Brief Summary
A dazzling, genre-defying novel in verse, from the author Delia Owens says “tackles the absurdities, injustices, and corruption of a continent”
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s novels and memoirs have received glowing praise from the likes of President Barack Obama, the New Yorker, the New York Times Book Review, The Guardian, and NPR; he has been a finalist for the Man International Booker Prize and is annually tipped to win the Nobel Prize for Literature; and his books have sold tens of thousands of copies around the world.
In his first attempt at the epic form, Ngũgĩ tells the story of the founding of the Gĩkũyũ people of Kenya, from a strongly feminist perspective. A verse narrative, blending folklore, mythology, adventure, and allegory, The Perfect Nine chronicles the efforts the Gĩkũyũ founders make to find partners for their ten beautiful daughters—called “The Perfect Nine” —and the challenges they set for the 99 suitors who seek their hands in marriage. The epic has all the elements of adventure, with suspense, danger, humor, and sacrifice.
Ngũgĩ’s epic is a quest for the beautiful as an ideal of living, as the motive force behind migrations of African peoples. He notes, “The epic came to me one night as a revelation of ideals of quest, courage, perseverance, unity, family; and the sense of the divine, in human struggles with nature and nurture.”
mushomoro –
I love this book. Horror at its best
Nasike –
‘When you are a mother, you are allowed to think your children are ugly’, Chanchori begins. This story is all kinds of ugly and unhinged, in a lovely way.
Do you know how to pronounce Honoreaux? The reaux is pronounced as ‘row your boat’ and not as the ‘ox’. Clap for me. In Nduta’s The Hotel Honoreaux, we are all characters in our own books.
Sigh* I have no words for this. Heartbreaking. That’s all. What’s justice really? Narrated in a childlike voice and hopelessness of a victim, Heri takes you through Phantom Justice.
‘A pig with lipstick is still a pig’. The contempt, the sardonicism, the cynicism! Eish! Action packed! Damn! Nthenya packs a mean punch, a loaded gun, a precise knife…Okay, let me stop here.
Azriel’s wife took Noel and Wairimu and… It’s just a normal day at work, I guess. Koina’s writing is part sentimental and part cracked. Cracked for crazy.
Rogoi’s The Milk Wars is impeccably descriptive. However, the use of the first person was quite confusing.
Mid-story, Aliet throws in big words like tumescence. There’s cynical characters with erotic asphyxiation fantasies. Throw in an inclination towards rape and somnophilia.
ResH reminds me of high school. We were accused of lesbianism and devil worshipping during a parents meeting. Our parents looked shocked and crestfallen. My mum looked at me solemnly and said,
“Mama, you cannot engage in lesbianism. It’s wrong, it’s bad and evil’.
I wanted to ask her if being a devil worshiper would make things better. I didn’t. To her relief, I love boys. To her dismay, I can’t seem to keep one for a lifetime.
When we talk gender, everyone assumes it’s a woman issue. I guess, it’s easier for society to face aggression towards women. Aggression of any kind towards men is met with more aggression and victim shaming. Then the man dies or is in his deathbed. At that moment, everyone seeks justice. Ironical, right? Even then, there’s what-aboutism and every kind of alternate narrative.
Muriuki doesn’t pull punches. However, I guess, she figures that society won’t be as angry if her character Mugera dies. So, Cici is that buffer, the character that bears the brunt of making society face the enormity of gender-based violence.
I love the book, the stories and the emotions they drag you through. Now, I don’t know about you, but my friends were scared that I was reading a book with such a cover. I told them to relax because I have read worse.
Bridgette Kwamboka –
I really loved everything about this book. I love anthologies and this one surpassed my expectations. The writers promise diversity and deliver it. I loved how varied the stories were yet so relatable. Read the book and get ten different beautiful stories by our great writers.
Wairimu Theuri –
Absolutely amazing. I have gone through a whirlwind of emotions.
Job well done.
Angela Theuri –
A Slice of Darkness for Breakfast is an amazing book, The stories are very engaging, and a page turner. You will not be disappointed.