Happy New Year.

We choose to look forward to a 2021 that is filled with an abundance of blessings; restoration for lost ground in whatever form, growth in areas that make our lives more meaningful and fulfilling. Lots of positivity all the way. We hope that is your outlook too.

We want to encourage more people to take up reading as a lifelong activity. This is why this issue will focus on our readers’ favorite Books of 2020. The featured books cut across different genres, written by real life readers sharing their individual perspectives on the books.

Readers are the juice that ensure the sustainability of the book ecosystem and ultimately, the survival of the book industry at large. Therefore, we invite all who are interested in sharing their thoughts on books that impacted them and wish to make recommendations to others. The idea is to have a readers’ review.

Please feel free to share with your network. Feedback is also welcome on any area of the newsletter.

Happy reading!!

A Broken People's Playlist
Things Fall Apart
The Girl With The Louding Voice
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives

The Nickel Boys

The Nickel Boys is the coming-of-age story of Elwood, an upright teenager with straight As, who took a lift from a stranger and ended up in the Nickel Academy, a reform school for boys in Florida.

Based on real reform school, Whitehead masterfully crafts his story to draw authentic emotions from his readers. The harrowing events at the Nickel Academy are described in simple language, making their impact all the more poignant. He finished the book with an unexpected plot twist that leaves the reader both happy and sad.

The Nickel Boys won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature 2020.

Don't Touch my Hair by EMMA DABIRI

I was quite impacted by Emma Dabiri’s ‘Don’t touch my hair’, especially with her portrayal of the rich African heritage and culture and how it is intrinsically linked with the nature and texture of the unique African afro.

I found the book expository, evocative as well as thought provoking, learning about the history and workings of some popular haircare-related businesses, reliving the feelings of wanting to relax my hair so it appeared longer, straight and well-behaved, and pleasantly surprised that she recorded some long-term harmful effects of the chemicals used in this hair treatment process for African women which sadly, many are to this day oblivious to.

Emma also takes the reader down history lane, touching subjects such as slavery, and how one of the most degrading forms of punishment on our forefathers was to shave off their hair (men and women). I learned that this action was also a deliberate divisive, punitive measure because the Africans would typically gather together to bond and socialize whilst crafting their intricate (and meaningful!) hairstyles.

The book shines the light on African culture (far beyond our hair alone) and is one that could definitely serve to increase knowledge of African history and help dispel or at least, provide a deeper understanding of society’s long-held stereotypes.

Helen Agboire

THINGS FALL APART by Chinua Achebe

Published in 1958, sold over 12 million copies and translated into over 50 languages, it is the internationally acclaimed novel that brought fame to its author. The main character is Okonkwo. He is an aggressive man with very strong conservative Igbo values. Okonkwo believed in the customs, traditions and religion of his people. He is aggressive in his attempt to preserve his roots.

Okonkwo is always eager to prove himself a man; at home, and in his society. However, when the European missionaries, and later, the civil servants began to enter Ibo land in the 1890s, Okonkwo saw them as a serious threat to the customs and traditions of his people. He hated and rejected them and all they stood for, which included western education and medicine.

It is my opinion that Okonkwo failed to appreciate the scale of what he was up against, in the form of colonial imperialism. His customs, tradition, beliefs and gods that he relied on couldn’t protect him against the enormous power of science and technology that was used by the Europeans. Okonkwo’s people were attracted to the Europeans because of the education and medicine they offered to the people.

Today, in Nigeria and by extension, Africa, there are still many people like Okonkwo who do not appreciate the impact of science and technology. They are allowing their religious beliefs, customs and traditions to impede their access to the benefits of science and technology.

COVID-19 and its effects are a good example of how people can allow their religious beliefs and cultural biases affect their decision making, even against a backdrop of glaring scientific facts. Humanity is moving to the age of science and technology. No body can stop its advancement.

Kennedy Pueba

A Broken People’s Playlist by Chimeka Garricks

A collection of Interwoven yet stand-alone stories. The narrative style makes the stories so relatable and real. The characters remind you of people you know or know of. It reminded me of the small and close-knit community that PHC actually is. “Big” city where people know themselves except you are not a Port Harcourt person. Chimeka captures that essence of PHC in this his latest offering.

Also throws up the realization that the term privacy may just be over-rated. People that know you know your story. So….

The book throws up a number of themes; love, dysfunctional individuals from dysfunctional backgrounds ending up in dysfunctional relationships, the games men and women play in relationships ( I thoroughly enjoyed the story titled, I Put a Spell On You) As in, Cunny man show himself, cunny babe handle am well. Hilarious!!!!!

I also enjoyed Song For Someone. The factual tone with which the story was told heightens the deep pain and longing for acceptance and need to belong to a family that Ukela harboured for so long. I was smiling at the end when she introduced Jolomi to BB. I felt like she would be ok. At last!!

I like the way each story was tied up. No loose ends. The reader is left to make whatever he/she wants out of it. Write your own part 2 if you like. So should I take the stories seriously and ruminate on the themes or should I just enjoy the narration? For me, I guess it depends on my mood. Definitely on the list of books that I like to read over and over again. I love the author’s story about his relationship with music. I hope he continues to listen to music so that he can be inspired to delight his readers some more.  Also, I got an autographed copy. Icing on the cake.!!!!!

This was a lovely lovely read!!! I firmly recommend this book. Trust me you will enjoy it.

Nkem Asoka

The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

I am a voracious reader, but that does not mean I read anything and everything. This is why reading The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek was of great value to me in 2020. This book opened my eyes and mind to the possibilities of objectives or goals transcending the lifetime of the originators of these goals.

I see now that chasing a worthwhile goal, that goes beyond profit or personal fulfillment, such as removing the gaps and distance in communication, created by geography, language, gender or education, encourages more and more people to carry that torch into the next generation, long after you’re gone.

Whatever profession you’re in, whatever your line of business or your goal in life, The Infinite Game, is a book that will help you find that ‘Just Cause’ and ensure that your goals transcend your lifetime.

This book is a must read for everyone who has had that fire to do something great, burning in them, but has never really known how best to make it come to fruition. It was a page turner for me and I know it will be for you too.

Jemi Oyan

Authentic Mama by Olunosen Louisa Ibhaze

Authentic Mama by Olunosen Louisa Ibhaze, had me from Hello. I love the way the author made the main character (Iye Baby) relatable. As you read, you see yourself identifying all the Iye Baby’s in your environ (smiles). Or was it the way she used Pidgin English proverbs through out the book? If you have ever had dealings with those from old Bendel (now Delta and Edo State of Nigeria) or you’ve heard stories about the way they behave or talk, then you should read Authentic Mama.

What’s not to love about this book? This book literarily forces you to look into the mirror and tell yourself the truth about your financial standing. It painted a very vivid picture of what poverty looks like in today’s world and tells you the steps to take to be financially free. How will I pick any book from the lot over this? How?

Ada Morah

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