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Guilty
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 24, 2023
This novel is centered on two people from different parts of Kenya with different ideological backgrounds, different goals in life and are together for different reasons. It’s essentially a book about love and going the extra mile for what you believe in but it has a slow start with the author weaving in too many other story arcs that made me feel like the main story was rushed in the end.
March 11, 2025
I love the build up of anticipation. It was as exciting as it was unbearable. I especially loved the ending, "it's me am guilty." I love when a book concludes well but leaves questions.💓
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2025
3.5 - the ending was so dramatic and unbelievable hahaha.
July 8, 2021
Guilt is defined as feeling responsible or regretful for a perceived offence, real or imaginary. Joan Thatiah’s book Guilty explores this feeling as she takes us on a literary journey following the lives of Irima and Jeffari. Two people from different parts of Kenya with different goals in life, together for different individual reasons. It’s a love story. It’s psychological fiction. It is the kind of book that leaves you questioning some of your preconceptions. At the same time, Joan tackles the politics behind journalism;
I enjoyed reading the book. It’s the kind of book that save for life’s bustled nature, you could complete in one sitting. Her narrative style is simple, clear and captivating.
Afraid my thoughts would be forgotten, I would occasionally stop and scribble them down. This is what I wrote after a few chapters:
“I like Irima.
The contrast between her perspective and Jeffari’s is so distinct.
Almost like reading 2 different books.
Simple, fresh words.”
It is safe to assume Irima was my favorite character. So realistic was her character that at certain points, it felt like I knew her. Her actions as flawed as any human’s, her personality just as relatable. At one point Irima writes in her diary; “I am not going to live my life at the mercy of another human being… I am going to work hard at making my life better.” This is something anyone who journals can relate to. In fact, I’m sure if I fish out my journal I might actually find similar words if not exactly the same. This was one of those little things that made the character relatable to me. I could see bits of myself in her.
One of my favorite chapters was chapter eight; her struggle with grief. The quote;
“Life doesn’t wait for you to grieve. It goes on. The lonely days came and went with even lonelier nights in tow; she could hear life going on around her. The honking of the buses at dawn, children crying, and sometimes, the smell of diesel fumes from the road she had come to hate. She was hurting so much she thought her heart would stop beating, but the rest of the world moved on in blissful ignorance. “
This paragraph encompasses what the entire chapter was about. Joan was able to bring out Irima’s grief in such a beautifully sad way. The words ooze out the pages and trigger all sorts of feelings of compassion and sympathy for this lady experiencing what is usually one of people’s biggest fears. It made me want to learn more about the correlation between grief and a renewed sense of purpose or commitment.
On the back cover of the book are the words of Molara Wood, author of Indigo. She says “Guilty asks: what makes a terrorist?” Terrorism is another topic that is tackled in the book. How people get indoctrinated. What exactly does it take for a person to abandon all their hopes and dreams to lead a life of harm? . In Isiolo (my hometown), they say it can take up to months, and in a manner befitting, it took Rashid just as long to do the same to Jeffari. Getting someone to change their entire life outlook actually takes time and repetitive tedious conversations. Mostly however, it takes time. One lingering thought for me was if guilt is what drove Jeffari into the lifestyle. Could Rashid have offered him some form of reparation for killing that little girl? Was convincing himself he was fulfilling his life’s mission his attempt at atoning his sin?
The author has done a great job in showing the religous / tribal bias that exists in Kenya.
A few years ago, I read an article by a young Somali lady talking about her experience feeling like a second class citizen in Kenya.
While it was only mentioned in passing, Salma’s story (the reporter who was arrested for taking pics at a police station), struck a cord within me. This is what I wrote down after reading that chapter:
A few moments ago, while seated in a government office, I experienced something that is all too common in my life but that was highlighted by reading about what happened to Salma.
I looked up from the book, startled back by the receptionist’s voice. He was calling out names. I locked eyes with a uniformed officer who seemed to be heading my way. Immediately, my defenses shot up.
I had a feeling he would come my way. As I was visibly clad in a hijab, it wasn’t even a question. It wouldn’t be the first time. In fact, the last time I was here in these same offices, another officer had approached me at my place in line at the counter. He asked me what it was I was doing there. Me, not the 5 people behind me, not the three people ahead of me.
After explaining my case, he left.
Today, the officer in question couldn’t get to me, hindered by the poorly arranged benches in the waiting area, he was left looking at me.
I quickly looked away, not interested in giving him an opening to make me shout my explanation for being in a government office at midday on a Thursday. I went back to reading, but not before getting a flashback of the humiliation I felt that time 3 male officers made me reveal the contents of my bag to them on school premises.
That’s the beauty of writing, you never know which combination of words will trigger something inside the reader.
Jeffari is manipulative. I found myself constantly wishing I could tell Irima to leave him.
Looking from outside helps you see all the things Jeffari is that she, from the inside, is oblivious to.
Is this what they mean when they say “ignoring red flags”?
All great things must come to an end. These were my final thoughts, moments after finishing the book;
I just finished the book and to say my mouth is agape would be an accurate description.
I’ve read quite a number of books in my lifetime so you’d expect a story’s abrupt ending to be something I’m used to.
But reading the words “I am guilty.” Then flipping the page to acknowledgments caught me offguard.
I must have mouthed the words “Oh my God” under my mask.
My initial thoughts were “ooh that’s why the book is called Guilty.” That was an interesting story. It definitely left me in suspense. Will or will she not be acquitted of all the charges? On this I’m torn, on one hand, from the Western movies and books I’ve read, he would storm in, take all the blame as a final act of love to Irima, setting her free. But my realistic side seems to think she would be held accountable for some of her actions, she did in fact carry the weapon into the building. I do wish we could find out what Wincate thought.
I enjoyed reading the book. It’s the kind of book that save for life’s bustled nature, you could complete in one sitting. Her narrative style is simple, clear and captivating.
Afraid my thoughts would be forgotten, I would occasionally stop and scribble them down. This is what I wrote after a few chapters:
“I like Irima.
The contrast between her perspective and Jeffari’s is so distinct.
Almost like reading 2 different books.
Simple, fresh words.”
It is safe to assume Irima was my favorite character. So realistic was her character that at certain points, it felt like I knew her. Her actions as flawed as any human’s, her personality just as relatable. At one point Irima writes in her diary; “I am not going to live my life at the mercy of another human being… I am going to work hard at making my life better.” This is something anyone who journals can relate to. In fact, I’m sure if I fish out my journal I might actually find similar words if not exactly the same. This was one of those little things that made the character relatable to me. I could see bits of myself in her.
One of my favorite chapters was chapter eight; her struggle with grief. The quote;
“Life doesn’t wait for you to grieve. It goes on. The lonely days came and went with even lonelier nights in tow; she could hear life going on around her. The honking of the buses at dawn, children crying, and sometimes, the smell of diesel fumes from the road she had come to hate. She was hurting so much she thought her heart would stop beating, but the rest of the world moved on in blissful ignorance. “
This paragraph encompasses what the entire chapter was about. Joan was able to bring out Irima’s grief in such a beautifully sad way. The words ooze out the pages and trigger all sorts of feelings of compassion and sympathy for this lady experiencing what is usually one of people’s biggest fears. It made me want to learn more about the correlation between grief and a renewed sense of purpose or commitment.
On the back cover of the book are the words of Molara Wood, author of Indigo. She says “Guilty asks: what makes a terrorist?” Terrorism is another topic that is tackled in the book. How people get indoctrinated. What exactly does it take for a person to abandon all their hopes and dreams to lead a life of harm? . In Isiolo (my hometown), they say it can take up to months, and in a manner befitting, it took Rashid just as long to do the same to Jeffari. Getting someone to change their entire life outlook actually takes time and repetitive tedious conversations. Mostly however, it takes time. One lingering thought for me was if guilt is what drove Jeffari into the lifestyle. Could Rashid have offered him some form of reparation for killing that little girl? Was convincing himself he was fulfilling his life’s mission his attempt at atoning his sin?
The author has done a great job in showing the religous / tribal bias that exists in Kenya.
A few years ago, I read an article by a young Somali lady talking about her experience feeling like a second class citizen in Kenya.
While it was only mentioned in passing, Salma’s story (the reporter who was arrested for taking pics at a police station), struck a cord within me. This is what I wrote down after reading that chapter:
A few moments ago, while seated in a government office, I experienced something that is all too common in my life but that was highlighted by reading about what happened to Salma.
I looked up from the book, startled back by the receptionist’s voice. He was calling out names. I locked eyes with a uniformed officer who seemed to be heading my way. Immediately, my defenses shot up.
I had a feeling he would come my way. As I was visibly clad in a hijab, it wasn’t even a question. It wouldn’t be the first time. In fact, the last time I was here in these same offices, another officer had approached me at my place in line at the counter. He asked me what it was I was doing there. Me, not the 5 people behind me, not the three people ahead of me.
After explaining my case, he left.
Today, the officer in question couldn’t get to me, hindered by the poorly arranged benches in the waiting area, he was left looking at me.
I quickly looked away, not interested in giving him an opening to make me shout my explanation for being in a government office at midday on a Thursday. I went back to reading, but not before getting a flashback of the humiliation I felt that time 3 male officers made me reveal the contents of my bag to them on school premises.
That’s the beauty of writing, you never know which combination of words will trigger something inside the reader.
Jeffari is manipulative. I found myself constantly wishing I could tell Irima to leave him.
Looking from outside helps you see all the things Jeffari is that she, from the inside, is oblivious to.
Is this what they mean when they say “ignoring red flags”?
All great things must come to an end. These were my final thoughts, moments after finishing the book;
I just finished the book and to say my mouth is agape would be an accurate description.
I’ve read quite a number of books in my lifetime so you’d expect a story’s abrupt ending to be something I’m used to.
But reading the words “I am guilty.” Then flipping the page to acknowledgments caught me offguard.
I must have mouthed the words “Oh my God” under my mask.
My initial thoughts were “ooh that’s why the book is called Guilty.” That was an interesting story. It definitely left me in suspense. Will or will she not be acquitted of all the charges? On this I’m torn, on one hand, from the Western movies and books I’ve read, he would storm in, take all the blame as a final act of love to Irima, setting her free. But my realistic side seems to think she would be held accountable for some of her actions, she did in fact carry the weapon into the building. I do wish we could find out what Wincate thought.
June 8, 2025
This book didn’t quite deliver the wow factor I was hoping for. It attempts to build suspense, and while the pacing felt a bit flat at times, I have to admit, the ending caught me pleasantly off guard.
At its core, it’s a boy-meets-girl story, but with a twist: the meeting is anything but accidental. The boy comes with an agenda, shaped by strong ideologies, and watching that unfold is where the intrigue lies.
Still, it lacked the emotional depth or tension I crave in a solid psychological drama. Nice effort, but not one that lingered after the last page.
At its core, it’s a boy-meets-girl story, but with a twist: the meeting is anything but accidental. The boy comes with an agenda, shaped by strong ideologies, and watching that unfold is where the intrigue lies.
Still, it lacked the emotional depth or tension I crave in a solid psychological drama. Nice effort, but not one that lingered after the last page.
January 25, 2026
The book just didn’t flow for me. Some of the storylines felt unnecessary and kind of random. I kept wondering what the point of characters like Wincate or Mike was, because they didn’t really add anything to the main plot. I also didn’t fully understand why Jeffari needed Irima in the first place, which made his storyline hard to connect with. Overall, the whole book felt mismatched, like different ideas were thrown together without really coming together.
April 23, 2024
I thought the book was overall quite enjoyable, but I did feel that there were some parts that could have benefited from a bit more attention. Specifically, I noticed that the pacing seemed a bit rushed in certain areas, which made it harder to fully immerse myself in the story.
February 28, 2025
Soooo many typos and grammatical errors 🙉 was this even edited..and then the plot was just so strange..it felt so pointless until the end and there were some plot lines that just felt useless..
I get it was a debut novel but damn 😅 could be way better!
I get it was a debut novel but damn 😅 could be way better!
March 18, 2025
I really love Joan Thaitah’s writing and her quality story telling skills. The book is very catchy and anticipation is build up through out the book. The ending was not how I expected it to be. Truly love can really change a man 🤔.
August 7, 2022
Very captivating, with a "girl next door" feel to it. I'd read it again
August 24, 2023
wueh, what a story.
enjoyed the read all through
enjoyed the read all through
April 24, 2024
This was a 50/50 read,enjoyed some parts of the stories more than others,overall, I keep falling in love with Joan's writing as i continue to read more of her books.
February 19, 2025
I love Joan's style of writing.
It's a story about love, life and betrayal.
It's a story about love, life and betrayal.
July 3, 2025
Looking forward to reading all your collection, your the best author and your novels seem more realistic
January 2, 2026
This Joan's fiction was awesome, different and awesome. It was a slightly different theme, with politics and religion complications involved. I loved Irima the main act. The writer did very well in developing her character, her career, relations family, social and professionally. Irima's character build up was so good that I actually warmed up to Mike and the dad/father. As I read through, I really hoped she would read the clear Jeffari's red flags...anger, rather extreme outlook on morals. The dad actually had a slight reservation. And how I hoped for a Irima-Kamara ever after. Kamara's unfortunate death was not good, at all.
Though '“I am guilty” eventually came from Jeff, it came a little bit too late, Irima had gone through way too much mental and physical trauma.
It is always a pleasure to read Joan's lits!. This was worth reading!
Though '“I am guilty” eventually came from Jeff, it came a little bit too late, Irima had gone through way too much mental and physical trauma.
It is always a pleasure to read Joan's lits!. This was worth reading!
February 20, 2022
Perfect read for a chilled out indoor Sunday.
As a self proclaimed Thatiah's fan, she did not disappoint but Jeffari should have suffered for killing Kamara.
Kamara and Jud ought to have had a happily ever after
As a self proclaimed Thatiah's fan, she did not disappoint but Jeffari should have suffered for killing Kamara.
Kamara and Jud ought to have had a happily ever after
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews