Review: Who Put This Song On?
THE PLOT: ‘Who Put This Song On?’ by Morgan Parker is a young-adult novel about a Black teenager with depression. Recovering from a “meltdown” during the summer holidays, the protagonist (Morgan) is starting the final year of her super-Christian school whilst … Continue reading Review: Who Put This Song On?
Review: Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?
THE PLOT: ‘Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?’ by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is a contemporary novel about a British-Nigerian woman who is looking for love. Thirty-one years old and still pining for her ex, Yinka is scared that she’ll never find a … Continue reading Review: Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?
Review: She Who Became the Sun
THE PLOT: ‘She Who Became the Sun’ by Shelley Parker-Chan is a historical fantasy novel about the origins of the Ming Dynasty. Set in Southern China in 1345, it re-imagines the life-story of one of the most powerful emperors in … Continue reading Review: She Who Became the Sun
Review: The Fat Black Woman’s Poems
THE PLOT: ‘The Fat Black Woman’s Poems’ by Grace Nichols is an acclaimed poetry collection which was first published in the 1980’s. A Caribbean immigrant in England, Nichols’ poems focus on race, migration and womanhood. As the title suggests, she explores … Continue reading Review: The Fat Black Woman’s Poems
Review: Letter to My Daughter
THE PLOT: ‘Letter to My Daughter’ by Maya Angelou is a collection of short essays by the esteemed author. Littered with witty observations, poetry and memoir, Angelou shares a range of life lessons. Although Angelou never had a biological daughter, … Continue reading Review: Letter to My Daughter
Review: Malibu Rising
THE PLOT: ‘Malibu Rising’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a commercial novel about four siblings whose father is a famous rock star. Set primarily in the 80’s, it centres the eldest daughter – Nina Riva – who is a model and … Continue reading Review: Malibu Rising
Review: Love in the Big City
THE PLOT: ‘Love in the Big City’ by Sang Young Park (translated by Anton Hur) is a literary coming-of-age novel about a gay Korean man in Seoul. Young spends his student days getting drunk with his female best friend Jaehee … Continue reading Review: Love in the Big City
Review: Black Cake
THE PLOT: ‘Black Cake’ by Charmaine Wilkerson is a multi-generational and multi-cultural family saga with a dual timeline and multiple points of view. In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children: a family recipe … Continue reading Review: Black Cake
Review: The Promise
THE PLOT: ‘The Promise’ by Damon Galgut is a literary novel about a white South-African family. It opens with the youngest daughter, Amor, who overhears her father promise to give their black maid, Salome, a house. The rest of the novel … Continue reading Review: The Promise
Review: Wahala
THE PLOT: ‘Wahala’ by Nikki May is commercial women’s fiction about three Anglo-Nigerian friends. Ronke – who wants happily ever after, even though her current bae appears to be another dodgy Nigerian boyfriend. Boo – who has everything Ronke wants, … Continue reading Review: Wahala
Amina's Bookshelf 