Great African Reads discussion

OK, I think I can manage left down and bottom across based on my existing commitments.

French Speaking Africa - Thread of Gold Beads Completed 14 August 4 stars
A book about love - The Map of Love Completed 10 October 5 stars
Book by Caine Prize Winner - Rock Alphabet
A group read short story - Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon Completed 16 January 4 stars
A debut - Easy Motion Tourist Completed 21 March 2019 4 stars
An Award Winner - Coconut Completed 19 October 2019 4 stars
Written in an African Language - Griet skryf 'n sprokie Completed 8 January 2019 4 stars

One complete: Written in an African language. Griet skryf 'n sprokie ("Griet writes a fairy tale" is the literal translation in English, but is was published as "Entertaining Angels") caused an absolute sensation when it was published in 1992 in the Afrikaans literary scene. It included what seemed to be every taboo in apartheid South Africa - sex, same-gender relationships, anti-apartheid activists, swearing, etc. Two decades later it is still an interesting work, but should be read within the context of its time.

Two complete: A Group read short story. Review of Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Completed A debut novel with Easy Motion Tourist

Good progress there Carolien :) Adding the last one to my TBR

Completed French Speaking Africa with Benin - Thread of Gold Beads.

It is wonderful to read historical fiction set in Africa that is not written from a Western perspective and that sheds light on remote corners of African history. This is a beautiful love story with a wonderful plot full of twists and interesting characters. I loved it and look forward to more books by this author.

Hello Carolien, great you enjoyed this novel. I haven't read it yet, but I considered it as Nigerian fiction, set in Abeokuta and Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. Is the book really about Benin?

Wim, it is set in both countries. It starts off in Benin and the main character then flees to Nigeria. Probably about half Benin, half Nigeria in split.

Completed A book about Love - The Map of Love

Cannot think of a book better suited to this theme. The romance between Anna and Basha Sharif is beautiful. My absolute favourite book of the year.

I've managed to complete the bottom row - progress. Completed Coconut which is a very complex book for a South African as it raises so many difficult questions. The setting is very familiar - the shopping mall is about 5 km from my house and description of life in a Tuscan style security estate is absolutely spot-on.

Excellent!
And interesting to read something that close to home :)

If you have any ideas or suggestions for a 2020 bingo - please add them in the bingo thread here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...