Kintu | 
pickAbsorbing novel that looks at five stories of relatives from the same family grappling with a curse that manifests in the form of mental illness. The first is from 1750 and steeped in Ugandan folklore, but the other four set in modern times show different ways the characters interpret their shared history as influencing their present challenges. Makumbi is skilled in examining how personal, political, and family histories speak to each other.
Billypar With the passing of yet another Ugandan anti-homosexuality law, we need voices like Makumbi's more than ever. This interview after the novel came out in 2014 gives a good sense of both Makumbi's artistic vision and values: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/so-many-ways-of-knowing-an-interview-with-je... 2y
Liz_M Good review! I read this not too long ago. Some characters/stories were more enjoyable than others, but overall I liked the structure. 2y
Billypar @Liz_M Agreed - I liked how the multi-narrative structure served a clear storytelling purpose, which I think gets muddled in some novels. I liked the first two sections (1-Kintu Kidda and 2-Suubi) and Book 5 (Miisi) storylines the best. 2y
bailed
