Hey everyone!
Christmas is right around the corner! I honestly have no business buying any new books, anytime soon. But a simple wish list won’t hurt would it? Below are books I’d love Santa to drop into my imaginary Christmas stockings (not in order of preference; click titles to read the blurbs on Goodreads):
The Turner House by Angela Flournoy has been on my TBR for a while. It actually got bumped up my list after Flournoy was shortlisted for the National Book Prize last year + some of my friends highly recommend this novel. I hear there are similarities between The Turner House and Ayana Mathis’s The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, which I LOVED (and reviewed).
The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu is a book I’m very keen to read. I haven’t read anything by Mengestu but I’ve seen many reviews of his books – especially his 2014 novel, All Our Names on several book blogs. I’m eager to read about the immigrant experience in the U.S through an Ethiopian lens in this book!
Birth of a Dream Weaver: A Memoir of a Writer’s Awakening by Ngūgī wa Thiong’o was released late October of this year. I found out about this book from highlights of the 2016 Aké Arts and Books Festival and was surprised this book existed, as I didn’t even know Ngūgī wa Thiong’o was actively writing a new memoir! I deeply enjoy anything Thiong’o writes, so this would be a great addition to my already growing Ngūgī wa Thiong’o collection.
Mo’ Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove by has been on my TBR for a looong time. I love, love, love The Roots (hip hop group) and for those who don’t know, Questlove is the drummer and one of the leaders of the group (the other leader is rapper – Black Thought). My life was semi-complete when The Roots came to Middlebury back in 2009 and I admired Questlove’s finesse with the drums! He came out with another book this year – Something to Food About: Exploring Creativity with Innovative Chefs. But I hope to read Mo’ Meta Blues first!
Longthroat Memoirs: Soups, Sex and Nigerian Taste Buds by Yemisi Aribisala was published back in November (2016) by Cassava Republic. I have been waiting for a book like this for a while! If you’ve read my review of Pig Tails ‘n Breadfruit: A Culinary Memoir by Barbadian writer Austin Clarke (RIP), I spoke on my desire to read more books that highlight African food. Longthroat Memoirs showcases Nigerian cuisine while discussing various feminist issues. I need this book.
My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal has the best book cover! From what I hear, My Name is Leon is a story about 9 year old Leon – who is biracial and his new baby brother Jake – who is white. Once their mother is deemed unfit to care for them, they are taken into the foster care system. When Leon’s baby brother is adopted before he is, readers see Leon face various prejudices, while trying to save his broken family. I’m ready to have all the feels reading this book.
You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have To Explain by Phoebe Robinson looks like it’d be a great book to get anyone out of a reading slump. Every once in a while I like to let loose and read something humorous and light. The author, Phoebe Robinson – is a comedian and hosts a podcast with Jessica Williams called 2 Dope Queens. I’ve given their fun podcast a couple of listens and even downloaded a sample of this book on Kindle. All I can say is, I know I’ll be entertained by this book!
African Book Addict! 
What a great list! A couple of these books are on my TBR as well. I can’t wait to read “You Can’t Touch My Hair”, it looks fun. 🙂
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Hey Rachel :). Indeed! When I read the sample for ‘You Can’t Touch My Hair’ on Kindle, I knew I had to have it + the book cover is LIFE!
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The Turner House and My Name is Leon are already on my list, but these others sound tempting, too! Longthroat Memoirs sounds especially intriguing… I hope you get them all!
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Thanks Naomi! Yes, Longthroat Memoirs is so different from the rest right? I hope I get them all too! So far I’ve only purchased My Name is Leon and I’m liking it
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I bought Mo’ Metta Blues for my brother last year. He said he liked it. Good list there.
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Hey Anais, thanks! :). Will you borrow the book from him and read it too? I wish I could borrow some of these instead of buying lol
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I’m not sure, actually. I’ve considered reading it but never felt inclined to actually pick up the book. Maybe I will sometime later though.
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gotcha
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I want to read My Name is Leon too. Some books are on my wishlist are: Not Working by Alisa Owens, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, The Bookshop Book by Jen Campbell and Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue.
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Hey Tunrayo! I hiiiiiighly recommend you read ‘Homegoing’ before anything else! I reviewed it here as well – https://africanbookaddict.com/2016/09/06/homegoing-by-yaa-gyasi/
I’ll look into the other books on your wish list. Behold the Dreamers is on my TBR too! Hopefully I’ll read it in 2017 *fingers crossed*
Thanks for stopping by girl! 🙂
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ooh thank you for doing this since I wouldn’t have known otherwise that Ngūgī wa Thiong’o is writing his memoirs. I’ve read only the one book by Dinaw Mengestu- All our Names – and enjoyed this so I’m off to find out more about The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears. As for my wishlist – its way too long to even write about but I am getting myself used to the idea that I will not be buying any new books for quite some time in 2017 so i can clear my backlog
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Hey BookTalker :). Yeah, Ngugi has a couple of memoirs. I only have two – Dreams in the Time of War: A Childhood Memoir (https://africanbookaddict.com/2015/04/14/dreams-in-a-time-of-war-a-childhood-memoir-by-ngugi-wa-thiongo/) and In the House of the Interpreter: A memoir. His new memoir on writing looks really promising!
*sigh* I’m with you on clearing the backlog. I have A LOT of work to do with clearing mine in 2017 lol. #BookLoverProblems
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Hi Darkowaa – let’s not discuss not having any business buying books please!😭 I, too, am really looking forward to reading Longthroat Memoirs and I know I want a physical copy of that book. Since September I’ve been keeping track of the $ I’ve spent on books – many of which are still unread – so I don’t need to have a Christmas book wishlist….HOWEVER when are books as gifts not appreciated?! When do bookstore gift cards not make my eyebrows dance?😂
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Hi Leslie! *sigh* I feel ya! Soooo many books to read, so little time :(. Yes, I love gift cards hahaa. I spend a lot on books (that are still on my bookshelf- unread) and in 2017, I need to curb it. Seriously lol. Happy Holidays, Leslie! 🙂
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LOL @ “I have no business buying any new books anytime soon”. Same here lol. Thanks for this post. I’ll be checking out these books.
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Yay! 🙂
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Mo Meta Blues has been on my too long wish list for too long as well. And now, because I like to torture myself by adding more books than I’ll ever get around to reading, I’ve added My Name is Leon. Bibliophile problems; lol.
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Hii :). Bibliophile problems indeed haha! I’d love to see what you think of My Name is Leon. The author is half Caribbean from what I’ve read from her website
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I always love coming on blogs like yours where the diversity always makes me smile. SO many good book recs here! The Turner House is something I’ve been wanting to read for a while and I’m excited to look into these new books!
Kate @Read and Dream
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Thanks Kate! I look forward to reading your views on the books you end up reading from this wish list 🙂
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Awesome list! Hope you got some of these or maybe you’ll be able to treat yourself 🙂 Hope you had wonderful holidays! Longthroat Memoirs looks so good, really love Cassava’s books. Also You Can’t Touch My Hair is awesome, it’s my audiobook read atm.
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