The House of Rust is an enchanting novel about a Hadrami girl in Mombasa. When her fisherman father goes missing, Aisha takes to the sea on a magical boat made of a skeleton to rescue him. She is guided by a talking scholar’s cat (and soon crows, goats, and other animals all have their say, too).
On this journey Aisha meets three terrifying sea monsters. After she survives a final confrontation with Baba wa Papa, the father of all sharks, she rescues her own father, and hopes that life will return to normal. But at home, things only grow stranger.
Khadija Abdalla Bajaber’s debut is a magical realist coming-of-age tale told through the lens of the Swahili and diasporic Hadrami culture in Mombasa, Kenya. Richly descriptive and written with an imaginative hand and sharp eye for unusual detail, The House of Rust is a memorable novel by a thrilling new voice.
cheptoowinnie (verified owner) –
‘House of Rust’ by Khadija Abdalla Bajaber – a captivating Kenyan novel that takes you through a journey on family, identity, and belonging in coastal Mombasa. It’s a tale filled with mysteries, and a touch of the magical – particularly for us Kenyan readers who can relate to the captivating old sage tales of Mombasa, featuring jinns and talking animals. Like the famous book ‘The Alchemist,’ ‘House of Rust’ imparts profound life lessons on courage, self-discovery, and prioritizing self-love. However, I must admit that at times, the book’s abundance of characters, especially in the mythical parts of the story, made it confusing to keep track. Additionally, the transitions between reality and the mystical elements occasionally left me a bit lost. Despite the challenges of reading the book, the ‘House of Rust’ has some truly memorable quotes that struck a chord with me. One particular gem reminds us to embrace life in all its beautiful messiness, and it perfectly encapsulates the journey of the main character. And then there’s the touching declaration of love by Zubeir to Hababa Swafiya – a moment that warmed my heart and stayed with me.