When We Speak of Nothing, 2017, Olumide Popoola ***

I am not really into the "new release fever", I basically read what I can set my hands on. However, I bought "When We Speak of Nothing" by Olumide Popoola when I visited Atlantis Books  in Santorini. I had no idea who the writer was, however, I know the publishing house Cassava Republic  based in Nigeria and I've been longing to read more books published by them, so, coming across this novel was an opportunity.

This book is about many things and nothing in particular. Nevertheless, it emphasizes on the life of Karl, born Carla, by a Nigerian father and British mother in England. He lives with his mother and never met his father before. After some ups and downs in his relationship with his mother, he decides to travel to Portharourt in search of his father. What arouse my interest is first and foremost, the gender identity in a Nigerian (African) literature, a topic that Olumide addresses so

The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears, 2007, Dinaw Mengestu ****

An Ethiopian refugee flees his home country to the United States of America after his father is brutally assassinated. He lives with his uncle, who also is a refugee, and later on moves into a lowly neighbourhood where he opens a store and meets a woman and her daughter. The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears might seem like another simple typical immigration story, far from, it narrates on the fate of a

Come Again, 2000, by Josie Lloyd & Emilyn Rees ***

I will try as much as possible not to be a spoiler.This book was a Birthday gift given to me when I turned 17, I read it in 2004. Some years later on, I picked it up from my shelf and I decided to read it again, I understood it more. I liked it. It is a book about friendship, changes, ambition, written in a very easy way and fun. It is what happens to all of us. I had a feeling of nostalgia when I finished the book. Any body can read this book but I think it is mostly for teenagers and young adults.

The Authors of this book are now married. Josie Lloyd is now known as Jo Rees, She wrote Platinum, 2008, by Jo Rees **** which I have read, it was also a gift from a friend.