4.5 Stars 

One Liner: Powerful and impactful 

Kibogo is a recounting of the constant clash between pagan beliefs and missionaries determined to evangelize Rwanda. It is divided into four parts and deals with Kibogo’s story, its distortion over the years, and the lives of people forever stuck between two opposite faiths. 

The book was first published in French and is now translated into English. The story comes from an unseen narrator who talks to the readers in between. The writing is to the point and does what it should.  

Reading this wasn’t easy. I couldn’t stop comparing the situations in Rwanda and India. In fact, the man-made Bengal Famine in India occurred at the same time there was a natural famine in Rwanda. The difference is that India was ruled by the Britishers and its Belgian missionaries in Rwanda. (Reading reference- Bengal Famine: An Unpunished Genocide) 

There are too many parallels to draw, and TBH, I have no idea where to start. I’ll do my best to list them below. 

The disdain for pagan culture is the prominent theme. Calling pagans as devil worshippers, witches, barbarians, uncultured, et al., and the neverending determination to convert them. 

Using fear and punishment as tools for conversion. Yezu and Maria sure wouldn’t punish people for following their cultural beliefs! But the missionaries won’t tell you that. 

Xavier’s over-enthusiasm to break and destroy Pagan idols. Ironic that they want to install Maria’s statue when idol-worshipping is bad. Should I mention that this is still rampant in India and Bangladesh even today? Sadly, the murtis are attacked by radicals from both Abhramic faiths.  

The distortion of native tales by people from the same tribe. This happens because the older generations want to keep their heritage alive while the next generation wants nothing to do with it. Still, the cultural aspects are shared as stories and end up as a mess. 

The inferiority complex that haunts multiple generations and their determination to gain approval from the superior White men. 

People like the Professors who want to ‘revive’ pagan cultures as long as it suits their requirements. Wanting to ‘expose’ the missionaries by converting pagan centers into tourist locations. The yearning of natives to make their lives better and the trust they have in White men to help them achieve it. Breaks your heart. 

Akayezu is such an intriguing character. I loved his arc, the questions he had, his struggles, his dreams, the unconventional methods, etc.  

Mukamwezi is an enthralling character. Her power, presence, and timelessness represent how the pagan culture is rooted in the land and will stay alive no matter what. There will always be someone who refuses to let go of their cultural heritage, and they give the rest of us hope. The book ends with this hope, and that’s what gives me peace.  

To summarize, Kibogo is a book you should read to see things from the African side. The book might make some uncomfortable and trigger generational trauma in others, but it is relatively safe to read. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Archipelago Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #Kibogo 

Marrow Island, on the coast of South Carolina, is more of a tourist destination. However, nestled in its center is Dellawisp, an old building in horseshoe design and secrets from the past. 

Zoey goes to Dellawisp to claim her dead mother’s property and continue her education away from an apathetic father and stepmother. She meets- 

Everyone has a story that weighs them down. Everyone has ghosts from the past. But maybe it’s time to write the stories and let go of the past for a better future.
 
The story comes from the limited third-person POV of the main characters and the first-person POV of a couple of interesting characters. (Yep, too many POVs but each with a distinct voice).

My Observations:

This is my second book by the author, and I like how well she deals with heavy topics. The story could have been melodramatic but reads more like a melancholic narrative. 

Having so many POVs and voices is not easy. This book manages it well, even when the POVs change in the middle of a chapter. That said, reading this when distracted can cause confusion. There are quite a lot of voices. 

The use of magic realism starts with a promise. How can we not be curious about Pigeon or ghosts? However, a little more of it would have been great. The setting has the potential, but the story skims only the surface. 

The same happens with the characters’ backstories too. There are hints of a lot of things (triggers listed at the end), but none are detailed. Though I like books with more depth, this one worked just fine for my current mood. I didn’t want anything too heavy or overwhelming. The characters are a bit stereotypical, which I didn’t mind. 

The story doesn’t progress until after 70%. The first chuck is where we collect information and get to know the characters. Max action takes place in the last 15-20%, and it picks up pace. Feels like the book ended too soon. The last chapter made the ending interesting for me. 

What I would have liked is an acknowledgment of the cultural heritage of henna. Charlotte is a henna artist, meaning there are too many opportunities to add a couple of lines about henna’s origins. There is one teeny reference, more like an indirect nod. Henna has been a part of Hindu, Islam, and other indigenous cultures (Egypt and Africa, I think). Google can help with more information. It’s not common for a white blond woman to be a henna artist. No issues with it (makes me glad that she likes it as much as we do), but proper acknowledgment would have been appreciated. 

To summarize, Other Birds is a mellowed narrative that deals with various topics but doesn’t go deep. It still manages to be emotional in some parts. It will appeal to readers who like a light touch of magic. 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

*****
Content Warning: Hints/ mention of pedophilia, child abuse, parental abuse, parental neglect, parental death, romanticized grooming (dunno if I missed any). 

Almosts seemed to be the story of Abby’s life. From almost winning a fight with her brother to almost being the best, it appeared that she never reached the final point. Abby is disgusted by the almost, but a chance encounter makes her wonder if almost can be good. She decides to investigate and makes a surprising discovery. 

Oh, I love this book! As they say, no one remembers who came second; the next best is no longer enough in today’s world. But what if almost has a good side? Abby is a science girl by heart, and it makes me so happy to see her plan her investigation with a book in hand. She made notes to keep track of good almosts and bad almosts. My kinda girl, I say! 

The book shows both sides of the coin and makes it believable. It is realistic enough to explain things to kids. The illustrations are vibrant, cheerful, and delightful. Detailing is important in kiddo books, and it tickled me to see the pug stealing food from the breakfast table, lol. 

The font is of decent size. The dialogues are in cursive writing (my favorite again!). Almost is highlighted every time, and the wacky font makes it fun to read. The flowchart at the end about how to deal with almosts is a great touch. I’ve read the author’s Braver Than Brave and must say that she writes sweet and heartwarming kiddo books. 

To summarize, A Bad Case of the Almosts is not just for little ones but for adults too. It’s okay if life gives us almosts. We’ll make it work. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley, Capstone, and Capstone Editions and am voluntarily leaving a review. 

The title says it all! As someone with migraines, I knew I had to read this one. The book takes us through the stages of migraine (it’ll be different for everyone) and how the little girl (the narrator) deals with it. Her family steps in whenever she needs their support. It’s so important when kids have migraines. 

My first attack was in my teens, and it was a nightmare. I hate to think how much hard it would be for kids much younger. Of course, I took no pills for it. 

It makes me happy to see books that talk about migraine headaches and the impact they have on people. Wish it had a few resources for parents to know more. It can hard to identify the signs if the parents don’t have migraine. 

The artwork isn’t something that would make me pick the book. I do like the concept of using only the narrator’s hand in most scenes. But it doesn’t look like something kids would enjoy. Grab this if you want a small yet effective intro about migraine headaches. You’ll need a lot more research for extra information. 

To summarize, the book is a good attempt to provide insight into the topic. I’d love a much more detailed author letter. After all, she writes about her experiences in this one.  

I received an ARC from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial and am voluntarily leaving a review.