Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
An African in Greenland
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
62 posts | 19 read | 57 to read
A native of Africa, the author recounts how a picture book about Greenland inspired him to embark on a life-changing journey that would last for ten years, leading him to the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mauritania, Paris, Copenhagen, and, ultimately, to Greenland. Translated from French. Photos.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Ididsoidid
post image
Pickpick

Adventurous. I can‘t think of any other words to describe this amazing autobiographical story that transports you from tropical Togo to the endless night of Greenland. 7/10

blurb
Dilara
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

My thermometer is playing up and displaying an eye-watering outside temperature of minus 65.8 degrees Celsius (-86°F) (obvious wrong! It's not even freezing). I thought I'd immortalise it...

30 likes1 stack add
review
Hooked_on_books
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image
Pickpick

As a child in #Togo, Kpoomassie found a book about Greenland and was just mesmerized. It took him years, but he got there and spent over a year traveling the country and meeting it‘s people, which he details here. He‘s a wonderful writer and I just loved this! I‘m also glad I couldn‘t smell the place because yikes! (Oh, and he‘s 5‘11”, but Greenlanders are so small, he looks like a giant.)

#ReadingAfrica2022

BarbaraBB Glad you liked it too! And yes that smell!! 😂 2y
Librarybelle So much love for this one…hooray! 2y
56 likes2 comments
quote
Hooked_on_books
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

I‘m liking your priorities, Tété-Michel!

Sleepswithbooks Yesssssss!!!! 📚 2y
Soubhiville Happens to the best of us! 2y
RebelReader The struggle is real! 2y
See All 8 Comments
MicheleinPhilly This will be @Cinfhen when she flies home! 😉 2y
Hooked_on_books @MicheleinPhilly She‘s a smart woman! Who needs clothes? 😂 2y
Cinfhen #relatable xxx 😘 2y
Cinfhen I literally packed an entire wheely bag with ONLY books @MicheleinPhilly ( it‘s my carry on!!!) #Essentials 🫶🏼 2y
Megabooks 💯💯 2y
56 likes8 comments
review
BarbaraBB
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image
Pickpick

When the author was a boy in #Togo he suddenly decides he wants to live in #Greenland and sets of to do so. This #NYRB book is about his travels getting there but mostly about living among the people of Greenland. I learned a lot about them. Family dynamics, hunting, alcohol, winter and cold. It‘s a hard life under hard circumstances but with proud people. Very interesting!

#ReadingAfrica2022 🇹🇬 #ReadingTheAmericas2023 🇬🇱

squirrelbrain Ha! I love that you got the overlap with both of your challenges! 👏 2y
swishandflick Love your picture! 2y
batsy Fab photo! 2y
See All 9 Comments
Librarybelle Amazing photo! 2y
Tamra Great pic! 2y
BarbaraBB @swishandflick @batsy @Librarybelle @tamra Thank you friends, I‘ve been hiking through the Netherlands with some friend this weekend and it‘s getting Winter here! 2y
Hooked_on_books Nice! I‘m just starting this one today! 2y
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books Using it for two challenges as well?! 2y
Hooked_on_books Actually, I have another book I want to read for Greenland and if I count this one, then I‘m less likely to read that one. So I‘m telling myself it can only count for one challenge to make sure I read the other book. 🤪 A bit of lunacy, I know! 2y
76 likes1 stack add9 comments
blurb
DGRachel
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

One advantage to a preliminary plan of next year‘s #ReadingAfrica2022 is the ability to order out-of-print books secondhand and have them count for MountTBR, since they were technically purchased in 2021. This was the only book I could find for Togo, which makes me sad, as it‘s definitely not a genre a enjoy. I think it‘s going to be tough to get through this one, but I would be happy to be proved wrong.

ChaoticMissAdventures This one is so interesting!! He is a great storyteller. 3y
BarbaraBB This is the only one I have been able to find too. I did read good things about it though. And I do like the genre - that helps! 3y
59 likes2 comments
blurb
Tove_Reads
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

Highly recommended book from #Togo and #Greenland. This is a true story, and an amazing one! Can‘t remember who‘s organizing the Africa reading in 2022, but please tag them! This book can be requested on NG. My review of the book https://theworldisourstoread.wordpress.com/2020/08/27/togo-from-under-the-africa... 🥰🥰🥰📖👍🏿👍

29 likes1 stack add
review
rwmg
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image
Pickpick

After an illness caused by a fall from a tree, Tété-Michel Kpomassie is apprenticed to the python cult priestess in Togo. He runs away from home in 1957 aged 16, determined to go to Greenland as a country devoid of trees and pythons. 8 years later he explores Greenland looking for locals still living a traditional way of life unaffected by colonialism and modernity.

Beautifully descriptive of both Togo and Greenland and the local cultures.

blurb
rwmg
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

"Not awake yet, is he?" Uncle asked contemptuously.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

quote
rwmg
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

blurb
rwmg
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image
blurb
rwmg
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image
review
ChaoticMissAdventures
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image
Pickpick

#bookspin
Okay so I am a few pages away from the end but counting this for November bookspin! I am loving this. It is so easy to read and absorbing, hard to out down as you explore with him the different cultures and adventures.
Written in the 70's so much about travel has changed, but that sense if wonder never will let you down
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
ChaoticMissAdventures I guess looking at my board this is actually my #doublespin go me! Thanks for all your hard work @TheAromaofBooks ❤️ 4y
TheAromaofBooks haha bonus!!! 4y
12 likes3 comments
quote
ChaoticMissAdventures
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

"Even in the Arctic, Equality is only a word."

blurb
sisilia
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

#NYRBClassicsReadingSociety loved this book. 4.2⭐️ average! We were fascinated by the story, and impressed with the superb writing 🤩

BarbaraBB You‘re in one more #NYRBBookClub! Wow! 4y
sisilia @BarbaraBB I created this bookclub 2 years ago 😅 We meet every month, but have switched into Zoom ever since Covid. 4y
BarbaraBB Cool! I didn‘t know! 4y
57 likes3 comments
review
sisilia
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image
Pickpick

4⭐️ This is definitely a must-read book! It is filled with excellent landscape descriptions, and detailed observations of the local customs. I love how - when he was a teenager - he fell in love with a book about the Eskimos, and decided on this quest. “Do people ever know their true reason for embarking on a long journey? So many causes, motives and impulses intertwine to form the semblance of a reason.”

sisilia @Robothugs sent me this book (and the cute pin) two years ago. Thank you, Jen! 🥰 4y
Tanisha_A That pin is cute 🙂 4y
sisilia @Tanisha_A I love it! Perfect for bookstore visits 😄 4y
See All 6 Comments
Cathythoughts Sounds really good. Stacked 4y
AlaMich This sounds very intriguing! 4y
sisilia I highly recommend this @Cathythoughts @AlaMich 🤩 4y
72 likes6 stack adds6 comments
blurb
sisilia
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

Stack update + Hamilton on the side

batsy Wow 😍 4y
SamAnne I hope to start Entangled next month. 4y
sisilia @SamAnne 😍 Looking foreward to it 4y
sisilia @LeahBergen Yay! I‘ll read that next 😃 4y
58 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
sisilia
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

review
Tove_Reads
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image
Pickpick

One of the strangest true stories I have read. A boy from Togo reads about Greenland, and when he is older he goes there. It takes him years to work his way there through Africa and Europe, and it is impressive that he did it in the 1960s! Very interesting story, and you learn much about Greenland and its people. Highly recommended! #Togo #Greenland #readingtheworld

32 likes2 stack adds
blurb
ju.ca.no
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

Day 3 for #31bookpics @howjessreads #underrated : african authors are underrated and should be read much more by anyone! I try to keep my reading diverse and am always happy for suggestions😘

Notafraidofwords I read changes by her. It‘s a play. (edited) 6y
ju.ca.no @Notafraidofwords was it good?:) 6y
66 likes2 comments
blurb
sisilia
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

😘😘😘 Thank you @Robothugs !! These just arrived 🎉 Yay to a new addition to my NYRB Classics collection 😍

CindyE09 I ❤️ #nyrb 6y
Robothugs You‘re very welcome!! 6y
ju.ca.no I really enjoyed this book!! 6y
75 likes2 stack adds3 comments
blurb
VioletBramble
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

This will be my last book read for March. It's my "green" book for the ColorCAT at LibraryThing. I'm hoping to finish it today. Yesterday was so warm and muggy I turned off the heat in the apartment. It's chilly this morning so I'm starting my day with some Arctic white hot cocoa with Italian green walnut syrup. Yum.
#MagicalMarch
#green
#LibraryThing

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful pic 💚💚💚 7y
vkois88 Gorgeous 😍 7y
45 likes2 comments
blurb
ju.ca.no
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

I don‘t really have a #favoritegenre - I love all kinds of them, very much depending on my mood😊 #readingresolutions #day21 @Jess7

Jess7 I‘m #moodreader too! 7y
Sarah83 I love your shelf 😊 7y
ephemeralwaltz Gorgeous bookend!😍 7y
Tanisha_A 😍 What a cute shelf! 7y
71 likes5 comments
blurb
Loreen
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

Two #diversenonfiction books that I need to read! #uncannyoctober

ju.ca.no I really enjoyed them both! 😊😊 7y
31 likes3 stack adds2 comments
blurb
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

Found this great book thanks to @shawnmooney ! Also doubling up and answering @Booksandcooks question that I prefer print books over audio/e-books (though I love those too). Thanks for the giveaway opportunity! #6666giveaway

38 likes1 stack add
quote
JoanCallen
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

"Far away, through the curtain of mist that suddenly enveloped the village, an iceberg glinted." Tate-Michel Kpomassie

blurb
JoanCallen
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

"For Kpomassie, Greenland is the never-never land where children know best, dreams come true, and everyone lives happily ever after." A. Alvarez

blurb
CherylDeFranceschi
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image
Cinfhen I've always meant to read this one! Thanks for the reminder 😉💘 8y
shawnmooney I loved the Greenland memoir! 💜 8y
75 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Suzze
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

An African boy reads a book about Greenland, and later goes to live there! Loved this non-fiction. AND this was the very first book I posted about on Litsy after I joined last July. #17rainbowbooks #greentitleorauthor

96 likes3 stack adds
blurb
heikemarie
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

Not done bookish gifting for the holidays + my #24in48 #readathon pile being made ready! #saturday

review
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image
Pickpick

Absolutely extraordinary! Be like me: fall in love with the title of this book about a teenager in Togo who falls in love with Greenland from the title of a book he happens upon, and his life-changing quest to visit the country most different from his own. And then please casually drop the title of this book into conversation, so as to infect others who love the idea that the mere title of a book can change a life.

Soubhiville You got me- TBR'd 8y
mauveandrosysky Awesome review. I'm intrigued. 8y
See All 6 Comments
Litlady Don't mind if I do! 😃 Great review‼️ 8y
Hobbinol I love NYRB books(looks like one of their publications). They have a great deal going on now where you get a book-per-month PLUS a subscription to the Paris Review.. Before I knew what I was doing I was entering my charge card number!😬This sounds like a terrific book! 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa As soon as you first posted about this book, I too thought it sounded very interesting! 8y
56 likes12 stack adds6 comments
blurb
Suzze
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

My #firstlitsypost I feel like I have been here forever, but I posted this June 17, 2016. And I got TWO LIKES! #booktober

44 likes3 stack adds
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

LeahBergen 😮 8y
shawnmooney @LeahBergen I am – excuse the pun – biting my tongue to repress all the puns I wish to make. LOL 8y
LeahBergen "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar" or however that Freud quote goes ... ? 8y
22 likes3 comments
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

Akvavit is a Scandinavian spirit. I mean alcoholic beverage, not ghost.

Hobbinol Poor Rudolph! 8y
JanuarieTimewalker13 That does not sound appealing...yikes! 8y
shawnmooney @Hobbinol I hear if you drink too much of this you get completely blitzened! ;) 8y
Hobbinol 😂 8y
34 likes5 comments
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

Louise Oh, my! Such tiny print! 8y
shawnmooney @louise. Ha ha. Sorry about that - I use an iPad so it's huge on my screen. :) 8y
JanuarieTimewalker13 That's just all around sad. 8y
See All 8 Comments
Louise @shawnmooney I didn't know you could view Litsy on anything but a phone. Can you actually go on Litsy with your iPad? Or did you design the graphic on your iPad but load it onto FB with your phone? Inquiring minds want to know! 🤔 8y
shawnmooney @Louise All of the above. I use Litsy on my iPad only. 8y
Louise @shawnmooney Thanks for the info! I'll have to try and find Litsy on my laptop. It would be so much easier on the eyes! 😳 8y
shawnmooney @Louise It should be easy to find. Good luck! 8y
Louise Alas, I checked, and Litsy is not yet available for laptops. Sigh! 8y
21 likes8 comments
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

SusanInTiburon I'm starting to think Greenland is not my next home. 8y
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

shawnmooney @SusanInTiburon Looks delicious, hey? ;) 8y
coffeenebula Ahh, the rare and elusive Nopefish 😂 8y
See All 7 Comments
kammartinez It must be my upbringing, but I would still consider eating that XD. Clean it up, dump it into a pot with veggies and the juice of several unripe tamarinds and enough water to cover everything, and leave covered on low hear until cooked. Mmmm, fish-head soup :D. 8y
stargazerblue49 😳😳😳 8y
shawnmooney @kammartinez The author went on to write that the fish, once cooked, was surprisingly delicious with a mild taste. 8y
kammartinez @shawnmooney Ha! This has become an excellent case of looks being very deceptive indeed XD. 8y
24 likes7 comments
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

Hobbinol Still better than American television commercials: stopping every 10 minutes to sell you something! 8y
19 likes1 comment
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

rubyslippersreads I can see why you didn't use this for #booksthatmakemehungry! 😝 8y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled My copy was shipped yesterday. *drumming fingers impatiently* 8y
shawnmooney @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled.com I assume you mean the book and not the whale meat? :) This book is soooooo good! 8y
24 likes1 stack add3 comments
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

LeahBergen Nope. Just ... nope. 8y
shawnmooney @SusanInTiburon @LeahBergen Makes you just want to hop on a ship and go somewhere, hey? :-) 8y
17 likes3 comments
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

The aunt as matchmaker. Helpful, hey?

LeahBergen It might work 😉 8y
31 likes1 stack add1 comment
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

25 likes1 stack add
quote
shawnmooney
An African in Greenland | Tt-Michel Kpomassie
post image

SusanInTiburon Python? Nope nope nope 😂 8y
shawnmooney @SusanInTiburon I'm with you, and like me you might rethink the deep repulsion just a wee wee bit reading this incredible section of the book where the snake god priestess gently lectures the 16-year-old Togolese guy about why he shouldn't fear pythons. Utterly fascinating! 8y
SusanInTiburon Oh dang! Caught with my mind closed again. 😆 8y
26 likes3 comments