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Really nicely written with a decent plot, this is sadly a bit boring.

And is it just me or is anyone else getting fed up of the literary device of 'frames'? Especially when they're irrelevant to the actual story! To me, it just unnecessary padding - get on with the proper story and stop faffing about!

Yes, I DO seem very grouchy today, don't I?! 😠😠😠

Tonight's read. Need to wind down as today has been a very exciting day (as any Ferrari fans will know!)

A father writes a hidden journal for his daughter on his death bed to reveal to her what really happened on his scientific trip to study the botany of Senegal. His experiences there influenced every choice he made after, including his distance from his ex-wife and daughter and obsession with completing a botanical encyclopedia. I enjoyed Diop's other novel, At Night All Blood is Black, more but this was still a really interesting story.

Sunday reading vibes

My #WeekendReads are both historical fiction this week

New book + baby snuggles

Love a colorful library stack 😍

Beautiful hearbreaking novel set in Senegal in the 1800's. Story about how even the love of white men kill the black africans. The book had a narrative structure that I found awkward. 3.5 🌟 He is an author I will read again.

An aspiring writer comes across an unusual book that captivates him, sending this crackling book into motion as we learn more about the book and it‘s author. It moves from character to character and place to place as the story of the book and author come together. I really liked this one; it moved along faster than I expected.

NBA longlist, translated fiction

After her father has died, Aglae finds hidden notebooks in which he tells her about his travel to Senegal as a young man and the events that transpired there. An interesting read, especially since it takes place in the 1700s, but ultimately I don‘t think it‘ll stick. Low pick for me.

NBA shortlist, translated literature