A review by mshai
Things They Lost by Okwiri Oduor

challenging dark sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was stunningly evocative writing. My goodness. It was very dark and horrible in places but the writing really carried this book. Beautiful imagery in such a sad lonely landscape. This story follows a young girl called Ayosa and her journey with her mother and the other women in her family’s past, with her deep loneliness, with her “gift” of memories and with her beautiful friendship and love for her friend Mbui. Jentrix was a beautiful character who deserved more and same with the cafe owner. This is the first magical realism book I’ve read set in Kenya, my motherland, and it was one im unlikely to forget. Warnings: this is very death centric and mentions a lot of death in detail and also speaks about loneliness in a way that aaaaches.
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