Status Update

Ayo is 17% done

“At 21, Raya was a beauty although she did not know that about herself. “

Just gorgeous succinct storytelling so far 😍❤️🥰

— Jan 10, 2026 06:05PM

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Ayo’s Previous Updates

Ayo is 29% done

“Do you know where you’d get to if you walked for a 1000 days? To the other side of the world. And there is no coming back from there.

Do you know anyone that has come back from the other side of the world ? “

LOVE!!!

I love the way this moves between the literal and the surreal - simple logic opening into something existential. 😍❤️🥰

— Jan 13, 2026 08:13AM

Ayo is 5% done

“She was learning to live with his contempt and her own self disgust, but she was frantic for her child’s safety.

She wondered at times if this was what life was like for most women - if they lived this way - in terror of their men. Why did they not speak?

She did not know who she could speak to. “

omg!I just a sucker for exact prose. Also Gurnah’s diction is beautiful.What choice of words so far!!!😍

— Jan 10, 2026 12:38PM

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message 1: by Samuel (new) - rated it 4 stars

Jan 10, 2026 06:21PM

Ayo, this was one of my fav reads last year! I love that you started this book early in the year. Also love this cover! I’m hoping to read more of this authors books!

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message 2: by Ayo (new) - added it

Jan 11, 2026 10:09AM

@Samuel interesting! I love how Gurnah takes his time to set up the story and the characters’ histories. Impressive!

Also he’s also such a gentle storyteller - strategically relaying such seemingly mundane details which I’m sure will be important in the later parts of this book.

This is my first of his but won’t definitely be my last. I also have Afterlives on my shelf 😊

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message 3: by .🍃. (new) - added it

Jan 11, 2026 10:27AM