First things first: let’s start with the January book review since that’s what you’re really here for. I enjoyed Death of the Author x Nnedi Okorafor but I definitely loved the discussion we had at book club a bit more. It was such a dynamic conversation and a good reminder of why I started this community. I’m not a sci-fi girly and I’m still not sure it’s a genre I’ll regularly dive into but this was a compelling read that had me underlining and bookmarking passages towards the end. Dystopian, post-apocalyptic worlds where humans have been wiped from the planet feels a bit too on the nose right now cause we’re absolutely headed in that direction, right? Certainly feels like it. But there are so many layered themes in this book that touch on complex family dynamics, determination, self-exploration, vulnerability and down right delusion that even a sci-fi skeptic like myself couldn’t help but get sucked in. This particular passage made me close the book and take several deep breaths because phew, if this ain’t a warning I don’t know what is. Time to take heed.
“I couldn’t understand how a war with a group of automation could be more pressing than saving the planet. I cited human novels and short stories that warned against ignoring the larger threat. I even brought up the ancient issue of climate change and how the humans had chosen to focus on other things, leading to their downfall.” (pg. 281, Death of the Author).
Death of the Author x Nnedi Okorafor
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Zelu is an infuriating protagonist but she knows how to live life for herself with no regrets. This behavior gets her into trouble at times — almost killed, in fact — but it also keeps her from letting life’s circumstances hold her back. If it weren’t for the constant reminders of her wheelchair and eventual exoskeletal legs, you could easily forget she was paraplegic. A childhood accident took away her ability to walk at the age of 12 but this one fact doesn’t keep Zelu from being a sexually empowered, eccentric author who goes on to write a breakout, best selling sci-fi novel, Rusted Robots, that quickly gets optioned for a movie and 3-part book deal. We follow Zelu over several of years as she navigates her newfound fortune and fame and complicated Nigerian family dynamics, while regaining the ability to walk and ultimately falling in love with the most understanding partner she didn’t see coming.
Death of the Author is a THICK read because it’s actually a book inside of a book. It transverses between Zelu’s real world and the automated world she’s created with Rusted Robots. Again, as a sci-fi skeptic, this took a lot of getting used to and I found myself skipping the especially long passages of Rusted Robots toward the end of the book. I was much more interested in Zelu’s reality than the fictional robots she imagined. Nnedi truthfully could have trimmed 40% of the Rusted Robots passages and the book-inside-a-book format would have still held up. And while I found Zelu’s family utterly exhausting, I do wish the author spent more time exploring the character arcs of her siblings, especially those of her bother and father since she seemed to be the closets to the two of them. Overall, a very interesting read and glad we kicked off the year with something a little different!
Other Things
January felt like the year that wouldn’t end but we finally made it through and I couldn’t be happier to say goodbye to this past month. It was rough — there’s really no other way to put it. It felt like the heaviness of the world came crashing down with each passing week. Pretty sure I’m still suffering from a bit of mental whiplash. But in my attempts to find joy in the small things, here are a few bits I’m currently obsessed with!
New bling!
I was gifted this cutie of a letter “K” pendant from my favorite Black luxury jewelry designer, Bernard James, and coming home to this beautiful surprise really made my day! I immediately put it on and haven’t taken it off. I feel so honored to be thought of in this way.
High-low lewks!
Rent the Runway continues to reign supreme, especially as I’ve committed to no luxury shopping this year (with the exception of my trips to Paris and Milan later this year cause, duh!). This Derek Lam 10 Crosby Neville Cloque jacket paired so well with my go-to barrel trousers from Cos, creating the perfect high-low moment.
Fit and fine!
I’m on a quest to become my finest and fittest self as I get closer to my mid-30s and the gym has really become my new best friend. This is probably the first time since my dance days that I’ve paid such close attention (and care!) to how I’m moving my body and what I’m putting in it. And while I’m not a fitness tracker girly, I do love data and my trainer uses this app called Everfit to send me programming in between our sessions. It spits out these really fun metrics to let me know how effective my workouts are. I mean come on, I lifted 5 camels?! If that doesn’t make you feel like a badass I don’t know what will.
Pink sunsets!
I’m a fire sign through and through and I constantly crave the ocean. The calm, the power, the softness, the saltiness, the blending of colors, the sound of waves crashing, the depths unknown. All of it. If I go too long without touching the ocean, my soul literally feels imbalanced. But when I get to witness the ocean’s horizon met a cotton candy pink sunset, balance is restored. Grateful to have been able to witness this very magic last week, so sharing a piece of it with you!
Take care of yourselves,
Kayla