For September read we bring you 5 books to add to your bookshelf, including Babylon’s Burning & The Black Water Sister.
Babylon’s Burning *****
By Rick Blackman
The author of ‘Clash Against The Right’ comes with a new book about music, subcultures, and anti-fascism in Britain. Divided into three parts, Rick Blackman’s book moves from the 1950s up until the ground-changing seventies emergence of ‘Rock Against Racism’. Through the years we see the arrival of the contemporary ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ organization. Rick dissects each embodiment with a keen socio-political blade. He links the history of Tessy Boys, Hippies, Skinhead, and Punks with the energies of activism and modern socialism.
A Quiet Kind Of Thunder *****
by Sara Barnard
Steffi doesn’t talk, but she has so much to say. Rhys can’t hear, but he can listen. Their love isn’t a lightning strike, it’s the rumbling roll of thunder. Steffi has been a selective mute for most of her life – she’s been silent for so long that she feels completely invisible. But Rhys, the new boy at school, sees her. He’s deaf, and her knowledge of basic sign language means that she’s assigned to look after him. To Rhys it doesn’t matter that Steffi doesn’t talk and, as they find ways to communicate, Steffi finds that she does have a voice and that she’s falling in love with the one person who makes her feel brave enough to use it.
Daughters Of Nri ****
by Reni K Amayo
A gruesome war results in the old gods’ departure from earth. The only remnants of their existence lie in two girls. Twins, separated at birth. Goddesses who grow up believing that they are human. Daughters Of Nri explores their epic journey of self-discovery as they embark on a path back to one another. Though miles apart, both girls share an indestructible bond: they share the same blood, the same face, and possess the same unspoken magic, thought to have vanished with the lost gods.
We Should All Be Feminists ****
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Award-winning author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie throws the readers ta question, what does ‘feminism’ mean in today’s world? We Should All be Feminists is a personal, eloquently argued essay that blends humor and levity to define what it means to be a twenty-first-century feminist. Drawing from her own experiences, she shines on women’s discrimination which is still prominent but masked in institutional behavior. Chimamanda’s book is an of-the-moment rallying cry for why we should all be feminists.
Black Water Sister ***
By Zen Cho
Set in Malaysia, this compelling contemporary fantasy novel shows the discovery of the ties that unleashes a dangerous power. The story revolves around Jessamyn Teoh, who moves to Malaysia after leaving the country when she was a toddler. Soon Jess starts hearing voices and she starts to call it up to stress. She realizes that the ghost in her head is that of her grandmother, Ah Ma.
Ah, Ma was a spirit medium, a mysterious deity called the Black Water Sister. She is back to haunt a gang boss who offended the god taking Jess’s help.
Jessamyn Teoh finds that making deals with capricious spirits is a very dangerous business.
