9. My Sister, The Author.
Plus recommendations, reflections, and dates for your diary
Hello again and happy Sunday- one of the better days of the week, I think, until it gets late enough that it starts to feel uncomfortably close to Monday.
How are you doing? Well, I hope.
I realised that I’ve been forgetting to share a song with these letters so we start that again today.
Billie Holiday has been the soundtrack to my days of late- this song in particular. Hers is a voice to get lost in and, as someone who has to listen to something when trying to do anything, I find her music to be the perfect accompaniment to any and every activity.
In this letter I have some recommendations, reading updates, some events for your diaries, a writing course that sounds positively delightful, as well as whatever else comes to mind as per usual…
A Book I’m VERY Excited About
The most exciting book news I’ve got to share is the upcoming publication of my sister’s new book! I can’t begin to tell you how excited and extremely proud I am. The Birth Debrief has been an absolute labour of love, written in the midst of some truly earth shattering events within our lives, and it’s been incredible to witness.
The Birth Debrief is published on the 16th March and if you are a mother, a parent, planning to be a parent, work with parents, this is for you; it would also make the most perfect gift for any one you know navigating motherhood, especially if you feel they haven’t been having the easiest time of it.
As someone who loves book dedications (and acknowledgements), Illiyin’s is my new favourite:
“I dedicate this labour of love to the woman who took a piece of my heart with her when she left. I dedicate this book to my mother, Rahimah. You showed me it all. The mother of all mothers. I hope you’re proud.”
There is no doubt in my mind that our mother would be immensely proud.
Reading Updates
Not too many titles to share because I didn’t read a whole lot at the end of February/ very beginning of March but I think I’ve been catching up.
I mentioned The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe in my last letter and, subsequently, decided it was about time I read her earlier novel, On Black Sisters’ Street. Someone tell me why I decided to inflict such literary suffering on myself again so soon? I can’t even say I wasn’t warned but I already know I don’t like to listen.
Chika Unigwe writes suffering- particularly female suffering- and particularly female suffering at the hands of men- in a way that makes it impossible to say you enjoyed her books and very difficult to recommend them, however, her ability to write and effectively tell a story/ spin a tale cannot be called into question. Her writing is compelling and you can’t start one of her books and not finish it, even as it pains you. But, if you choose to go there (and I’m definitely not saying that you shouldn’t) don’t say I didn’t warn you…
“Don’t erase things from the world just because you are incapable of imagining them.”
~ Hwang Jungeun - I’ll Go On
The other book I’ve finished this month is I’ll Go On by Hwang Jungeun (translated from the Korean by Emily Yae Won)
This is a story that took me a minute to properly get into but once I was in, I was in. This is a story of sisterhood, motherhood, loss, grief, the family we are given and the family we choose.
I always find it interesting to see which perspective/s an author chooses to tell a story from and, when they choose to tell it from multiple perspectives, how this is executed. In this case, the story is told from the perspectives of three characters- two sisters and a chosen brother of sorts and the result is, ultimately, really satisfying. I also appreciated the author’s depiction of the older/younger sister dynamic, and how this is reflected in the characters’ personalities, the sharp differences in voice, attitude and general outlook and also their perception and recollection of life-altering events.
I have also just finished another very well-received 2023 release that fell unexpectedly flat but let me just let those thoughts marinate before I judge it too harshly. More on this one next time…
Events for Your Diaries
To celebrate the reissue of Black Women Writers at Work, this brilliant sounding event will be taking place in London on the 17th March. Featuring some incredible writers including Victoria Adukwei Bulley, whose stunning poetry collection, Quiet was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize and Ayanna Lloyd Banwo who wrote one of my favourite books of last year, When We Were Birds, which was also just long-listed for the 2023 OCM BOCAS Prize. Find tickets and info here.
The Candid Book Club will be hosting Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai at Waterstones Piccadilly on the 20th April to discuss her latest novel, Dust Child. If you can make this event, or any of their book clubs, I’d really encourage you to do so. They’re such a great group of women and the book clubs are a great opportunity to meet authors and other readers and just chat about good books.
Lastly, Ink84 will be hosting my favourites, Ayòbámi Adébáyò and Emmanuel Iduma on Tuesday 21st March to celebrate the recent publication of their books (if you already had this one on your radar, note the recent date change).
The Quiet Words
I’m fairly certain I’ve mentioned Huma Qureshi’s ‘Dear Huma’ agony aunt-style letters previously, and this week’s came with the exciting news of her upcoming writing course, The Quiet Words. It sounds absolutely ideal, whatever kind of a writer you consider yourself to be, and also the perfect course for someone who hasn’t quite figured that out yet but just wants to write something beautiful or simply write anything at all...
You can find all the information you might want to know here and you can sign up to Huma’s letters here. I find them really lovely to read and always such a pleasure to receive.
Books on my Wishlist
I received a copy of Black Women Writers at Work for my birthday, which was the book on my wish list in my latest letter, so the next book I’m hoping to get hold of has got to be River Spirit by Leila Aboulela. I know the contents are the same but I’m torn between editions… Which do you prefer?
Once upon a time I would’ve bought both but we’re in the middle of a cost of living crisis so sensible people can’t be behaving like that (however, if you do happen to see me with both, say nothing…)
On the subject of new (to me) books, I’ve been finding some secondhand gems lately and I often get questions about how and where I find them. This letter has enough going on but, if you’re curious, I’ll make it a point to include my (wholly unoriginal) tips in the next one.
Have a restful rest of the weekend and keep well
Tasnim x
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Very much looking forward to the second hand book shopping tips!