Greatly inspired by Kinna Reads, "a blog of books,reading and world literature," I've decided to do something about my desire to make more time for reading again. I'm setting myself a (humble) challenge and sharing it with you all for extra accountability: to read 24 books in 2011.
Below is my growing list. The books are not exclusively by African writers or about Africa, but I've highlighted, in bold, the ones that are "Africa interest." This is often largely subjective. If you have any suggestions, please do share them, preferrably with a reason why it's a good read. Please have mercy on me and not too many tomes 🙂
- I Write What I Like – Steve Biko
- Self-Reliance and Other Essays – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Africa: The Politics of Suffering and Smiling – Patrick Chabal
- I Wonder – Marian Bantjes
- The Thing Around Your Neck – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- African Love Stories: An Anthology – Ama Ata Aidoo (Ed.)
- Bury the Chains: The British Struggle to Abolish Slavery – Adam Hochschild
- The Palm-Wine Drinkard – Amos Tutuola
- Walden: Or, Life in the Woods – Henry David Thoreau
- The Rebel – Albert Camus
- The Satanic Verses – Salman Rushdie
- Mrs Dalloway – Virginia Woolf
- A Mercy – Toni Morrison
- It's Our Turn to Eat – Michela Wrong
- The Memory of Love – Aminatta Forna (thanks to @sciculturist for the recommendation!)
- The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives – Lola Shoneyin (thanks Zahra)
- Powder Necklace – Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond
- Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
- The Secret – Rhonda Byrne
- The Year of the Flood – Margaret Atwood
- Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Wisdom: The Feminine Face of Awakening – Rita Marie Robinson
- Dead Aid – Dambisa Moyo
- Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else – Geoff Colvin
- The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment – Eckhart Tolle
- Zenzele: A Letter for my Daughter – Nozipo Maraire (thanks Selali)
- Tropical Fish: Stories out of Entebbe – Doreen Baingana (another from Selali, expanding my list! :-S)
Thanks for the recommendation Mazuba. Added to my list 🙂