An African Writers Awards & Wakini Kuria Prize shortlisted author
Murdering Romance is a story about Mukami who simply wanted to experience an actual authentic moment of genuine love and call it her own.
But let the title not lull you into thinking that the book is solely about romance. It is much more. The author first portrays Mukami as this lady who seems to be on a revenge mission disguised as pursuit of love but as the plot thickens, the storyline evolves into other deeper issues. The book delves deep into several themes including domestic violence, toxic masculinity, femininity, absentee parents and abuse, among others.
Often there is a gulf of difference between fiction and non-fiction but in Murdering Romance, the dissimilarity between the two is too blurred to discern. The most disturbing of these accounts is a relationship with ‘Peanut Man’, an experience which is treated as best as it can be; ballsy yet sensitively. Some say that the Peanut Man’s saga should be an entire book plot on its own, complete with a therapy session for the character.
There is a rawness to Murdering Romance. Mukami does her best to share and unpack her life and the experiences she has lived, each one making her wonder, making her wish and hope.
“I wrote this book because I have been murdering romance all my life and I figured, if I can get it all down on a page, maybe I can make sense of my life choices while simultaneously helping those who have been in similar situations.”
PRAISE FOR MURDERING ROMANCE
An engrossing masterpiece.
— COLLINS OMULLO FOR SATURDAY NATION
Mukami’s “relationship” with the “Peanut Man” is so troubling to read but Karimi treats it in a way where you just want to hug Mukami.
— AMRITA’S BOOKS
Mukami’s character is one that depicts an individual trying to find love and feel loved.
— LITERARY DESK
Murdering Romance is about Mukami, a woman in a quest to discover and experience authentic love, freely given by a father, or even a lover
— ELLY KAMARI
Raw and extraordinary
— WRITERS GUILD-KENYA
About author
Kendi Karimi, a journalist turned author, graduated top of her class with first-class honors in Mass Communication. Her short story, What Does It Mean To Be Kind Anyway, was shortlisted for the Wakini Kuria Prize for children’s literature in 2021. In 2022, the story ‘Number 27′ was shortlisted for the African Writers Awards. ‘Our Brief Heavenly Hour’ has also been featured by Writer’s Space Africa and her work has been recognized by BIC group and EUEPA. Her work has also been featured in numerous international anthologies.
Her first poetry collection, The Cages We Built, premiered at #4 on Amazon’s bestseller list. Find her work on social media @kendikarimi
mariamugo68 (verified owner) –
It’s a masterpiece that you can’t put down once you open the cover. A rollercoaster of emotions…. All she ever wanted was to feel loved, the real ones didn’t last