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Digital Bedbugs: 2019 Anthology of the Nairobi Fiction Writing Workshop
Straight out of Nairobi, come 12 stories of convicts and their mobile phones; an illicit house warmer who swears he didn't kill the kid; a man who cannot help running through the night stark naked; a cop who excels at making bodies disappear; a husband who doesn't want sex and a wife who must have some with him by all means necessarily; a mother who sends her son interesting photography; a music instrument that induces psychosis; the unhealthy consequences of Nairobi nightlife; incels who know their knives; a reverend, his farm and his prize bull; horses, oaths and machetes; and of course, an unplanned trip to Kerala.
Featured writers include
-Sophie Gitonga
-Sanaa Jabeen
-Sheeba Jacob
-Alvin Kathembe
-Olivia Kidula
-Munene Kilongi
-Dennis Mugaa
-Awuor Mugeni
-Shalom Ndiku
-Gladwell Pamba
-Kiprono Tonui
-Shiru Waweru
This anthology represents the work of new and emerging writers based in Nairobi who, in 2018 and 2019, participated in the Nairobi Fiction Writing Workshop, led by Caine Prize for Writing winner, Makena Onjerika.
Featured writers include
-Sophie Gitonga
-Sanaa Jabeen
-Sheeba Jacob
-Alvin Kathembe
-Olivia Kidula
-Munene Kilongi
-Dennis Mugaa
-Awuor Mugeni
-Shalom Ndiku
-Gladwell Pamba
-Kiprono Tonui
-Shiru Waweru
This anthology represents the work of new and emerging writers based in Nairobi who, in 2018 and 2019, participated in the Nairobi Fiction Writing Workshop, led by Caine Prize for Writing winner, Makena Onjerika.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2020
6 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Makena Onjerika
12 books8 followersMakena Onjerika is a Kenyan writer, who won the 2018 Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story entitled "Fanta Blackcurrant", published in Wasafiri (2017)
Makena is a graduate of the MFA Creative Writing programme at New York University, and has been published in Urban Confusions and Wasafiri.
She founded the Nairobi Fiction Writing Workshop and edited the anthology Digital Bedbugs, composed of the stories from the workshop.
She lives in Nairobi, Kenya, and is currently working on a fantasy novel.
Makena is a graduate of the MFA Creative Writing programme at New York University, and has been published in Urban Confusions and Wasafiri.
She founded the Nairobi Fiction Writing Workshop and edited the anthology Digital Bedbugs, composed of the stories from the workshop.
She lives in Nairobi, Kenya, and is currently working on a fantasy novel.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 10, 2020
Such interesting stories .I couldn't stop reading and thought about the characters after the stories were over.
Some of my personal favorites were
*No good deed
*Wife Material
*House warming
*Our Husband
*Mummy, Dearest
Some of my personal favorites were
*No good deed
*Wife Material
*House warming
*Our Husband
*Mummy, Dearest
May 24, 2020
There were some really well written stories in this collection. My favourite one was “Housewarming”.! Beautifully written!
“No Good Deed” left me in suspense and wanting to read a sequel of it.”The Night Runner”, “The Syce” and “Wife Material” were also good.
The editing could have been better though. I spotted a few grammatical and spelling mistakes.
“No Good Deed” left me in suspense and wanting to read a sequel of it.”The Night Runner”, “The Syce” and “Wife Material” were also good.
The editing could have been better though. I spotted a few grammatical and spelling mistakes.
November 22, 2020
Took me a lot longer than I thought it would to complete this book - but with good reason (I ended up lending it to a colleague for some time... either way, it returned home).
I might be biased with Digital Bedbugs, and understandably so. I know half these writers and I am goddamn proud of them, and of Makena for putting together this anthology. As one of the people who read some of these stories in their premature states, I am impressed by the editing that went into the stories.
The title comes from one of the short stories within; a story that is so mind blowing in uncovering a possibility of what happens on the side of the scammers (since we are often on the receiving end of their scams). Other short stories that stood out were: Housewarming where a man attempts to prove his innocence; Our Husband where the plot took a surprisingly unexpected turn, Where Bodies Are Buried which was exceptionally executed in the second person point of view; The Night Runner which embraces an interesting side of tradition; and The Harmonium which showed an interestingly sad family dynamic.
If you are Kenyan, this is a must read book. I mean it!
I might be biased with Digital Bedbugs, and understandably so. I know half these writers and I am goddamn proud of them, and of Makena for putting together this anthology. As one of the people who read some of these stories in their premature states, I am impressed by the editing that went into the stories.
The title comes from one of the short stories within; a story that is so mind blowing in uncovering a possibility of what happens on the side of the scammers (since we are often on the receiving end of their scams). Other short stories that stood out were: Housewarming where a man attempts to prove his innocence; Our Husband where the plot took a surprisingly unexpected turn, Where Bodies Are Buried which was exceptionally executed in the second person point of view; The Night Runner which embraces an interesting side of tradition; and The Harmonium which showed an interestingly sad family dynamic.
If you are Kenyan, this is a must read book. I mean it!
December 29, 2020
Fantastic collection of stories, made even more great by the fact that these are the first published stories by some of the writers. The title story was hilarious and relatable, and some of the plot twists were jaw droppingly good too. Definitely looking out for more stories from the writers and from future workshops as well.
September 11, 2021
The short stories are visceral, gripping, poignant. I cannot recommend enough! I feel like this book presents such a gritty side to people and their emotions, as well as to today's Nairobi even and it's so bold.
Also, each writer's style is SO gorgeous and so different. It's just such a great read and I am hooked.
I especially really enjoyed 'The Harmonium' by Sanaa Jabeen, ''Housewarming' by Dennis Mugaa, and 'Where the Bodies are Buried' by Sophie Gitonga.
Overall, this book is just a gem and I really hope more people read it.
Also, each writer's style is SO gorgeous and so different. It's just such a great read and I am hooked.
I especially really enjoyed 'The Harmonium' by Sanaa Jabeen, ''Housewarming' by Dennis Mugaa, and 'Where the Bodies are Buried' by Sophie Gitonga.
Overall, this book is just a gem and I really hope more people read it.
August 15, 2020
What delightful stories.
The Kenyan ones being so Kenyan was the highlight for me.
The Kenyan ones being so Kenyan was the highlight for me.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews