Tis the season to seek extra warmth. Typically, this has never been a favourite time of year for Nairobians who have to commute to work in the freezing cold. We are often aware of overcast skies that tease and shy away from confirming whether they are pregnant with rain or if a surprise downpour is on the horizon. Ordinarily this is the best time to curl up on your couch, with a steaming cup of tea and a series to binge watch. But sometimes you need something a little more drawn out and in depth to warm the cockles of your heart. Here are 5 books to keep you warm during this Nairobian winter:
The Shining- Stephen King
This classic is perfect for horror loving readers and anyone who likes to snuggle to feel safe. Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson in the film) accepts a job at the Overlook Hotel. Here he hopes to reconnect with his family and work on his writing. But as winter progresses, hotel and its surrounding grounds start to become more sinister.
Nothing better than a velour comforter to bury yourself under when Torrance comes at you…
The Glass Castle- Jeannette Walls
This is a story about resilience and intelligence. An absolute willingness to refuse to let life get you down. The story is a biography of the author. Her history has remained hidden in the past but in this book she shares her story about her nonconforming parents who had a romantic nomadic lifestyle until they didn't. Her father, Rex Wall would steal the family grocery money and disappear for days on end, for example. The story is one of fortitude, grace and strength. One that will gird your soul against- at the very least- this oppressive cold.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society- Mary Ann Schaffer
A series of letters written with warmth and mirth to celebrate all forms of literature. The book celebrates correspondences between lovers of books. And aims to highlight the joy that can be found in having common ground about books with virtual strangers. It is set in post-World War 2 London and starts when Juliet, a writer looking for her next subject, receives a letter from a Guernsey native who found her name in a Charles Lamb book. As this is also a Netflix movie, it can be a perfect line up for your next Netflix binge.
Nairobi Heat- Mukoma wa Ngugi
To be read with a sense of irony. This fast paced crime thriller from Ngugi wa Thiong'o's son begins with the death of a woman. The prime suspect is a Rwandese refugee, Joshua, who risked his life to save others during the devastating 1994 genocide. The chief detective assigned the case is forced to look into Joshua's past and ends up coming back to Nairobi where he grapples with his own past.
Lagoon- Nnedi Okorafor
Escape Nairobi's maddening cold with a journey through Lagos. After something crashes into the ocean off the coast of Lagos, three people embark on a fast paced race to try and save Nigeria and the world. The complex Nigerian mythology can be an immersive experience guaranteed to engage your mind, your imagination and possibly your dreams.
