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Or, Of Monsters & Men
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Reader,
I’ve been thinking about monsters — those we’re shocked by, and those we are accustomed to. These thoughts are brought to you by the latest news about Nail Gaiman and by reading Abolish Rent: How Tenants Can End the Housing Crisis by Tracy Rosenthal and Leonardo Vilchis; which I’m reading with a group. I have been advised not to read the former till I’m ready; the things I’ve seen about the article make me wonder if I have it in me to read it. In its stead, I’ll finally read Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer because it feels like the idea at its heart is ripe for exploring at this moment.
I’ve never read Gaiman outside of quotes but he has been a fixture on the literary landscape I’ve been aware of for years and I think, either way, it’s hard to read some things without remove.
As for the monsters we’re accustomed to: Abolish Rent does such a brilliant job of writing about the ways we’re socialised to think about renting, landlords, and the fact that the people we pay for housing may indeed be monsters. The reading group yesterday ran from 2100-2300 EAT but it left me so energised it didn’t matter that I was up past my bedtime. If one has grown up around — as someone in the group described it — the humiliation of being a renter, there’s something so affirming about being encouraged to redirect the shame. The shame belongs to the people who don’t maintain property, who profit from the need for shelter, who will displace people without a care.
On Saturday, Silent Book Club Nairobi held its first meeting of the year. It was the largest group yet and, as usual, we had some pretty spirited conversations about literature and the ideas that came up. I love being with other readers and the ways in which one is compelled to think and rethink because of being with other lovers of the word. I’m excited for the February meeting (15/2, in conjunction with the Queer Times Book Club) for how generative it promises to be. The clubs are trying something new — what happens when a club with a group read encounters one powered by vibes? — and I’ll be sure to share the poster and ticket link when they are available.
Quick news/ things that may be of interest:
Subscribe to my WhatsApp channel for texts I find while I spend time online
Sign up for the Reading Group discussing Abolish Rent: How Tenants Can End the Housing Crisis by Tracy Rosenthal and Leonardo Vilchis here.
Amka Literature Forum on Saturday - share your poems and short stories
If you’re in the Global North and would be open to engaging in the North-South solidarity that is sharing a library card, please email or message me so we can figure things out. Thank you!
Poets from Kenya and Scotland: Apply for a chance to spend a week in Turkana (deadline 22/1/2025)
My French Film Festival, online till 17/2, for the lovers of moving pictures among us
Unseen Gems will be screening a time travel film on 26/1; come along if you can!
Links to Reading Lists, Free Books, Book Recs, Book-related Items in this document
Since Elon seems to want (some of) us gone, I’m trying to post more often on Bluesky. Follow me there if you’re on it!
The Queer Liberation Library 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
You can send me books, postcards, letters, and assorted items via PO Box 102439, Jamia Posta 00101, Nairobi, Kenya
I have finished seven books since I last wrote to you (reviews up on Fable, still on Goodreads): a hybrid read of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power by Shoshana Zuboff (e-book & audiobook; narrated by Nicol Zanzarella), a hybrid read of What I Know About You by Éric Chacour; translated from French by Pablo Strauss (e-book & audiobook; narrated by Nabil Traboulsi), a hybrid read of Give People Money: How a Universal Basic Income Would End Poverty, Revolutionize Work, and Remake the World by Annie Lowrey (e-book & audiobook; narrated by the author), a hybrid read of The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer; illustrated by John Burgoyne (e-book & audiobook; narrated by the author), a hybrid read of No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai; translated from Japanese by Donald Keene (e-book & audiobook; narrated by David Shih), The Duke Who Didn't (Wedgeford Trials, #1) by Courtney Milan, and a hybrid read of The Race to Be Myself by Caster Semenya (e-book & audiobook; narrated by Becky Motumo and the author).
As ever, please write back to me and tell me what books you’re reading or looking forward to reading — it’s always a great time talking about books.
Thank you for reading 🙂
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Enjoy the week ahead and have a lovely time reading. Talk to you soon!