Reader,
I went to another literary event at Alliance Française Nairobi on Saturday (yes, you read right) and it was interesting being in a room with a bookish friend, a number of self published writers and some unusual faces. One can sometimes feel like they’ve seen it all but Lexa Lubanga’s Kenyan Readathon event was a surprising delight. Watch Lexa’s announcement video here and take part if you can!
Saturday was also World Suicide Prevention Day and, not to be bleak or whatever, but it felt good to be in community with other bookish people during a time that’s been difficult for me (I didn’t promise a disconnection from the real world when I started!) and lots of other people. Earlier today, I was listening to an episode of ‘Beyond The Studio’ where they discuss burnout and thought about how wiped out I’ve felt and all the ways that taking my time to acknowledge it has cost me - reading time, walking time, but especially rest; which I’ve spoken about before here. Inauguration day being a holiday has been a gift because I needed rest - I didn’t truly wake up till 1030 (on a weekday!) and it felt good. Clearly, it’s not sustainable but this is a much-needed reminder to incorporate rest and extend grace to oneself as Amyn reminds us in her most recent newsletter entry.
Part of the reason I slept in was that I stayed up late reading Inheritance: An Autobiography of Whiteness by Baynard Woods which is the white reckoning I didn’t know I wanted to read. I listened to How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith on one day last week and I found these two were in conversation with each other; both in a compelling way. After a weekend that saw me go to the Kenya Museum Society annual book sale and buy a memoir or two (all will be revealed during the September book haul); I think this is truly the year of the memoir. Speaking of hauls, I hope to return to YouTube soon - grace, as always, and spoons.
Of the comics I had lined up last week - Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith, Moms by Yeong-shin Ma (translated by Janet Hong), I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider and In. by Will McPhail - I’ve only read the first and last. Wash Day Diaries is a lot of fun, pivoting on the hair journeys of Black women (some iffy mental health stuff but we can’t be perfect) and In. by Will McPhail’s protagonist feels a bit too familiar (lives alone, works from home, struggles with loneliness) in a beautiful way.
Life changes have led to invasive tech - G00gle has been listening so aggressively I am torn between being creeped out (I am) and being impressed by the data the corporations collect. So I’m on the lookout for books that would help navigate being a phone user in the age of Big Data. Before that, I’m going back to the world of kabambes in an attempt to regain control of my digital life. I recognise how, by checking out of the world of apps along with twitter.com, I’m disconnecting from the world but it feels like a necessary corrective (and maybe there’ll be more books in my future for it!).
As ever, please write back to me and tell me what books you’re reading or looking forward to reading this week — it’s always a great time talking about books.
Enjoy the rest of the week and have a lovely time reading. Talk to you soon!
*
P.S. If you like bite-sized book conversations, you might enjoy NPR’s Book of the Day, which I found out about via Greg of Supposedly Fun
I am a recent subscriber and I absolutely have to tell you that your newsletter is the highlight of my week (I naughtily receive this in my work email). Your writing really speaks to me. I enjoy your videos but there is something about your writing style that I connect to very much - I now it sounds bizarre, but I feel calm after reading you, and reassured. I'm currently reading Olivia Laing's Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency, which I've fallen deep into, and am listening to Hisham Matar's A Month in Siena, which again feels necessary right now. Sending love and thanks for all that you do!