A Spring Reading List

This season, the Duncairn reading list will be curated by me. Why me? Because reading has been one of my favourite activities since I was a child, and I cannot think of falling asleep, having a bath, sunbath, travel, etc etc, without a book in my hands. Basically, any occasion is good enough to have a read, even meals.

I also want to share with you my new found love for audiobooks. Yes, I’m quite late on this, I know… but they got me hooked. It’s amazing to be listening to a narrator while doing something else, especially if it’s a boring thing like cleaning the house. Audiobooks also count for all your reading challenges. Best of all yet, all the audiobooks in the following list are freely available on the website of Libraries NI. How amazing is that? You only need to sign up if you haven’t already.

 Here are my favourite audiobooks so far:

Heartburn

Written by Nora Ephron
Read by Meryl Streep

This is a fun and relaxing book. I alternate serious reads with lighter ones because sometimes all you really need is a distraction and switching off from every day worries. This book has fulfilled this purpose for me. The protagonist, Rachel, is a cookbook writer who discovers her husband with another woman. I know it’s not the most original plot, nevertheless, the author infuses her writing with lots of humour and the Meryl Streep performance (really, she’s not just reading it, she’s performing it) is a treat.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a distraction.

Remote Control

Written by Nnedi Okorafor
Read by Adjoa Andoh

Released back in January 2021, this must be one of the most interesting reads of the year. I was unfamiliar with the Afrofuturist genre and this book has not only introduced me to it but also left me wanting to read more. The description reads “An alien artifact turns a young girl into Death's adopted daughter”. If this is not enough to get you interested, I don’t know what would. And the book certainly delivers an original story combining sci-fi with African traditions in a very short time. It takes only 4 hours to listen to the whole thing. The reader manages to switch accents and represents African characters very well, it’s a pleasure to listen to her.

If you’re up for something different, this is the book for you.

Don't Touch My Hair

Written by Emma Dabiri
Read by Emma Dabiri

Emma Dabiri is both Irish and Black, not a very common combination as she explains in her non-fiction book. The author takes us on a journey of discovery of the meanings attached to black hair and hairstyles, from pre-colonial Africa to modern Black Western pop culture, passing through her own experiences and feelings for her afro hair. Emma has done her research thoroughly and is presenting it with an unapologetic tone. If you ever wondered why it’s not ok for white folk to wear black hairstyles, you will find your answer in this book.

If you have been following the BLM movement and want to understand the black predicament better, this is a great read.

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World

Written by Elif Shafak

Read by Alix Dunmore

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2019 I don’t want to give away too much for this one. Let me just tell you, it is a heart-breaking life story told with incredible compassion. The writing is superb, evocative and emotional. You will get to know intimately both the characters in the story and the places they inhabit. I have recommended this book to a few friends and each one of them has fallen in love with it from the first sentence. I am sure you will too. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Recommended to lovers of flawless writing, Turkey and emotional endings.