Twenty Fifteen Collection 1 : My Early Bookstagram Days

What to do with old things?

Four years ago, when I newly discovered this amazing community Bookstagram, I took a series of pictures and only posted a few. For many reasons, some straightforward, others weird, they laid deep in an onion ring of folders.

Many post-its later, fast forward to a few minutes ago, I faced the digging I’d been postponing and would be sharing them.

A lot has happened since then, my presence here has evolved and I have learnt quite a lot.
This community has grown in delightful ways and many of those whose pictures inspired me then have gone on to become award-winning book influencers.

I wasn’t called a nerd derisively here, I could just be me. I didn’t have to field ‘All these books you are reading sef, is a waste of energy when you will end up in a man’s kitchen’ type of comments

These three are part of a series of medical thrillers by Ted’s Gerritsen. I loved them! I was dreaming of becoming a physician and I had a love for literature some told me was incompatible with medicine. Thus, finding a New York Times bestselling author who was a doctor too was exhilarating in so many ways. Of course I used to enjoy Michael Crichton and Robin Cook but they were not female like me so it wasn’t as perfect as Tess. Representation matters.

My early days were thrilling. A community within Instagram where what I loved to do was shared by so many around the world! I remember the joy of having my photos liked by someone in Brazil whose page was all in Portuguese. Thousands of miles apart in distance yet bonded by our love for books.

I wasn’t called a nerd derisively here, I could just be me. I didn’t have to field ‘All these books you are reading sef, is a waste of energy when you will end up in a man’s kitchen’ type of comments. Not like these comments dented my spirit in anyway but it was exhausting having to put these ‘educated’ people in their place.

@aeesha__t, @bookminimalist @thatothernigeriangirl, @theguywiththebook, his sister @sumaiyya.books, their friends @pardonmywritings @ilhamreads and @i.reads and @alliyah.riaz all shaped my early experience. Many of them still do today. I was a silent observer of their discussions, their reviews, book shopping trips, and Lord, was there some drama! I’m happy to see they have all undergone remarkable growth. Thank you all for making Instagram pop for me.

When did you join Bookstagram?
What were your early days like?

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With love,

Oumissa

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Book Reviews With Oumissa 7: What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky by Leslie Ann Arimah

Title- What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky
Author- Leslie Ann Arimah
Winner ,Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa
Publisher- Farafina
………
This is a collection of short stories delving into a rich mix of human experiences. The book has a strong Igbo presence of characters giving valuable insight into the culture, language and contemporary life.

The themes range from immigrants, class divides, naughty children, folklore, Biafran/Nigerian Civil War, family tensions, finding and staying in love, a dash of fantasy, to a futuristic story about a mathematician with a secret formula for emotions.

Racism, sexism , poverty and mental health are some of the issues Leslie Nneka Arimah explores in this book. She twists reality to tell us what we already know but are refusing to accept, and that is perhaps the most powerful aspect of her work.

I did enjoy some of the stories. But still think it was over hyped. Like I should have been allowed to discover this book sans the heavy marketing, I may have liked it a little more.

It has a fresh take on many pressing issues.and I like the use of futuristic and fantasy to retell stories we are all familiar with, relive experiences and show the struggles we face as women , children, blacks , immigrants, Igbos etc.

What did you think of When a Man Falls From the Sky?
My favourite story was the one that shares titles with the book.
Yours?

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OumissaInspire

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New Book Alert: The President is Missing



The feels!!!!

If this isn’t something to look forward to, I don’t know what is. It takes knowing both writers from their previous works and their individual influences.This promises to be the mother of political thrillers. I can’t wait to write a review or see the movie.

Barely released and already topping the charts.
How does this book make you feel?

Health Tip: Nourish valuable relationships. Let them flourish. Mend broken bridges, don’t burn them.
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📅OumissaInspire
Lagos,Nigeria
120718
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Book Reviews With Oumissa 5: The Cartographer of Memory by Boluwatife Afolabi

Title: The Cartographers of Memory
Author: Boluwatife Afolabi
Publisher: SankofaMag
Year: 2017
Source: @thereadclub ( they have something exciting coming up)

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An anthology of poems that confronts the horrid things we do to ourselves and others. Main themes are love, grief and violence. Despite the best efforts of my English teachers, I am still not good at understanding poetry and I had to read some of them twice.

This form of writing is unique in that the writer can portray their imagination in real and abstract illustration but can still manage to bring relevant truths to light. It however demands discerning thought on the part of the reader.

This picture takes me back to the time I spent with two kind souls @ghaniyah_adetayo and Barakah. They spoilt me with food, treats and more when i needed it the most and gave me some of the best moments this year. Thank you both very much. May Allah grant you the very best of what you seek. They provided the props.

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I am not a chef by any standard but when a recipe pops into my mind ,I will make some art with it. ( May spare a bite or two for you if I am in a generous mood.)

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This spaghetti, dodo(fried plantain) and pepper sauce was packed for office lunch. Believe me, it was delightfully tasty. There has to be a natural band around my stomach that prevents me from eating large portions. I like to think this keeps me in better health. Some of my less kind friends call me a chicken as a result. May Allah forgive them. I still love them though.

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Have you read this book?
What are your thoughts about poetry? Any particular works that have shaped you?
What do you like to include in your book photos? Stationery, food,coffee, marbletops, nature?
Looking forward to your replies.

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Oumissa
Lagos, Nigeria
Thur, 21 Dec 2017

My January 2018 TBR

I want to read them all but I have only an ebook of Men without Women by Haruki Murakami.

I am expecting the first three from a special person. She has been an amazing soul from the first day I met her. I can’t wait for our kids to play together. Don’t worry, you would get to know her in my subsequent blog posts.

Okay so far I hope number 2 arrives so I can join @theguywiththebook in his group read. I hope @sumaiyya.books would be there too.

That leaves me with Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas and I Am Never Talking to White People About Race. Hope to get all of these books before the month runs out. (being a booklover is so capital intensive!)

This seven came out of a very long list of amazing books i made with help from @hassanah_t and @bookminimalist

I guess I have to take them small small.

I will be writing about how each of these books have been on my mind for a while now. Some of them made the @goodreads list of 2017 best books. I look forward to reading all of them.

Now tell me, what is special about these books to you you interested in a co-read?
Feel free to share and comment.

-Oumissa