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savvylit's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Nana Nkweti effortlessly jumps from one genre to another in these perfectly paced short stories. This book has everything: crime, cosplay, sensual romance, zombies, mermaids, family dynamics, cultural expectations, joy, grief... Nkweti can do it all. My favorite stories were It Takes A Village Some Say, The Living Infinite, and Kinks. Maybe it's my own personal preference for magical realism BUT I think that Nkweti's writing is at her best in that genre. The Living Infinite is a perfect piece of fiction and I would gladly dive into a full book expanding upon the amazing Mami Watas. (Spoiler alert: that's the story with mermaids.)
Altogether, this collection offers an intimate glimpse into the Cameroonian immigrant experience in the United States. Prior to reading Walking on Cowrie Shells, I knew next to nothing about Cameroonian culture and now I feel like I've had a quick primer of sorts. I'm also in love with Nkweti's talent and very eager to see what she publishes next!
Altogether, this collection offers an intimate glimpse into the Cameroonian immigrant experience in the United States. Prior to reading Walking on Cowrie Shells, I knew next to nothing about Cameroonian culture and now I feel like I've had a quick primer of sorts. I'm also in love with Nkweti's talent and very eager to see what she publishes next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Trafficking, Colonisation, and Miscarriage
Minor: Slavery and Genocide
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