Welcome to Litsy!

This was a straightforward 5 🌟 read!

I have never read anything so simply honest about the endlessly complex - and frankly - uncomfortable circumstances that make up any society and how religion, race, intergenerational trauma and national identity form our views and attitudes on every level.

I also learned about an aspect of history I wasn't even remotely aware of, an absolute win!

Perfect for #foodandlit 🌯🤤

@Catsandbooks @Texreader

Had an instant cover crush on this one and I am super excited to start on it for #foodandlit
#Uganda 🇺🇬🪶

@Catsandbooks @Texreader

For #readingafrica2022 #uganda. Told through love letters written in 1964 Uganda Sameer who lives in present day London comes to terms with his grandfather‘s story which includes the loss of his wife, the struggle of keeping the family business alive and dealing with the politics and racism of a new regime. He travels to Uganda and realizes what he wants may be not what he thought. #bookspin @Texreader @Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The story was great as were the characters. However maybe I missed something but the ending was a huge let down. Such a shame

https://youtu.be/3T2YEDsnqeI

Chat #1: with Sandra from Greater Sydney

We Are All Birds of Uganda by Hafsa Zayyan

Chat #2: with Lindy from Edmonton

Molly Falls to Earth by Maria Mutch

Chat #3: with Margot from New Brunswick

A Big Storm Knocked It Over by Laurie Colwin

Chat #4: with Abhilash from Kerala, India

The Emigrants by W.G. Sebald
Michael Hulse (Translator)

This is a brilliant debut novel, set in London and Uganda. The story is about Sameer in present time working in London and his grandfather in 1970s Kampala. Told in letters written by the grandfather we learn about his grief for his first wife and the struggle with his business and the political situation to Asian Ugandans. A few incidents happen to Sameer which lead him to rethink his life. It is a very moving story with romance and history.

Modern day: Sameer is flying high as a young corporate lawyer. His family want him to return to Leicester, to join the family business, but he has other ambitions.
1960s - 1980s. A man writes to his first wife, telling her of life since she died, Amin‘s regime in Uganda and the family‘s exile to Britain.

There‘s a huge amount going on in here! Race, class, work, family, privilege, the meaning of home, who your friends are...

Attempting to squeeze in another ARC before Jan - the story of a British Indian-Ugandan family. Sameer is flying high, resisting his parent‘s wishes to move home & run the family business. In another timeline, a man (S‘s grandfather, perhaps?) writes to his first love, on the night of his marriage to a new wife.

Great #NetGalley reviews for this, & potentially a good story. But I‘m being Told an awful lot, which feels a tad contrived. We‘ll see.