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🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I‘m blown away by this debut novel. It‘s told in two parts, from the perspective of two different young black women (16-18?) in South Africa. While it follows one day in their lives there are lots of memories of childhood, anecdotes of relatives and interactions with other people. It feels more like vignettes, layers of life and truth. The two girls lives are very different - one wealthy, one poor - but the themes of language, race & ⬇️

...jumbo I had spewed out. Each word ended in a shudder, a cringe”

16yo Ofilwe is trying to learn some of the language of her parents. A language hidden in their house as they attempt to be accepted and “successful”. This book is brilliant so far.

Getting back into reading during this quarantine time. Reading some books from South Africa where I studied abroad 🇿🇦

Matlwa‘s debut novel follows two South African teenagers through one day of their lives. One is wealthy, the other one poor, their day intersects in a cafe where one it a patron and the other one the waitress.

I thought that Fiks‘ story (the waitress) was much stronger than Ofilwe (the patron), but overall a strong debut.

Not in the @Litsy database.

This book is harsh, raw and heartbreaking. It tells the story of xenophobia in South Africa in a way that is terrifying and sad.

Book is "Period Pain", by Kopano Matlwa, but it isn't in the @Litsy database.

The book I read before this was set in "Gilead" (The Handmaid's Tale), and now this book contains a passage that is referenced in that book. It seems like a natural progression ☺

Had a bit of a tough day at work. Went to my favourite independent book store in the centre of Cape Town after work to clear my mind. Bought this by South African author Kopano Matlwa. This particular title isn't in the @Litsy database.

And isn't it a GORGEOUS book? Divided into two sections: one young black girl who will do anything to fit in with white expectations; and another who is becoming more proud of her blackness.

I'm a little obsessed with book dedications, and this is spot-on. Coconut is a South African book about the complexities of growing up black in post-Apartheid South Africa - but it's so relevant to other countries, too.