“Obviously you don‘t know who we are,” sneered the fifth. And they presented themselves one by one as:
“The Duke of Definition.”
“The Minister of Meaning.”
“The Earl of Essence.”
“The Count of Connotation.”
“The Undersecretary of Understanding.”
#readharder2018
Can‘t nothing bother me when I got my hands in the dirt, he said. Like I‘m talking to God with my fingers.
When you‘re reading an author for the first time and thinking ‘Why have I taken so long to read his stuff!‘
“Anna‘s mother always said just enough to keep Brianna talking; she was the maypole around which Anna‘s aunt braided the ribbons of her knowledge and gossip and ghoulish revelations.”
“Miniature waves shrugged up under skins of ice that crackled when she stomped them.”
“The rice plains, cane fields, swamplands, mangroves, mountain ranges, the sea that like an eager child scatters jewels about your feet, and then like a mischievous child runs away again, were oxygen coursing through the blood in my veins.”
“My family is just one of millions across the globe that were forged by sugar and slavery.”
She had me from the first sentence. #rwlchallenge
“Without borders nations appeared to be becoming somewhat illusory, and people were questioning what role they had to play. Many were arguing that smaller units made more sense, but others argued that smaller units could not defend themselves.”
“Location, location, location, the realtors say. Geography is destiny, respond the historians.”
‘Our country is an abiku country. Like the spirit-child, it keeps coming and going. One day it will decide to remain. It will become strong. I won‘t see it.‘ #24in48 #24in48ausnz
“When the cocks cracked the egg of dawn with their cries, Mum got out of bed, washed her face, and prepared to go and search for Dad in the police stations and hospitals of the world.” #24in48 #24in48ausnz #readharder
‘The road swallows people and sometimes at night you can hear them calling for help, begging to be freed from inside its stomach.‘
#24in48 #24in48ausnz #readharder
“But worst of all was the third invader: a black cat of revolting proportions sprawled in a nonchalant attitude on the pouffe, a glass of vodka in one paw and a fork, on which he had just speared a pickled mushroom, in the other.” #readharder2018
“If you have felled a tree you know that sound it is the hinge of life before the door is slammed.” #aussielit
This quote really got me thinking about colonialism and a nation as a collectively accepted concept.
What about those who don‘t accept the idea superimposed on a place? #aussielit
“After they‘re dressed and gone, hurrying out into the daylit house with news for the world, their sudden love remains in the room, hanging like incense”
“You know boats. You can‘t steer if you‘re not goin faster than the current. If you‘re not under your own steam then yer just debris, stuff floatin.”
“Past emaciated glitter of creeks, into the heat ahead, the bluewhite nothing of distance, they travel.” #aussielit
"Every idea is invisible until it isn‘t. Love is invisible yet we can see it. Attraction is the same. Inspiration is invisible, though it sings and dances through every day."
pickThis is a sad and yet hopeful story of the immigrant experience...with a little folklore. That moment in the airport when you have all your documentation in order, but still nervous is one I know .
Zoboi does such a beautiful job of capturing a young girl stuck at the crossroads of the American dream and the harsh reality. How do you wear your new identity and be true to 'fam' while still holding onto yourself?
Highly recommend!
#readharder
"WE ALL CRY. We are a chorus of silent tears, tiny whimpers, deep guttural wails, and sharp piercing shrieks."
"He takes a pull and exhales thick white smoke that swirls up into the air like a cloud. I watch it bend and stretch like a slow-turning cyclone until it stops at the street signs—where Joy Road meets American Street. Joy and American. A crossroads. Intersecting. One is not the other."
About 30% into this and loving it!
I'm calling it...This trilogy went from eerily fascinating to a messy plot, half-assed characterizations and some unfortunate gender stereotypes that I think look particularly bad to me after reading the amazing Nnedi Okorafor. Ah well...next!
Reading this trilogy has begun to feel a little masochistic. I loved the first book, but he second book feels like it was written by a completely different person. I know technically it is written by a different person because it is a different translator, but the whole construction of the plot just feels so forced in comparison. I haven't given up yet!
“When twilight fades, you can see the stars. When dawn fades, all that‘s left is…”
"All that‘s left is the harsh light of reality.”
Still working my way through this trilogy. So far it's been wonderful, confusing and strange. I love the balance between misanthropy and hope for humanity.
"Is it possible that the relationship between humanity and evil is similar to the relationship between the ocean and an iceberg floating on its surface? Both the ocean and the iceberg are made of the same material."
Working my way through the second short story of Kabu Kabu, but I might need to take an Okorafor break... or maybe I am not in the mood for short stories.
While I wait for the next book in the Binti series. #nnediokorafor #afrofuturism #scifi #readharder2017
Just filling that Nnedi Okorafor hole in my life that I didn't know I had.
"In the worst of times, even the most fragile, most abused human beings found reasons to laugh."
"One must stop time to listen to a story. The storyteller starts it again. She starts it in her own place, in her own moment, in her own point of view. As long as you listen, she is in charge of your destiny."
Got this from my lovely wife for our anniversary. Keats was one the first poets I learned to read for pleasure #poetry #romantics #john #keats #anniversary
"Keep off the dirigible plums." #harrypotter #boredatwork
A colleague got me a bit of classic Australiana. I don't think I've read a play since Uni. #Aussielit #play
Went into the Tea Cozy for some apple cinnamon scones and look at what I saw!
#harrypotter #theorderofthepheonix #gryffindor
I love free comic book day! #swag #kinokuniya
"Zhuli, be careful what you say and whom you trust. No one is immune. Everyone thinks that with one betrayal they can save themselves and everyone they love ."
So this photo was taken in Heathrow but right now I am sitting in Dubai International waiting to re-board to Sydney. Also waiting for a Tardis or Apparating classes. 22 hours is too long! #exhausted #backtowork
"The most spiteful people are ones who are actually trying to defend themeselves from their own reflection."
Did the Jane Austen walk into Chawton today to see the Jane Austen house. Not sure I would have been happy with this writing table.
Did feel inspired to read her books again!
#Janeausten #literarytourism
Visiting my father in law in Alton and then flying back to Sydney tomorrow. This was a random pick by wife when we were at the Shakespeare and Company in Paris. The story surrounds a little girl who finds solace in the madness of jazz and she meets and old man who tells her the story of his life as Jazz musician in Stockholm during world war 2.
Still reading Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor, but got distracted after picking this up in the WH Smiths at Euston Station while waiting for the the train to Stoke-on-Trent. #ImpulsePurchase
Had an awesome time in Paris, Amsterdam, and my one day in Brussels. Just waiting in the hotel bar till it's time to catch the Eurostar back to London. Not really looking forward to that 26 hour London to Dubai then Sydney flight. #eurotrip
