Reading With Kaye
Hi, my name is Keren Kayembe!
Welcome to my new column series called Reading with Kaye (a play on the fact that my first and last name starts with a K and the first letters of my last name).
I’m quite passionate about books and reading and the importance of diversifying your bookshelf. Being able to vary the narrative of the books we read is an important step and part of educating ourselves, of growing, and helps us to understand further the world we live in now.
I know that recently, people have started to get into the act of leisurely reading and perhaps need a place where they can find reviews for the books that interest them and recommendations they may not have heard of just yet. And that’s what I’m here for!
With Black History Month coming up, this is the perfect time to highlight and uplift Black voices and Black stories. As a Black woman myself, being able to have these stories available to me now, when they weren’t in such abundance when I was younger, is something I am quite grateful for. But these books are important for not only Black people but for those that seek to be allies, that seek to understand but maybe aren’t entirely sure where to start. Here are some options to read this month:
Fiction - Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíke-Íyímídé
Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money covers the walls and the hallways, and the students are the embodiment of this and perfection. That is until an anonymous texter, Aces, comes into the picture and targets two students in particular. We have the head “it” girl, Chiamaka, who worked to get to the top, but paid the price to get to where she is. And Devon, the talented musician who’s done everything to avoid the top, but now his secrets have brought him out to the spotlight by force. Someone is out to get them, but who? And how far will they go to bring these two down?
If you loved Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl, I promise you’ll love this book. It does a wonderful job of hooking the reader from the very start with characters you can’t help but love. This book also talks about a very important experience, one of which we still can see remnants of to this day. The two main characters provide dark skin and LGBTQ+ representation. It’s a great addition to your bookshelf and a 5-star read.
Non-Fiction - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
This memoir is set during the twilight of apartheid and the days of freedom that followed one man’s coming-of-age origin story. Trevor Noah’s journey was unlikely; from apartheid South Africa to sitting at the desk of The Daily Show, it all began with a criminal act: his birth. He was born of a Swiss father and a Black Xhosa mother, at a time when a union such as this was punishable by imprisonment for five years. Due to this, he spent most of his early childhood indoors, hiding from the government, until the end of South Africa’s “tyrannical white rule”, which led to his mother and his great adventure, living as freely as they could. This is a story of a young boy who grows into a restless young man, struggling to find his place in a world where his existence was a criminal act, where he wasn’t meant to exist.
To this day, this is one of my favourite books. Noah does a wonderful job of telling his story, a story full of sadness and pain, in a warmer way, with humour, but not to dilute it or make it easier to digest. It was authentic, easy to read, and hard to put down. I’m not a huge non-fiction reader, but Noah is a storyteller and a skilled one at that.
Poetry - I Never Truly Hated You by Fauzia Agbonhin
“From award-winning poet and national competitor, Fauzia Agbonhin, I Never Truly Hated You is a collection of poems divided into four chapters: creation, death, healing, and metamorphosis. It illustrates a gripping and vibrant journey about self-love and what it’s like to grow up in Western society while being a visible minority. Agbonhin pays homage to historical acts of injustice while exploring racism, feminism, war, xenophobia, and mental health.”
Western’s Very Own! I am honoured to call this intelligent and incredibly talented woman a friend of mine. The first time I met Fauzia, it was at an event we were invited to perform at, where she recited her poetry, and I sang. Simply put, she blew me away. Anyone who has had the honour of watching Fauzia recite her work in person has not left without chills, without being left absolutely speechless and shook to the very core. She has a way of creating a world in front of you while reciting many words at a time, and you cannot help but be at the edge of your seat to make sure you do not miss a single one. Her poetry is moving and gripping. I’d recommend it even if I didn’t know her personally.
These are simply a few books I would recommend to start off your Black History Month with. I hope you pick up one of these stories and try to see into a life beyond your own. Try to understand the voices that are often silenced or not amplified enough.
See you next time with more recommendations, reviews, and options to help you grow.
xo Keren