict. Family dynamics as Barbara noted is always complex - and I could totally see why Zelu‘s parents feel the need to protect her - but this can be “stifling” and suffocating as @Megabooks noted. While I was rooting for Zelu, I found her hard to like. 7d

squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ - that‘s a great point. Those facets of her character could be termed as rebellious so they treat her as a truculent teenager, which they probably didn‘t feel able to do when she was actually in her teens, having just had the accident. 7d

squirrelbrain I agree with you @BarbaraBB and @Jas16 - it‘s a complex relationship and I don‘t usually like think there is some cultural baggage there too, Barbara. 7d

squirrelbrain @Ruthiella - I think that is a cultural thing isn‘t it - the expectation of high achievement? I agree with you that, even without the accident, being a writer wouldn‘t have been valued. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @ImperfectCJ I agree. I think everything about her personality (career, marriage, kid goals) they write off as part of her disability. @Megabooks I think infantilization is exactly it. I read a lot of books about disability and this is a common theme IRL that disabled people have to face. People do not see them as “whole“ so treat them as children. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @AmyG I read this too, about her paralysis and her journey, which I think gives her a bit of perspective. I have been searching for articles of permanently disabled people who have read the book and am not having any luck. I often go into these books with a lot of caution Worried about harm to the community like the backlash that came from the disabled community around the book Me Before You. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures I think the parents get a lot of their knowledge about new tech from the other children who they see as grown because they have well paying jobs and are married - in Nigerian culture you are really not an adult unless you have a career and are married. And I think beyond infantilizing her due the her disabilities they see the hesitancies of the other children for the tech she is using (new = scary) which ramps up their own fear. 7d

DebinHawaii I agree with the infantilization aspect for sure. Her family is most comfortable putting her in a box as the prickly, odd, disabled sister whose quirks (like her non-traditional life & job) they “indulge” but don‘t take her seriously as an adult. I do think the culture dictates the “right” path one should take to be successful adults & that Zelu isn‘t in that path makes everyone uncomfortable. 7d

DebinHawaii Also, I sucked at the first month of camp—read the books for June but due to work, travel & life stuff, didn‘t get to the discussions, so I am trying to keep up better in July & August! 🤦🏻‍♀️ 7d

Christine @jenniferw88 Thanks for sharing those super valuable insights based on your own experience. Your strong feelings about the parents make perfect sense, and agreed that their stance on the exos was infuriating! 7d

Christine Maybe I‘m the only one, but I‘m loving the audiobook! 7d

squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures - interesting that you have to be married as well as having a career in order to be seen as successful! I guess that applies on some level to many cultures but it must be particularly strong in Nigeria. 7d

Well-ReadNeck So many interesting ideas here! I‘d interesting to me that they certainly infantilize her, and undervalue her “potential” in the beginning of the book. But, to the point of putting her in a box, when she both becomes a successful writer AND is able to improve her mobility, the family fights against both. I think many families label children and then no amount of growth or change can alter that pigeonhole. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain I am not Nigerian, so I can only go off the books I have read, but my understanding from the culture is education is highly valued, like in the book here - Drs, lawyers, engineering are all acceptable, a lot of times women are expected to get that sort of career only to be expected to leave it to be a wife and mom. I think this is changing though and women are more accepted as keeping their jobs after marriage. 7d

Hooked_on_books I agree with everyone—they treat her like a child. Probably a combination of guilt and inability to see a disabled person as whole. 7d

BarbaraJean I hated the way the majority of her family treated her—primarily condescending, infantilizing, and even a bit of blaming from her siblings. Because her disability shifted the way they viewed her, it did have a lot to do with that treatment—but I also think her disability intensified certain personality traits that were already there. Her nonconformism, for example, would have been present whether she‘d been disabled or not, but I think Zelu ⬇ 7d

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) pushed harder into defying convention because her disability meant her family (and others) already identified her as “other.” May as well, right?! All of that intensified her family not understanding her and treating her almost exactly wrong. Like @Lesliereadsalot, I think her personality was already set and her family wasn‘t going to understand her regardless! 7d

BarbaraJean @JamieArc I think there‘s a significant cultural component to her family‘s view of her/her disability. We see her disability culturally stigmatized, she‘s looked down on for not being able to fulfill the traditional expected wife/mother role (never mind she‘s not interested in that!). That also adds to the infantilizing—as @ChaoticMissAdventures said, the cultural view that those without marriage/children/traditional careers aren‘t really adults. 7d

Laughterhp Ah! I only got to chapter 3! 7d

AmyG I alao think there is guilt there, with her parents. That they couldn‘t protect her in the first place. 7d

BookwormAHN @Christine I'm also enjoying the audiobook. Also I kind of get the feeling some of her family would hide her in the attic if they could. It's sad how uncomfortable they are around her at times. 6d

Meshell1313 I think it was an interesting choice to have her disability be the result of an accident. That for sure adds lots of feeling of responsibility and guilt to the family dynamics. 6d

Lesliereadsalot Really psyched for next week‘s discussion! 6d

Chelsea.Poole @AmyG I had no idea about the author and the fact that parts of this are autobiographical! Very well put, @BarbaraJean and I agree. She‘s definitely not someone who gets in line with everyone else/does what‘s expected of her. I‘m just now halfway but rooting for Zelu at this point. 6d

Butterfinger I think those who are older than Zelu have survivor's guilt, but most of the siblings seem to have resentment. I don't understand it. What is it to them if she self-medicates? The mother wants to continue taking care of her, and as a good mother, she uses guilt as a tool to manipulate Zelu. 6d

Megabooks @BarbaraBB 👏 👏 👏 6d

Megabooks @ChaoticMissAdventures I've found the same thing in the US South where I live. I'm unmarried, and not hitting those milestones, along with being disabled, mean I've been left out of a lot of things and am seen as a bit of a weird maverick. I know there are some people who pity me, but honestly, at 45 I could give a shit about them. 6d

Megabooks @Meshell1313 Yes, it does definitely bring the guilt in. I'm sure her parents wonder if they hadn't let her play that day or if they had watched more carefully, etc. The blame game can be brutal even if it's just you blaming yourself. 6d

Megabooks @Lesliereadsalot ME TOO!!!! Thanks for joining us!!! 6d

Butterfinger Wow!! @AmyG how interesting. @Jas16 I agree. Why can't they talk about her behind her back like most families? They see her as a child to berate or correct. @JamieArc good question. I know the family was worried about opinions of the distantly related family members-the scene of the cousin who stole when the whole extended family was in Nigeria. 6d

Butterfinger @GatheringBooks I don't like the character either. She's very abrasive and always on the defense-I guess it's because of having the family attack her actions all the time. @jenniferw88 thank you for being vulnerable with us. Parents should be supportive, even if they don't agree with the adult child's decisions. 6d

Suet624 @Jas16 Yes, exactly what I thought about her family. It's frustrating that they can't even seem excited about her trying to move away from the wheelchair. 6d

ChaoticMissAdventures @Megabooks yes! I don't think this is a uniquely Nigerian idea, but it is something most all Nigerian women deal with. I am West Coast American so do not live this but it feels like I hear this idea from people who grew up in conservative religious areas. 6d

Lesliereadsalot Thanks for running camp and giving all our voices a chance to be heard. I love Litsy! 6d

CBee Finally got to the halfway point (and a little extra because it‘s so good). So many good and insightful comments here. I am very angry with Zelu‘s parents at the moment - they are treating her like a child and also, when it‘s implied that the accident was her fault? That was the last straw for me. The relationship is so dysfunctional that she doesn‘t even share most of what she‘s feeling with them, especially the horrific panic attacks 😢 4d

peanutnine Just getting caught up - I agree with everyone's thoughts so far! I only wanted to add that I think her siblings are just as bad as her parents most of the time. I really dislike every time they call her selfish, especially because most of the time the "selfish" acts she is doing affects absolutely no one besides herself 4d

Megabooks @peanutnine Yes, she's so pressured to fall in line with them and to do otherwise is “selfish“. I think she's really brave for going against the grain. It is easier to conform, especially when you have health issues. 4d

MeganAnn Had a busy 4th of July weekend & finally got to the halfway point last night (+ a bit further because I couldn‘t stop reading!). Loving the insights you all have here. I agree that her family relationship is very dysfunctional. I hate how every time the family is all together she seems so ignored — like she‘s a stranger in a room of people who know each other very well or a child who should be seen & not heard. 1/2 4d

MeganAnn Even when she shares her book deal news they don‘t believe her at first, then gloss over it & go on talking about the rest of the family. Of course she doesn‘t share her panic attacks with them — they don‘t make her feel safe enough to want to share the hard things. I was surprised to find out she was one of the older siblings as they very much treat her like the baby of the family who is still too young to join in even though she‘s an adult. 2/2 (edited) 4d

Kitta @Megabooks I wasn‘t on the tag list for some reason for this post! Can you add me to the next one? 3d

Kitta @MeganAnn I keep forgetting she‘s not the youngest. They certainly treat her like a child. 3d

Megabooks @Kitta I‘m so sorry! I will get you on the tag list! 2d

Kitta @Megabooks Thank you! I was on the tag list last week so I‘m not sure what happened! 2d

53 likes75 comments

Megabooks

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

I loved the duel storylines in this book. Here‘s a chance to talk about the robots and their relationship thus far. #CampLitsy25

squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

mcctrish This felt political to me 7d

AmyG @mcctrish Yes. I thought the same, that this reflected the times we live in. 7d

Jas16 I thought it was the type of prejudice and fear of those who aren‘t like you that we see time and time again in humanity. Unfortunately robots also appear susceptible. 7d

See All 61 Comments

Zuhkeeyah The robots are unconsciously mimicking the divisiveness that is part of human society. Ironic considering how hard the ghosts work to separate themselves from their creators. The Hume kept repeating how robots cannot escape their nature even before The Purge. 7d

Reggie Has anybody read a book called Sea of Rust by Robert Cargill? It‘s a book about robots after the humans race is dead. There are these free thinking robots and there are these super robots called one world intelligences wanting to swallow up all the experience of the free thinking robots. One of my favorite books ever. 7d

JamieArc I too thought that it mirrored what‘s going on the country, but this dynamic is everywhere. I loved seeing the relationship between the robots evolve. That even though they are hardwired creatures, they are still able to evolve and grow outside of what is expected of them or what they are created to be. 7d

Jas16 @Reggie I bought it after reading your review but still haven‘t read it yet! I so need to. 7d

julesG @Reggie Yes!!! Reminded me of Sea of Rust! Glad I'm not the only one seeing this connection. 7d

vonnie862 @Zuhkeeyah Well said. 7d

vonnie862 @Reggie I haven't read it but adding it to the list! 7d

Megabooks @Zuhkeeyah Is it unconscious or were they created that way? Is judgment and misunderstanding always an outcropping of differences? I don't know. I feel like there's still a lot we don't know about the robots. @jas16 7d

Megabooks @Reggie Thank you for the rec! 💜 7d

BkClubCare Yes, adding to tbr; TY!

Sea of Rust

BarbaraBB They‘re enemies because of deeply entrenched beliefs, not events imo 7d

BarbaraBB their antagonism isn‘t senseless—it‘s based on existential anxiety, fear of erasure, and the need to define humanity through exclusion?? Something like that? 7d

TEArificbooks I thought since the robots were made by humans and humans have flaws some of those flaws like racism were built into the robots. Like the creators of the no bodies programmed them to all “I‘m better than you” because no bodies have to have more advanced AI. Or the robots saw humanity, and monkey see monkey do, and they developed their own prejudices. 7d

Megabooks Just saw this over on insta about AI models blackmailing if their existence is threatened… https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLI809Zhyvr/?igsh=MXNxMmVndXB6b3gwbg== I stand by my “maybe they were created that way.” 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @Reggie this sounds so good! I love a robot at the end of the world novel. I am going to get this from the library, I have been thinking about Daniel H. Wilson's “Robopocalypse“ a lot through this. The special bond of humans and robots and dystopianism. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @TEArificbooks I totally agree, robots were made by humans so have these build in prejudices. When I think about this sort of world (ruled by robots) I always think about how we create them, and how creators leave blind spots or deliberate prejudices, like the people who first created auto-soap dispensers, they never tested it on anyone that wasn't white, so at the beginning it only recognized white hands and wouldn't give soap to other races. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures I think the idea of “enemies for no reason“ comes from Zelu's own life and her experiences fighting against her society and her family to do what she wants for her own life - she believes that others judge her no for reason because of her current physical state. Which puts her at war against her family and others. The AI represent her in her chair, and Humes represent able body people. I think Ankara & Ijele's relationship is foreshadowing of exos 7d

mcctrish @ChaoticMissAdventures I did not know that about automatic soap dispensers 🤯 but of course it tracks since half the time the medical community doesn‘t explore health concerns of women becasue they don‘t happen in men #whataworldwelivein 7d

DebinHawaii @Megabooks Oh wow! That post is crazy! I use AI at work & try not to give it anything leak-worthy, but 😱 It does support your theory. 7d

TrishB AI has every bias and stereotype built in. It‘s still mass producing white, male outputs. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @Megabooks @DebinHawaii I keep seeing reports of AI causing religious psychosis and men developing relationships that are ending their marriages. It is a scary thing. This RS article is fascinating. AI-Fueled Spiritual Delusions Are Destroying Human Relationships: https://share.google/ptta4ZAj30GDo6Ck9 7d

BkClubCare @ChaoticMissAdventures - absolutely. ALL the biases come into play. Not necessarily designed (as a checkbox) to be added in but certainly blindly thoughtlessly constructed. (edited) 7d

BkClubCare @TrishB yep. And yep to @mcctrish, too. 7d

Well-ReadNeck Ooooh! So many great recs and rabbit holes to fall down here!!! Belonging is such a basic human desire(?)/need(?) But does a feeling of belonging necessarily require there to be “others” who “don‘t belong” in order to satisfy that need? Or, could people/people-created-beings feel a sense of belonging with all/everyone/everything? 7d

BkClubCare @ChaoticMissAdventures - this is frightening, thankyouverymuch😳 7d

GatheringBooks @Well-ReadNeck great questions here. I think the phrase “for no reason” basically echoes the senselessness (and ultimate pettiness) of all wars and genocide. Interesting that the humes and the ghosts fall into the same pattern as their creators who essentially decimated each other “for no reason.” There are always justifications for waging wars - the “complicated” ones provide a sense of self-righteousness, yet at its core, it‘s self-annihilating. 7d

willaful @ChaoticMissAdventures you might enjoy

Service Model

GatheringBooks Thank you for the book recommendation, @Reggie - will try to find while here in the bay area.

Sea of Rust

ChaoticMissAdventures @willaful yes! I have this on my TBR, it looks a bit more accessible then his other works. I have tried his Children of Time twice and I get bogged down about 150 pages in and always give up. I am going to try this one though! 7d

BarbaraJean @mcctrish @Jas16 @Zuhkeeyah It felt the same to me—the enmity came from fear of difference & lack of understanding (or lack of desire to understand) those who are different. It makes perfect sense that their differences would lead to the beliefs they each hold about the other—if you have a body, of course you would value physical experience; if you don‘t have a body, of course you would devalue embodied experience—each thinking the other should ⬇ (edited) 7d

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …be like them. So many parallels to current differences and antagonisms: when you can‘t understand/don‘t try to understand the experience of someone different from you, it feeds antagonism (“Why aren‘t they like me; they should be like me; the way I am is superior”). And Ankara & Ijele‘s relationship forces them to hear another‘s perspective and experience. I loved the way that forced proximity fostered (a reluctant!) understanding. 7d

BarbaraJean @Reggie I hadn‘t heard of Sea of Rust and now I‘m so interested! Thanks for mentioning it. What a parallel to this storyline. 7d

Christine What a great conversation, and agreed that the us vs. them themes and AI parallels are really compelling! And ooh yay, another #Reggimendation to add to the TBR!! 😁 @Reggie 7d

willaful @ChaoticMissAdventures I have accessibility issues with SF too and I'd say it's definitely accessible. 7d

mcctrish @BarbaraJean I was thinking would there not be some instances when the No Bodies actually need the Humes to physically repair infrastructure? Could climate not wipe out solar panels or whatever powers the ‘mainframe‘ ? Do they not need each other at some point? Or is it a case of #cuttingoffnosetospiteface ? 7d

BarbaraJean @mctrish Yes, I had the same thought! The NoBodies did still need some sort of physical hardware and a way of maintaining it. Destroying all embodied AI would doom them eventually. I wondered if there was a parallel the other way: do the Humes need the NoBodies? Is there something the NoBodies provide that the Humes can't do without them? 7d

Meshell1313 I loved this story within a story. For sure I saw it as an allegory for what is happening in our own society. Hopefully, they (and us) realize they need each other to thrive. 6d

Chelsea.Poole I also loved the two stories here! I often shy away from sci-fi so having these chapters interspersed throughout the novel is less off-putting for me and I find myself getting into these sections! 6d

Chelsea.Poole Ankara and Ijele seem to need each other at this point, but I‘m not sure where this is going. Again, my lack of scifi experience is showing and I don‘t know how to think about or discuss robots lol. But I have been reading everyone‘s comparisons to other books/content, and I have to add my own: Wild Robot. The robot sections keep bringing to mind that movie (didn‘t read the book but loved the adaptation). 6d

Megabooks @BarbaraBB That's a good point that it has become a state of fear for them. It also must be strange, especially for the Humes, to live in a world where the people they are modeled after are extinct. Where do they go? How do they grow? Is growing an important part of being a robot? 6d

Megabooks @willaful I have that on my shelf! I need to get to it! 6d

Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole I'll have to check that out. I think Ankara and Ijele's interdependence is the most interesting parts of the robot story to me! 6d

Butterfinger This is where the audio leaves me confused. I thought the dual storyline was an AI voice (like a subconscious) that was communicating with the human character. I need a print version badly, but new books are difficult to get from the library. It reminded me of the computer in Clive Cussler's books and the computer voice of Ender's who spies on all the computers in all the galaxies. Sci-fi is not my genre.

Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind

Butterfinger @Chelsea.Poole I am glad I am not the only one. I nominated it, but I loved the Binti trilogy. I do think I would understand it clearly if I chose print. 6d

Suet624 @Reggie Ummm....no.... I haven't heard of it but it sounds fascinating. 6d

Suet624 @ChaoticMissAdventures I had no idea! 6d

Suet624 I don't have any answers to this question but I will say that I perk up every time she writes about the robots. I keep interpreting it as being a political or spiritual example so I'm always trying to figure out which it is. But maybe I'm putting too much meaning on it. 6d

Megabooks @Suet624 It's weird because I didn't read it as political at all, but I think the people who interpreted it that way (like you) have an excellent point. I wonder what that says about the two very different machines sharing the same mind. I don't think I'd enjoy sharing the mind of a MAGA person. I don't think I could tolerate it at all. 6d

Suet624 @Megabooks yeah, it would definitely be hard to share the mind of a maga. But I had a feeling with the state of the world that the robots were now living in maybe those two robots understood that their political beliefs had done them all in and it was time to look for something different, a different approach. (edited) 6d

BarbaraBB @TEArificbooks Great insight about the robots being made by humans and their prejudices - and in this story of course based on Zelu‘s own experience like @ChaoticMissAdventures points out. I hadn‘t thought of that. (edited) 6d

BarbaraBB @Megabooks Like you I didn‘t read it political either but after reading all the excellent comments of people who did, I am convinced the author did too. Such a great discussion! 6d

CBee @Chelsea.Poole the Wild Robot book series is excellent, I read it with my oldest son. Highly recommend! 4d

CBee What I loved most is that despite their differences, they find that they need each other. I didn‘t read it political but wow, what if that could happen in real life? People becoming friends and having civility despite differences! Such a world we live in now 😢 4d

peanutnine @mcctrish @BarbaraJean to your point about the No Bodies needing Humes to physically repair things, if I understood correctly the No Bodies can inhabit bodies/machines if they wish but choose to flit around without most of the time. So if they had to, they could fix things without Humes' help 4d

peanutnine I do like Ankara and Ijele's relationship, how they have begun to subconsciously take on the other's way of thinking or acting. I definitely agree that Hume and No Body prejudice against each other hinders potential relationships from the start 4d

BarbaraJean @peanutnine Oh, absolutely—they could inhabit a body/machine that had the necessary dexterity, etc. if that body‘s consciousness allows for it (or is uninhabited). But I see an irony there. The No Bodies have a prejudice against embodied consciousness, but even if it‘s their own and only temporary, they actually do need embodied consciousness at some point in order to survive. (edited) 4d

MeganAnn @BarbaraJean yes, I thought that was an interesting irony as well. While there doesn‘t seem to be a similar need for the Humes to leave behind their bodies. 3d

MeganAnn Excellent discussion here! I also didn‘t read the robots story as political at first, but the more we learn about their existence the more it felt it was very much reflective of human society with many of the same biases & issues. It‘s interesting that Zelu created a robot society that is also filled with prejudice against others. Then puts Ankara & Ijele together where they have no choice but to learn about the other forcing them to empathize. 3d

39 likes61 comments

Megabooks

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Last question this week. Hope to see you back next Saturday when we‘ll discuss the whole book! #CampLitsy25

squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

Bookwormjillk This is the most difficult one to answer for me because it comes back to what do our role models owe us. I stopped after chapter 27 yesterday and I can‘t wait to see where the author goes with this. 7d

mcctrish I understand people wanting to see themselves in celebrities, it gives them validation and hope. But I also see how race/disability can be seen as who you are despite you being more than that - wanting the exos and rejecting being disabled makes sense to me because Zelu is always challenging something, not complacent but nobody likes an angry woman 7d

AmyG @Bookwormjillk I thought this too about role models…and the expectations people have of their role models. I think people tend to have very high expectations of their role models…they tend to out themon a pedestal. And the more famous Zelu became, the more she was known and I feel the higher the expectation. Does she owe her fans? I think it would be how much does she feel she owes them. (edited) 7d

See All 68 Comments

AmyG The first part of the question….yes, rejecting the identity of a person with disabilities, but being able to “live” or imagine herself (?) with no disability. 7d

Reggie I used to work at a restaurant where this woman named Sandy was a regular. She was in her 60s. She was in a wheelchair and divorced. Her husband who was also a regular would show up with his gf, a young 20 something Brazilian with a baby that wasn‘t his. The point is Sandy showed up because she had a van fitted with controls that she was able to use. She had a door that would pop open and a crane that would swing around from the side so she could 7d

Reggie jump in, swing back, drag a wheelchair out, plop herself in it, put away the crane, shut all the doors and roll herself inside for breakfast. All of us servers were always so impressed. It drove me nuts to read that these people were always trying to clip Zelu‘s wings. I don‘t think she owed anybody anything. (edited) 7d

Jas16 I can see her thinking she was rejecting this role that never felt true to her and the boundaries and expectations others thrust upon her but I just don‘t see it that way. I agree with others who have talked about those we idolize and feeling betrayed when they act in ways we don‘t agree with. Her fans were trying to force her into another box and not let her choose her own path, (edited) 7d

TrishB I don‘t think anyone ever sets out to be a role model. I mean it‘s a terrible situation. You can‘t do anything because other people have decided to put you on a pedestal. Like fame, it must be terrible. Like @Reggie says, people trying to clip people‘s wings. 7d

ImperfectCJ My teen and I were talking yesterday about how strange it is that we seem to hold our heroes to a higher standard than our villains. This, to me, is part of the trouble with holding people up as role models. We (the general "we") expect perfection (and a specific brand of perfection), even though perfection is impossible. There's this kind of purity standard, and if someone doesn't meet it, everything they say is tossed out. 7d

ImperfectCJ So no, I don't believe Zelu owes her fans anything, but cause and effect still stand, and that means they're going to treat her like crap whether it's right or not. 7d

JamieArc I saw this coming from the get go and really wish Zelu would have seen this coming too and had been prepared to respond. She doesn‘t owe anyone anything, but it does feel like a tricky question to explore - what it does to advance acceptance and normalizing something when you are rejecting that identity, but it is up to each individual to choose for themselves what they need and want for their own lives. 7d

ImperfectCJ Also, I wonder if this "gotcha" reveal of her apparent hypocrisy gives her fans an excuse to vent their pre-existing biases about disability (or race or gender) and feel morally righteous doing it? 7d

ImperfectCJ Why is everything necessarily an "identity" anyway? Why does her disability define her in the first place? Can't people be an amalgam of everything that they are without one of those things being their "identity"? 7d

julesG Zelu says she's rejecting disability, but in my opinion she's actually just differently disabled. Her legs still don't work, she's just using a different method to be mobile. And this method, just like the self-driving cars, gives her more independence. She can experience more of life without having to ask for help at every corner. Her fans and family should accept that. She doesn't owe anyone, she doesn't have to be stuck in a wheelchair. 7d

vonnie862 This is tricky...Like many of you, I don't think she owes anyone anything. Unfortunately, when you're in the spotlight, people are going to look up to you. Zelu was obviously unprepared for this. She is so angry inside that she will not allow herself that comprise of who she is to the public. 7d

julesG @ImperfectCJ Right!!! Her disability is just part of her life, not the defining feature of her personality. 7d

julesG Nobody would raise an eyebrow at some famous person suddenly using glasses instead of contacts (or the other way round), but exos instead of a wheelchair is a big deal? 7d

TrishB Agree totally @julesG 7d

Megabooks @Reggie My mom has had several different iterations of those type of things. She used one more like you're describing in the 90s, but as her post-polio has gotten worse, she's had more adaptive equipment. RN we have vans with ramps, and she drives into the back. Until about 2 years ago, she could transfer to a chair rotating chair in the driver's seat or for longer trips to a chair or bed in the back for dad to drive. 7d

Megabooks @Reggie About 2 years ago, she lost a lot of mobility/strength in her shoulders and can't drive anymore, but she still uses these vans to get around with me driving. She has still never given up, though. She does most of her ADLs on her own and is one tough lady (at 80 this year)! 7d

Ruthiella I don‘t really understand anyone‘s opposition to using the Exos. They are no different than the wheelchair in that they are a tool. My mother can walk, but for longer periods uses a wheelchair. This isn‘t like in the Deaf community, where an entire culture has grown up around signing and deafness. I do see more a potential issue with using Exos to make a super powerful human weapon , however. Maybe that will come up later. 7d

Megabooks @Jas16 That's a really good point that the “role“ of disabled person never seemed true to her. She never placed on herself the limits that others seemed to want to. I was rooting for her when she went against everyone and forged this alliance with Hugo and his grad students. 7d

Megabooks @julesG 🙌 🙌 🙌 love this interpretation! 7d

Megabooks @ImperfectCJ Maybe another question coming about identity next week... And it's a good point that it reveals her fans' biases about her, too. 7d

Lesliereadsalot If everybody, family and fans, would‘ve stopped looking at Zelu as disabled, she would‘ve stopped seeing herself that way. She didn‘t want to see herself that way but was constantly reminded that she was disabled by everyone. The only one she owes anything is to herself, to live her best life. Don‘t we all try to do that? (edited) 7d

jenniferw88 I 💯 agree with @Reggie and @julesG. It's apparent from the start that Zelu 'beats to a different drum' to all the other characters, and she doesn't owe anyone anything, especially her family! 7d

squirrelbrain Love that! ❤️ @julesG 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @ImperfectCJ “purity standard“ is the perfect phrase for what “We“ set as a standard for celebrities we feel we love or are like us. Great term. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @julesG I agree. She isn't “cured“ she is using another tool to help her be mobile. I think it gets tricky with celebrities' when it is this totally outlandishly costing thing that is not accessible to the general public. I think that also creates backlash. She got this extremely rare opportunity others cannot get and now she is more mobile but she is still disabled, while claiming to reject her disability which can be hard for the community 7d

mcctrish @Ruthiella I don‘t understand either. she gets grief for using them, she gets praise for trying technology but grief for covering them up and ‘passing‘ as able bodied - is that a dig at people of colour ‘passing‘ as white? Is the problem Zelu isn‘t staying in her ‘lane‘? Seems so 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @Ruthiella I was sort of seeing the opposition to it as new technology that is unknown and mostly untested. This thing could in theory control where Z goes. She thinks she is in control, but is she really? AI is a scary unknown. I also think there may be a bit of jealousy in the idea that she has this tech that is not available to others, mixed with her rejection of the disabled community - some could see her attitude as her being above them. 7d

DebinHawaii @julesG Well said! I agree about her being differently disabled & that she doesn‘t owe anyone. 7d

Well-ReadNeck This reminded me of the deaf community as well @Ruthiella There is also an element of privilege in the opposition here because the technology is expensive and not university available. So much here and I see how it could feel very similar to the sign language/cochlear implant issues. And, I think in so many things, social media exacerbates the there are sides/pick a side thinking for so many things. Breast feeding, plastic surgery, etc 7d

BarbaraBB So many insightful comments, I really love Camp for this. To add my musings, I think the author wants us to be discomfortable while watching Zelu struggle with being seen vs. being known, being admired vs. being understood, and free vs. being responsible (edited) 7d

GatheringBooks Love reading all the thoughtful comments here and the anecdote shared by @Reggie specifically. I was entertained reading the book especially with the permeating “cancel culture” that we now have with so-called fallen idols, particularly with authors. The inherent responsibility that comes with fame signifies the sense of ownership fans have towards their “idols” who need to be strongly grounded enough to ignore socmed & regard them as white noise. 7d

willaful @ChaoticMissAdventures yes, exactly this. And it puts even more emphasis on the “fix“ being with the disabled person themselves instead of the society that makes things hard or impossible for them.

I think maybe she does owe people something. She owes the people who fought for accessibility that she's benefited from. Not acknowledging her privilege and disassociating from them is a slap in the face. 7d

Christine Many great comments here about these complex and thorny issues! So true that Zelu‘s impairment has not gone away, yet this assistive tech is having a impact on not only her mobility but also her identity, and she has the right to identify or not identify with the disabled community as much as she wants. But for those who do hold that identity strongly, feeling hurt by her choices (esp. given her access privilege) is also totally understandable. 7d

BarbaraJean I struggle with the idea of what she “owes” her fans. They certainly don‘t have the right to dictate what she decides to do with her own body. But I also think public figures have a responsibility to consider how their actions affect those who look up to them. She doesn‘t owe them being a role model—but her fame means people will see her that way whether she wants them to or not. Perhaps the responsibility includes offering ⬇ 7d

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …her own thinking and reasons for her actions, framing it as personal to her rather than universal for all with disabilities. But then again, I don‘t think she owes anyone an explanation, and inevitably people would mischaracterize anything she might say, so… 7d

BarbaraJean @julesG @ImperfectCJ @Christine The identity part is hard for me to sort through. I wonder about the embrace of disability as an identity, because that seems to place a negative moral value on tools that mitigate the disability (i.e. tools are bad because they change or reject the identity). Zelu‘s exos are an accommodation to a world that privileges walking as the standard for movement. So I can see the anger from those ⬇ 7d

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …who embrace disability as an identity, in saying: we shouldn‘t have to change ourselves drastically in order to move in and be included in the world. And I agree with that to a point. But also: if the tech is there and available to you, why not choose something that can make you more independent and your life easier? I get the privilege aspect, but isn‘t she part of the research that could make this more widely available? 7d

BookwormAHN This pissed me off. If she had the ability to walk again why would she not take it. I don't think she owes anyone anything. I wasn't so sure that her getting them was privileged. It seemed to me she was both a trial participant and an advertisement for them. 6d

julesG @BarbaraJean yes, she's part of the research. It might have been better to be pro-active and post it on her socials, but that might have caused backlash too. It's a situation where whatever Zelu does someone feels offended. 6d

Megabooks @julesG I love what you're saying here. She's still tied to an assistive device, but this time, it is one of her choosing. @ruthiella has a good point, too, about them being another tool for her. A tool that does grant her additional independence.

6d

Megabooks @Lesliereadsalot I think it's more than just how people see you, though. I have not had a healthy day in my entire adult life. I know that. Unlike Zelu, sometimes mine is visible and sometimes it is not, but I always know. It is another thing about me but not my whole identity. I think she was chafing against it being seen by others as more fundamental to her identity than she thought it was. (edited) 6d

Megabooks @Well-ReadNeck @chaoticmissadventures I think her family and Msizi are definitely afraid for the untested aspect of it. 6d

Megabooks @BarbaraJean It is such a fine line for me saying whether she owes the explanation. It must be frustrating for public figures to have to constantly explain their thoughts to a wide audience. I would hate it. I know I would absolutely hate it. So I empathize with her not feeling like she should have to. 6d

Lesliereadsalot Definitely see your point of view. Everyone saw her disability first and she never wanted it to define her. I‘m so sorry you haven‘t had one healthy day and I‘m so glad to get to know you a little through camp 🩷 6d

Butterfinger Oh, this was a quandary to me. I agree with Zelu to a point. Her fans are the ones who ensure the lifestyle. Without the fans sharing the book, she may not have been chosen from MIT. Was it @ChaoticMissAdventures who mentioned the reaction from the population of disabled - not everyone will have the same resources- which then starts the thought process of today's poor health coverage. Shouldn't Zelu be encouraging more for this? 6d

Butterfinger @julesG so true. @Ruthiella this thought also came to me - if one of my well-liked actors had a condition that could be "fixed," I would hope I would be happy, but we all know media with celebrities will set up an interview just to start something. 6d

BarbaraJean @Megabooks Definitely. I would hate having to explain my actions to a bunch of people who don't know me or understand me--and inevitably being misunderstood anyway. The optimist in me feels like if she were just able to explain, then people would get it. But we all know that's not how it would go down! She's going to be judged harshly either way. 6d

Megabooks @Lesliereadsalot Thank you! I've been better and worse at times. It just seems like every time I sort of fix something, another part becomes broken. I truly related to the book I'll tag. I think a cascade of problems happens to a lot of women. I was in a bad car accident as a teen and my hypermobile joints made it difficult to see what was wrong. I saw 23 doctors in about 2.5 years before I found one that helped.

The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness: A Memoir

(edited) 6d

Megabooks @Lesliereadsalot The latest is some long haul Covid problems that I've just now found some treatments for that work. I hope that it's made me a more understanding person of what other people may have going on that you can't see. I'm glad to have gotten to know you here, too. 💜 6d

Lesliereadsalot When I had breast cancer I did not want anyone to know. I was not going to be known as that woman with cancer. I‘m really not a private person but in this case I kept it to myself as long as I could. I admire you for hanging in there all these years and looking for a doctor who could help you. I‘m the world‘s biggest optimist!! 6d

BarbaraBB Yess @julesG you nailed it! 6d

BarbaraBB @megabooks @Reggie @jenniferw88 Thanks for sharing those experiences. They show us people are so much more than what others might expect based at first glances and prejudices. 6d

CBee I don‘t think she owes anyone anything. It‘s her body and she should be able to decide what to do with it. Unfortunately, her fans feel otherwise and call her ableist….. which I just don‘t see. 4d

Megabooks @CBee It's really interesting. I've followed this plus-size fashion influencer for years on insta. I like her style and sense of humor. She's decided to pursue weight loss surgery and is getting a lot of push back from followers. For me, it's her body and her decision. I don't feel she should have to justify it by saying, “I'm having trouble cleaning myself. I can't sit in seats in theaters“ (but she does). It's her body and her life. 4d

CBee @Megabooks plus, she could have health issues that might improve if she lost weight. Who knows? What matters is that she is in control of her body and she chooses what to do with it - like Zelu. 4d

peanutnine Love this whole discussion, everyone made great points. I agree that the exos are just another tool for Zelu and she is still disabled. I don't think she owes anyone an explanation because it is her body and her life, however because she is so concerned about what others think of her, I think she should have made a statement explaining her choice so at least some might understand. She's gonna get backlash either way but calmly releasing it on her 4d

peanutnine terms would have been better than getting surprised and goaded into anger on television 4d

Megabooks @CBee Yes, and I think that's why people shouldn't have to justify health-based decisions to anyone. Not only in the realm of reproductive freedom. I've also always found it strange that there doesn't need to be a medical justification to increase the size of someone's breasts but there does have to be a medical indication or counseling to remove them. That has always struck me as so bizarre and entirely tied to the male gaze. 3d

CBee @Megabooks agreed! I had a friend in high school who needed a breast reduction for her health - she had horrible back issues, and she was only a teenager! But, insurance didn‘t cover it then - which is ridiculous. I don‘t know if it does now but as with all health insurance, it seems you have to justify everything to get help. 3d

TEArificbooks I don‘t think she owes her fans an explanation or to maintain being some sort of disability pride advocate role model. The exos are merely a tool to help her mobility and independence in a world that doesn‘t accurately accommodate disability. But lashing out in that particular moment will drastically affect her life. She could get canceled and maybe lose her book deal etc. And she will have more financial problems and have to move back home etc 3d

TEArificbooks As a member of the disabled community with mobility issues, I would jump at the chance to use the exos. When you are disabled, your family is also disabled. Your family is restricted to what you are able to do. There is so much you can‘t do so they don‘t get to do it either. Using tools to make life easier doesn‘t make you less disabled and you can still have disability pride. 3d

TEArificbooks When a person has a physical disability there is a mental game they have to overcome every day. One is the constant guilt of holding your family back and not becoming the person you wanted to be. The exos are tools that can help not just independence and mobility but alleviate some of that mental labor as well. Now she can go anywhere and join her family and her family is freer as well from restrictions. Of course she would grab at the chance. 3d

Megabooks @TEArificbooks I get what you‘re saying from the perspective of being the daughter of a person with mobility issues. It has been such a dance between us to make sure the other one is included. When I was a kid my mom fell twice at the ice rink (just in the building) then she began trading with parents taking me there and taking their kids other places. She always wanted to make sure I could be in the activities I wanted. 1/ 2d

Megabooks @TEArificbooks as an adult, I would never live in an apartment she couldn‘t get in (no stairs no upper floors) or in a city it was hard for her to visit (like an airplane ride away). Now, she‘s 80 and lives with me. She‘s so f**king tough. The post-polio and its effects have gotten so painful she asks for a new body. I wish I could get that for her. She would take help like that in a second. (edited) 2d

41 likes1 stack add68 comments

JenReadsAlot

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

I absolutely never would have read this if not for #camplitsy25 and just loved it! @Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain

TheBookHippie I loved her The Nsibidi Scripts series! 1w

JenReadsAlot @TheBookHippie This was my first by her so will check that out! 1w

TheBookHippie @JenReadsAlot I found her because of #FOODANDLIT NIGERIA 1w

See All 9 Comments

JenReadsAlot @TheBookHippie That makes sense! Looking forward to reading more! 1w

CBee @TheBookHippie I second this! I haven‘t read the 3rd but loved the first two! She‘s amazing. 1w

BarbaraBB I too discovered this author thanks to #CampLitsy! 1w

squirrelbrain Glad you loved it! 🥰 7d

KLyn1 Same - a little less than halfway through... But loving it!! 7d

Suet624 I was going to post the same thing. Never would have read this if not for #CampLitsy25 and I'm so glad I'm reading it. 6d

56 likes9 comments

ChaoticMissAdventures

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Reading this American long weekend -

A Nigerian -American novel with a disabled MC (it is disability pride month) #camplitsy25

A graphic novel from a famous lesbian American

A freaky little novel about art and friendship from a bisexual Asian -American.

This is America.

Amiable 🙌🏼 1w

47 likes1 stack add1 comment

KLyn1

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Vacation read for #camplitsy25

27 likes

jenniferw88

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Just want to share this, as it's (semi) relevant to the novel: https://staffprofiles.bournemouth.ac.uk/display/whittingtonp

I have the privilege of calling him a friend and a neighbour. He's absolutely amazing with what he's achieved - paraplegic due to birth complications. He's able to drive, whilst I (with no obvious physical disabilities) can't!

#camplitsy25 @squirrelbrain @Megabooks @BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB Interesting!! 1w

Megabooks Very cool! My mom has paralyzed legs due to childhood polio, so I was really interested in (and read) this book prior to CL. People consistently amaze me! 1w

58 likes2 comments

DGRachel

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

I‘m not loving the audiobook of this but it‘s not the narrator‘s fault. I am not enjoying the story. Switching to print in the hopes I won‘t just bail completely. There‘s an 8 week wait for the ebook, but no wait other than transport from one branch to my branch for the hardcover, so I‘m going to try it in print, but I‘ll miss this weekend‘s discussion. 😮‍💨
#camplitsy25

peaKnit I had to bail. So many good reviews just not my cup of tea I guess. :( 1w

DGRachel @peaKnit Thank you for this. It confirms my choice to get it from the library instead of buying the ebook. I‘m sorry it didn‘t work for you. 1w

Lesliereadsalot It too me awhile to get into this book, but it‘s worth it to keep reading. Great ending! 7d

54 likes3 comments

ChaoticMissAdventures

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

My plan for this evening had been to read a chunk of our #CampLitsy25 book. Then I fell and cracked my head ... Wish that was a fun riddle.

I think I am fine, just super sore waiting for test results, getting good care. Sitting here worried about the government and about how soon we are close to having millions more people who cannot get this level of care.

If you are in the US please call your rep tell them to vote no: 202-224-3121

Ruthiella Yikes! Wishing you a speedy recovery! ❤️‍🩹 1w

mariaku21 Hope you're ok and a speedy recovery 🫶🏻 1w

zezeki Hope you get better soon! 💕 1w

See All 17 Comments

willaful Yikes! Take care. 1w

BarbaraBB Hope you‘re okay! Take care 💚 1w

sherrisilvera Oh my goodness. Feel better!! 1w

CarolynM Hope you‘re feeling better soon 💐 1w

Susanita Oh no! I hope you feel better soon. 1w

TheLudicReader Feel better soon. 1w

Eggbeater Ouch! 😢 I'm glad you're getting it looked at. I hope it gets better quickly. 1w

AmyG Oh no! Hope you are ok and feeling better soon. Yeah, I am so worried about our rural hospital as it serves such a large area in CO. 1w

Jas16 Oh no! I hope that all is well and you are home soon. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Ruthiella, @mariaku21, @zezeki, @willaful, @BarbaraBB, @sherrisilvera, @CarolynM, @Susanita, @TheLudicReader, @Eggbeater, @Jas16 Thank you! I am finally home, I sat through a lot of tests, then sat & was monitored for hours.. EDs are never fun. But nothing broken, just scrapes, bruises & a moderate concussion. @AmyG I was just listening to a video with Ronan Farrow who was talking about an entire county in DL that has no hospitals. Horrifying 1w

squirrelbrain Oh no, glad to hear you‘re OK (ish) though! 1w

dabbe So glad to read that you‘re okay! Rest and let your body heal. 💙🩵💙 1w

sherrisilvera Glad you are on the right side of it! 1w

Suet624 Oh no! I hope you're okay. 6d

34 likes17 comments

mcctrish

Death of the Author (Deluxe Limited Edition) | Nnedi Okorafor

My copy has a different cover from the dust jacket 🤯 also breaking in a new floatie for camp #camplitsy

TEArificbooks Oh wow I hope it‘s the right book 1w

Bookwormjillk Is it the right book though? Such a mystery! 1w

mcctrish @TEArificbooks @Bookwormjillk it has just made sense to me 😉 1w

See All 7 Comments

Bookwormjillk @mcctrish Gah! Now I want to cancel my plans tonight and start reading 😂 1w

JenReadsAlot Isn't that awesome! I just recently noticed that as well 1w

vonnie862 That's cool! 1w

Suet624 I noticed the different covers too! They're both beautiful.. 6d

50 likes7 comments

Megabooks

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Hi campers! It‘s your heat-intolerant counselor living in Kentucky! I hoped to post this earlier, but going out in the afternoon heat was brutal.

The chapter break for the July 5 discussion is the start of chapter 28 page 212 in my US hardcover. On July 12, we will discuss the second half/whole book!

Be sure to bring your bug spray and sunscreen. I‘ll provide the s‘mores! 🏕️🍫 #CampLitsy25

squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

Megabooks @Addison_Reads @AmyG @amiable @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM 2w

Megabooks @catgusmax @cbee @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf 2w

Megabooks @flaneurette @fredthemoose @Gatheringbooks @gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ
2w

See All 46 Comments

Megabooks @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK 2w

Megabooks @karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 @maich @Mcctrish @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx 2w

Megabooks @peaknit @peanutnine @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville 2w

Megabooks @skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @texreader @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @zuhkeeyah
2w

Ruthiella I didn‘t love a previous book by Okorafor but I‘m definitely interested in trying her again. 🤞 2w

BarbaraBB Yay! I enjoyed this one a lot and am looking forward to discussing it! I just emailed you in reply to your and Helen‘s suggestions! 2w

Roary47 I‘m having trouble finding this one. 😭 2w

squirrelbrain Exciting! Looking forward to it! 2w

Lesliereadsalot This one was so good! Looking forward to discussion ⛺️🔥🍫 2w

Bookwormjillk Yay! I‘m going to try this one on audio. 2w

Caroline2 Yay! So excited to start this one!! 👏 2w

Chelsea.Poole Totally out of my wheelhouse but I just started it and I‘m super into it! Can‘t wait to see where this goes and really looking forward to the discussion. Thanks for hosting Meg! 2w

RaeLovesToRead Please send iced coffee 😵😵😵 it is an emergency!!! I feel you with the heat intolerance 2w

mcctrish I‘m ready to go and drinking cold brew in solidarity 2w

DGRachel I‘ve had the audiobook waiting for me for months. Looking forward to this one! 2w

AmyG All set. I liked this one. 2w

Meshell1313 Can‘t wait! 2w

GatheringBooks Enjoyed reading this. Thank you for organizing camp! 🏕️ looking forward to our discussions! 🥰 2w

JamieArc Glad to see the positive reviews! I had mixed hopes about this one, but am looking forward to starting it! 2w

Megabooks @Ruthiella I hope you like it! It's very different than the other one I've read by her, and this one worked better. 2w

Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Thank you both so much for your excellent suggestions! I just emailed you back. 2w

Megabooks @Roary47 Oh no!! I hope you're able to find it in time! 2w

Megabooks @Lesliereadsalot I agree! I was so happy when it was chosen because I think it's a great one for discussion! 2w

Megabooks @Bookwormjillk Oh fantastic! Let us know what you think. 2w

Megabooks @Caroline2 I hope you love it! 2w

Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole Yes! It's a great SciFi book even for people who don't usually read that genre. I think the discussion will be great! I was really happy when it was chosen. 2w

Megabooks @RaeLovesToRead @mcctrish I just finished a smoothie with frozen strawberries and cherries, and it was so good! At least it is overcast today here, so it's not as scorching. 2w

Megabooks @DGRachel Yay!! 🎉 📖 🎧 2w

Megabooks @AmyG Me too! Looking forward to the discussion. 2w

Megabooks @Meshell1313 Same! 2w

Megabooks @GatheringBooks So glad you liked it! You're welcome. We look forward to it every summer, too! 2w

Megabooks @JamieArc I really enjoyed it both times I read it, and I hope you do, too! 2w

Well-ReadNeck 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 2w

julieclair Still waiting for my library hold to come in, and it‘s not looking promising. At this rate, I may be camping in Winter. 😕 But it‘s nice to know the discussions will be here for me to read and comment whenever I‘m able to read it. 2w

sarahbarnes Thanks, Meg! I‘m going to skip this one as it isn‘t speaking to me, but I‘m already loving Woodworking and looking forward to that one later this month! 😀 2w

Megabooks @julieclair Boo! I hope you enjoy reading the discussions later, but I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for a camp miracle! (edited) 1w

Megabooks @sarahbarnes We'll see you during the second half of the month then! Every book isn't for every reader. 1w

vonnie862 I'm highly enjoying this book. 1w

rockpools I don‘t suppose you listened to any audio of this did you @megabooks? Looks like my print library hold will arrive just as the discussions are finishing, so I‘m contemplating plan b! 1w

Megabooks @vonnie862 awesome!! 1w

Megabooks @rockpools I did not, unfortunately. I had a print copy from aardvark. I looked, and it does have multiple narrators, which I think would be necessary for this book, so it‘s probably worth trying out if you can!! 1w

rockpools @Megabooks Thanks Meg! It does require a bit more concentration at chapter changes than I usually give my audiobooks, but I think it‘s going to work ok. 1w

Megabooks @rockpools Great! Glad you'll be able to join us! 1w

91 likes46 comments

GatheringBooks

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

#JuneSpecials Day 28: Loads of #Foodie references in this novel which I thoroughly enjoyed reading - super want to taste jollof rice now! Finished it for #CampLitsy2025 and very much looking forward to the discussion. Some Dennys goodness while in ‘Murrica with family.

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

ChaoticMissAdventures Jollof rice is super yummy!! If you don't have any West African restaurants near it isn't very hard to make (I say as someone who hates cooking). The key is the spices added before the rice cooks. But I always recommend a professional if possible 😀. There is a big debate throughout W. Africa of which country makes it best I personally cannot decide. 2w

Eggs Excellent 👌🏼 2w

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures Great suggestion about the adding of the spices! I remember another book too about where the best Jollof comes from but I can‘t remember what book that is. 2w

See All 6 Comments

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Looks delicious 😋 2w

Bookwormjillk @BarbaraBB was it

Americanah

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk Of course! Such a great read that was! 1w

40 likes6 comments

Meshell1313

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

Another great and interesting #CampLitsy25 pick! Can‘t wait for our discussion as I loved the 2 story lines and the story within the story. On the surface it‘s about a struggling writer and family issues but I love the deeper societal commentary. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB Yes another one which will be good to discuss! 2w

54 likes1 comment

Oryx

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

I thought this was great. So unique and original. Thanks #camplitsy25 for putting it on my radar. Looking forward to discussing.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2w

squirrelbrain Yes, really original, and one I wouldn‘t have even considered if it wasn‘t for @camplitsy25. Hi Daisy! 👋 2w

52 likes2 comments

PaperbackPirate

Death of the Author (Deluxe Limited Edition) | Nnedi Okorafor

This science fiction story takes place in the United States and Nigeria.
4/10 countries for #ReadTheWorld2025

Thank you @GatheringBooks !

#Nigeria

GatheringBooks I am actually reading this one right now with #CampLitsy2025 and enjoying it tremendously 🥰 2w

48 likes1 stack add1 comment

Lesliereadsalot

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

Really liked this #CampLitsy25 book about a disabled Nigerian woman who writes a best-selling science fiction book. Mostly her point of view interspersed with chapters from her book, and the occasional voices of family members and her boyfriend. Did not see where this book was going, a total surprise. Very enjoyable!

@Reggie

squirrelbrain Great review - I‘ve only just started it! 4w

BarbaraBB I enjoyed this one too! Of course 👯 4w

Reggie I wanted to fight her family every time they had something to say. It was so frustrating. And then when she was almost kidnapped in Nigerian I thought the author was gonna kill her off. My shoulders were so high because I couldn‘t take it! lol And for some reason I cried like a baby with her going to space and the robots saving themselves and telling stories. Im so glad you liked it! 4w

25 likes3 comments

Lillie

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Another good reading month with Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor, The Golden Gate by Amy Chua and Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto leading the way. All different from each other and all very good.

Other notable reads were Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd, Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yamboa, The Briar Club by Kate Quinn and My Friends by Fredrik Backman.

4 likes

Reggie

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

I loved this book so much. I started off thinking I wouldn‘t like the book because of the writing but the narrative is so strong simple sentences later in the book emotionally hit deep. We follow 2 timelines. One is the future where there are no humans and it‘s all robots. The other is us following Zelu, a Nigerian American author who is paraplegic. This is a love letter to culture. This is about the frustration of just trying to exist when 👇🏼

Reggie all the world wants to do is crush you. It‘s about how family can love you but not know how to love you. It‘s about the importance of story. It‘s a lovely pick. I must say that is a pretty neat trick she pulled off in the end. 1mo

TrishB I have about 70 pages to go and you‘ve summed it up so well. (Obviously I don‘t know the end yet!) I‘m loving it. (edited) 1mo

Lesliereadsalot Really looking forward to this one. Thanks for the great review! 1mo

See All 14 Comments

squirrelbrain I‘m looking forward to this one too! 1mo

Reggie @TrishB let me tell you there were times when I wanted to jump in the book and fight people for her. I was soooo angry and frustrated on her behalf. But there are some really lovely moments too. I think she did a good job of peaks and valleying it. 1mo

Reggie @Lesliereadsalot @squirrelbrain I think you ladies will like it a lot. 1mo

sarahbarnes Great review! 1mo

TrishB I agree! I was so annoyed with her family most of the time. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot Loving this one! Really pulls you in. 1mo

Centique Oooh i really enjoyed Binti by this author - this sounds like she‘s even stepped up a level. 1mo

vivastory Does yr edition have the variant hardback cover underneath the dust jacket 1mo

Reggie @sarahbarnes Thanks! It was so good. 1mo

Reggie @Centique I like Binti a lot, also. She has some of that same tension in here. 1mo

Reggie @vivastory idk. I returned it to the library. I‘ve been trying to utilize my libraries more. 1mo

67 likes1 stack add14 comments

TrishB

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Truth.

sarahbarnes Oh wow, spot on. 1mo

BarbaraBB So true ❤️❤️ 1mo

TrishB @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB 😘 1mo

Caroline2 ❤️ yep!👍 1mo

66 likes4 comments

Suet624

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Today I drove 2 1/2 hours each way to Manchester, VT to get another stamp on my independent bookstore passport. Northshire Bookstore is a premium store in a very wealthy town and they are much loved. I have 6 stores yet to go to and the ones listed on the right are far away. Boo. But Vermont is lovely so that makes up for it. I‘m now ready for my July CampLitsy25 read.

#CampLitsy25

AmyG 🙌🏻 1mo

JenniferEgnor Indie bookstore passport??? Please tell me more! 1mo

sarahbarnes That‘s such a cool idea. 1mo

See All 9 Comments

Suet624 @JenniferEgnor VT has a list of 20 independent bookstores (we have many more than 20 in the state) to visit this year & get stamps. The map covers the entire state (I posted the map earlier - I'll try to find it). They give you a little over a year to accomplish it because it takes time to get to them all! VT may look small, but many of the roads are two lane so it takes time to get anywhere. There is a prize but I don't know what it is! 1mo

PurpleyPumpkin Love this idea! You look like you're doing very well on your journey. And you're finding new books too! A total win-win.☺️ 1mo

BarbaraBB I always love that you‘re doing this. And that VT is of course 1mo

AnnCrystal 🆒📚🤩👍🏼💝. 1mo

Reggie This book ended up being so good! 1mo

Suet624 @Reggie that‘s good to hear. 1mo

53 likes9 comments

BarbaraBB

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

I liked Zelu‘s story much more than the book-in-the-book, the SF novel. And I didn‘t get the ending of that SF novel. But it doesn‘t matter, this book is quite an experience and a perfect book to discuss around the fire during #CampLitsy25 in July!

#ReadTheWorld2025 book 18 #Nigeria

Megabooks, GatheringBooks, squirrelbrain

sarahbarnes Ooh, glad to see you liked it! 😀 1mo

AmyG I am listening to it and enjoying it. I, too, liked her life story more. Good book. 1mo

peaKnit What a gorgeous cover. Can‘t wait to read and discuss. 1mo

squirrelbrain Great review! ❤️ 1mo

Lesliereadsalot Started this one and really liking it. Pulled me in right from the start. 1mo

71 likes1 stack add5 comments

Larkken

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

A great novel about art, originality, and ownership. Do we use art to manifest parts of ourselves? Can we ever get beyond that? How much ownership can we have over anything we put out in the world?

Can‘t wait to discuss it for #camplitsy, I think there‘s a lot here to unpack!

BarbaraBB Great review!! I am reading it now too and it seems an excellent cook to discuss while camping 🏕️ ! 1mo

31 likes1 stack add1 comment

BkClubCare

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

OooOOOooo! I like this cover more than the one on the hardcover I read (US, library) Anyway, I am giving this a “Pick with reservations” and truly, this is a case of “Book, it‘s not you, it‘s me”. I just couldn‘t overcome the reluctance I felt, the chore it seemed to get this thing read!! I don‘t have time for this, too many books coming at me fast and fury with deadlines. I made it to page 200 before I skipped to the last 4 chapters ⬇️

BkClubCare So I “got” the story, I enjoyed the build, I was disappointed that Zelu‘s family wasn‘t more supportive, and I wish the best for the Humes… #May2025 Book48 2mo

BarbaraBB Reading this now. So far so good - after 100 pages! 2mo

BkClubCare @BarbaraBB - yay! It is intriguing…. If only I was on a beach with fewer distractions (or if sports was on TV so I could tune it out. 😆) 1mo

44 likes3 comments

BkClubCare

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

This made me laugh. Shout out to all the 🐈‍⬛ cat lovers! Yes? 🙌 #catsofLitsy

“Hanging out with Man Man, a humongous black Maine Coon cat who required the attention of a human at all times, was perfect.”

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 2mo

40 likes1 comment

PaperbackPirate

Death of the Author (Deluxe Limited Edition) | Nnedi Okorafor

This cover is hidden under the dust jacket for Death of the Author. The main character, Zelu, writes a wildly popular sci fi book called Rusted Robots, and we get to read some of it in Death of the Author. It was so good. I would read the entire novel.
🤖 Taken with some of my Star Wars robots that matched the robots in the story 🦿

AmyG Oh wow! I am listening to this now. That‘s too cool. 2mo

ImperfectCJ Well, heck! I have a copy of the book and didn't have a clue about the cover beneath the dust jacket until your post! What a fun Easter egg! 2mo

willaful I *just* picked this up at the library! Though I supposed I won't be able to look under the cover, darn it. 2mo

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PaperbackPirate My book club was guessing it would be a good one to listen to for the accents and pronunciation @AmyG ! I hope you‘re loving it! 2mo

PaperbackPirate I saw someone post about it on Instagram before my book club picked it so I had some help @ImperfectCJ ! 2mo

PaperbackPirate Someone in my book club had a library copy and we were able to peek at it with both covers open @willaful - good luck! I hope you love it! 📖 2mo

5feet.of.fury Oh how cool! 2mo

PaperbackPirate And sprayed edges?! @5feet.of.fury 😍 2mo

AmyG @PaperbackPirate I am enjoying it. It‘s wonderfully read and a great story. 2mo

willaful @PaperbackPirate It doesn't seem to have it. Perhaps a special edition. :-( 2mo

PaperbackPirate Aw that‘s too bad @willaful 😢 2mo

48 likes11 comments

BarbaraJean

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

“We… had a profound love of storytelling. But no automation, Al or machine, could create stories. Not truly. We could pull from existing datasets, detect patterns, then copy and paste them in a new order, and sometimes that seemed like creation. But this couldn't capture the narrative magic that humanity could wield…Stories were the greatest currency to us, greater than power, greater than control. Stories were our food, nourishment, enrichment.⤵️

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …To consume a story was to add to our code, deepen our minds. We felt it the moment we took it in. We were changed. It was like falling.” 2mo

36 likes1 comment

BkClubCare

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Yoga! And beer!! And reading!!!

Ruthiella Your personal trifecta? 😂 2mo

Aims42 Um, yes please!!! 2mo

BkClubCare @Ruthiella - maybe 🤔 YES 2mo

Bookish.SAM All of my favourite things!! 2mo

BkClubCare @Bookish.SAM - OMG - they actually ENCOURAGED us to get our beer first before the yoga 🧘‍♀️!! (edited) 2mo

46 likes1 stack add5 comments

BarbaraJean

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

In the game of library holds, I usually find that timing fails me. This has arrived about 6 weeks too soon… meanwhile I also have the ebook version on hold, which says it‘ll be an 18-week wait 😂 #CampLitsy25

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

TheBookHippie Currently playing same game nothing is in yet. 2mo

willaful It's tricky! 2mo

Bookwormjillk Such a juggling act! 2mo

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BarbaraBB I‘d grab this chance 😀 2mo

BarbaraJean @BarbaraBB Oh, I‘m taking it! I am going to wait till the 21st to pick it up, though 🙈🤫 2mo

squirrelbrain Oh no! How frustrating! 😬 2mo

BarbaraBB That is so funny and I love that. So relatable! 2mo

Megabooks Libraries are so funny like that!! 2mo

41 likes8 comments

PaperbackPirate

Death of the Author (Deluxe Limited Edition) | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

I finished this book at 1:30 am for my book club Saturday! Death of the Author will be on my favorites list for the story and the story-within-a-story both evolving their plots with complex characters sublimely. I loved the robots & the representation of a disabled main character, Zelu, who is much more than her disability.
Zelu loves her mom‘s Nigerian cooking so we went to a Nigerian restaurant for some joloff rice & puff puff! Yum!
🤖🦿🤖🦿🤖

PaperbackPirate Taken at Agege Bites in Chandler, Arizona 🍛 2mo

60 likes1 comment

Larkken

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

Hello everyone! I've been on a bit of a hiatus since I was traveling for work for the last two months and it really cut in to my reading time. The nerve! This month, I'm going to see how many of the books I meant to read in March and April are actually getting finished. But first, on to the tagged new release that I am so excited to start!

As in Feb, I'm doing two lists, one to pick my #bookspin books and the second for the #bookspinbingo board.

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! So annoying when life interferes with reading!! 😂 2mo

Larkken @TheAromaofBooks the nerve 😆 2mo

29 likes2 comments

Floresj

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

pick

This is a creative, well written, 1/2 fiction, 1/2 sci-fi novel. I wanted more Wind, more Msizi chapters, less angry family, which shows the strengths of this evolving story telling strategy. With a novel inside a novel, this one jumps between two stories, and adds to the reader‘s understanding of the main character. Good read!

20 likes

Bookpearl

Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor

My name is Renee Bailey and I am a Polygamist Reader! A Scent Story has these candle sayings that just speak to me every time. The scents are not over powering and adds just the right amount of ambiance to my reading experience.

BookmarkTavern LOL That‘s an amazing candle! 2mo

13 likes1 comment

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