Original Tag – Nigerian Writers’ Tag💃🏽

I’m super excited about creating this tag because I am passionate about Nigerian literature and love what Nigerian writers bring to the world! Nigerian writers are a real treasure to Nigeria and all over and should be appreciated every moment!

I searched on the internet for any Nigerian Writers’ Tag I could find but could not find any so I decided to create one! Feel free to participate in this tag and leave any great Nigerian reads and recommendations.

The questions are below:

1. Mention 10 Nigerian writers you know –
2. Who is/are your favourite Nigerian Writers?
3. What is your favourite genre of books to read by a Nigerian Writer?
4. What is your favourite fictional book by a Nigerian Writer?
5. What is your favourite non-fictional book by a Nigerian Writer
6. What is your least favourite book written by a Nigerian Writer?
7. Name a fictional book/books written by a Nigerian Writer with brilliant plot twists?
8. Name a book written by a Nigerian Writer that made you sad/cry
9. Name a book/books written by a Nigerian writer that made you laugh
10. Name 3 classics written by Nigerian Writers that you think everyone should read in their lifetime
11. What books written by Nigerian writers will you like to see film adaptations of-
12. What genre would you like to see more of written by Nigerian writers?
13. Share a few books on your TBR by Nigerian Writers

You can watch my answers and Nigerian reads recommendations here below:

Book Review: I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying

Title: I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying

Author: Bassey Ikpi

Published By: Harper Perennial

Release Date: 2019

Genre: Memoir, Non-fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 248 pages

Synopsis

In this remarkable memoir-in-essays, Basset Ikpi explores her life-as a Nigerian American immigrant, a black woman, a slam poet, a daughter, an artist – through the lens of her mental health and diagnoses of bipolar II and anxiety.

In I’m Telling the Truth but I’m Lying, Bassey Ikpi breaks open our understanding of mental health by giving us intimate access to her own. Exploring shame. Confusion, medication and family in the process, Bassey looks at how mental health impacts every aspect of our lives- how we appear to others. and most important to ourselves – and challenges our preconceptions about what it means to be “normal”. Viscerally raw and honest. The result is an exploration of the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of who we are – and the ways, as honest as we try to be, each of these stories is also a lie.

Review

Whoosh!

Where do I start from?

Hands Down one of the most beautiful books I have ever read in a long while! Such honesty and openness that the author exhibited in penning this work of art.

As a mental health advocate, I loved the book because it highlighted certain conversations that should be had in Nigeria on mental health. Through Bassey Ikpi’s eyes, readers are able to understand what someone who goes through anxiety and bipolar disorder feels.

I recommend for every Nigerian, mental health advocate, Nigerians with mental health issues and everyone dealing with Biplolar II and/or anxiety (whether or not you know what it’s called).

I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing Bassey Ikpi and loved every second of it!From her book to mental health issues to Bassey’s journey with Bipolar II and Anxiety to Motherhood and mental health awareness in Nigeria, we had an amazing time discussing the book!

Watch the full book review and my interview with Bassey Ikpi by clicking the links below:

Book Review: The Mechanics of Yenagoa

Title: The Mechanics of Yenagoa

Author: Michael Afenfia

Published By: Masobe Books

Release Date: June 2020

Genre: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 303 pages

Synopsis

Ebinimi, are mechanic of Kalakala street, is a man with a hapless knack for getting in and out of trouble. Some of his troubles are self-inflicted : like his recurring entanglements in love triangles; and his unauthorised joyriding of a customer’s car which sets off a chain of fire evened a involving drugs, crooked politicians and assassins. Other troubles are caused by the panorama of characters in his life, like: his sister and her dysfunctional domestic situation; the three other mechanics he employs; and the money- loving preacher who has all but taken over his home.

The story is fast-paced with surprising twists and a captivating plot- a Dickenesque page -turner. This is Ebinimi’s story but it is about a lot more than him. It is an exploration of the dynamics between working-class people as they undertake a colorful tour of Yenagoa, one of Nigeria’s lesser known cities, while using humor, sex and music as coping mechanisms for the everyday struggle. It is a modern classic tale of small lives navigating a big city.

Review

I absolutely loved this hilarious book! While reading, I had a great laugh and a great many gasps too at the plot twists! I loved the way the plot just flowed and how easy it was to read.

I also loved the fact that this book is set in Yenagoa which is not a common setting in books set in Nigeria and I absolutely love the Niger Delta pidgin in the book!

The end of this book shock me well, I no go lie! But I loved the ending! Arghhh!

Check out my full review on this book and my rating of it by clicking the link below:

Book Review: Unfolding Grace

I did a book review on the lovely read, Unfolding Grace by Kikelomo Kuponiyi.

I typically do not read a lot of christian fiction because religion generally tends to be very sensitive and each individual has their own unique way of expressing his/her/their religion in the way they understand it best and for writers, this may shine through in their writing. I also try to be protective of what I read or what I take into my mind, as much as I try to keep an open mind generally.

This book was a nice read and I loved the fact that although the book was close to 400 pages, the prints were big and I finished it in about 2 days! As much as I did not agree with some of the religious views and interpretations of certain religious view points, the book was all in all, an easy and nice read with a didactic feel.

If you’re looking for a nice Nigerian Christian Fiction recommendation, you can check this out!

Enjoy my book review on the book, Unfolding Grace!

Celebrating 500 Subscribers!💃🏽 (with a semi-dramatic acceptance speech)

This happened and I’m really excited! 💃🏽💃🏽

It’s easy to ignore milestones because we’re focusing on the “next best thing”, but I’m super thankful for this one because when I started, I knew it was not the most popular niche on YouTube discussing books or even mainly African and Nigerian literature (there’s only a handful of Nigerian booktubers).

I’m proud of myself that I stuck to a niche (also on advice of a trusted one) that I’m super passionate about and I’ve seen how my passion has positively rubbed off on people. I’ve connected with book lovers all over the world and most importantly, Nigerian literature is getting the exposure it deserves!

So if you’re thinking of starting something and you don’t know if people will vibe with it because it’s relatively new to people around you? Why don’t you start first and let that passion drive you. You’d be surprised at how many people will vibe with it because of your passion!

Thank you to my first 500! I’ll forever be thankful!

You made this girl believe she can do anything! ✨ here’s to hundreds and thousands and millions of subscribers! 🥂

THANK YOU!!

P.S I posted semi-dramatic acceptance speech on my YouTube channel.!😭😂

Enjoy!

MY FIRST AUTHOR INTERVIEW! WHOOP!💃🏽I INTERVIEWED BASSEY IKPI💃🏽

Okay I’m super excited about this. Can you tell?

I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing Bassey Ikpi, the author of the beautiful book, I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying and loved every second of it! I had previously done a book review of the book (which you can watch here) and the author commented on my youtube channel saying we could do a Q n A. Needless to say, I almost fainted from pure excitement!

From her book to mental health issues to Bassey’s journey with Bipolar II and Anxiety to Motherhood and mental health awareness in Nigeria, we had an amazing time discussing the book! Bassey was so open, real and honest in answering my questions!

I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying is such an amazing book that I recommend for every Nigerian, mental health advocate, Nigerians with mental health issues and everyone dealing with Biplolar II and/or anxiety.

You can watch the full interview by clicking on the video below.

Book Review: A Broken People’s Playlist

Ahhh….this book was absolutely beautiful! It broke my heart in so many ways.

I loved my reading experience while reading this book (as it was deeply infused with music) and loved how each story was beautiful in its on way.

Although the collection of short stories is fictional, some of the stories felt very real and relatable to me. I like how the stories were independent yet some were linked to each other in an interesting way! This is an interesting one if you’re looking for an African collection of short stories.

Watch my review of this book by Chimeka Garricks up in my YouTube channel!

JUN-LY BOOK HAUL (OR THE BOOKS I BOUGHT AND RECEIVED IN JUNE AND JULY)

Hi guys!

SO I’ve been on a social media/youtube break for a couple of weeks; taking time to just refresh and rest. I am excited to be back bringing you book-ish content!

Today, I share the books I bought and received in the months of June and July or as I call it, my JUNLY Book Haul!

Enjoy!

Welcome to my Maypril Wrap Up! (the Books I read in the Months of April and May!)💃🏽

April and May were good reading months for me (well, if we take the two months together).

I read 3 books in April (because I was ill for half of the month and it was tough mentally and physically) and 7 books in May! So I shared the books I read in the months of April and May (don’t ask why I made it “Maypril” it just sounded really cool in my head 😂). I run down the titles I read and what I thought about them! check out the video below:

Love,

Rachel.

MY FIRST BOOKTUBE TAG!!💃🏽

SO I’m super excited because I got tagged in my first booktube tag!

Whoop Whoop!

I joined booktube about 3 months ago and its been so amazing belonging to a nice community of people that love books as much as I do! I’ve learned so much about books and new titles that I would most likely never have come across! I’ve also made quite a number of “booktube friends” and we have bonded over our love or hate for some books.

I recently got tagged in a booktube tag where I answer 10 questions and share, among others, what I love about books and why I decided to get into booktube in the first place!

Enjoy the video below and don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube Channel!