pickOne of those titles where the apostrophe is key.
A moving memoir of the author's reconnection with her Eritrean family, after international adoption.
The author points out in the afterword that since she wrote the book, Eritrea's political situation has worsened, making her hope to live in Asmara unlikely: but it's clear this was a life changing experience.
The trouble with the dead is that no one will speak ill of them.
All the research into adoptees tracing their birth parents harps on about the fear of repeated rejection. That's rich. For a start it makes it sound like the rejection is all in the adoptee's head. Which it isn't, it's a fact. My family didn't keep me.
The room is suddenly filled with emotion. We are all thinking the same thing: it could just as easily be me standing here with a limp from a bullet in my hip, and Aster standing in my place.
I liked this novella. It describes the ordeals faced by Eritrean ascaris (African conscripts in the Italian colonial army) send to war against Libyan independence fighters in the 1920s. It also questions their willingness to side with the oppressor against the oppressed. I can see however that some readers might not find it to their tastes because 1) the translator is a non-native speaker of English & 2) it's all tell and no show.
@Liz_M
I found The Conscript on scribd. It is about an Eritrean conscript fighting on the Italian side in Libya during the Italo-Senussi war, when both #Eritrea and #Libya were part of the Italian colonial empire (although Libya was trying very hard not to be!) Originally written in Tingrinya in 1927 by Gebreyesus Hailu, an Eritrean author, making it an early African novel, and one not written in a colonial language.
I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!
#ABookADay2023
pickI absolutely loved flipping through this cookbook that covered several African countries. The photography was lovely and the stories of the women featured were life giving. All of the food looked great but I am most excited to try Rum with Berry Soda from Mozambique, Shaah Cadays (chai) from Somalia, and Chakalaka & Cheddar Braaibroodjies (grilled cheese) from S Africa. #LMPBC will mail this week!
pickA vibrant, lovely book about culture, food, and family. It features a selection of fulfilled women sharing what is special to them and how they describe their place in the world.
I saved quite a few recipes to try - they are all very approachable!
#LMPBC #GroupK
It will be on its it‘s way to you @Bookwormjillk !
It‘s arrived! Thanks @Amandajoy !
This a gorgeous book - I‘m looking forward to it!
#GroupK #LMPBC
