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As I’ve spent my summer back in the American Midwest, I’ve been frustrated by the seeming distance – geographic and culturally – from the areas in which I’m interested. The developing world’s richness is lost in sterile non-fiction accounts and Chris Abani reminded me that “If you want to know about Africa, read our literature. And not just ‘Things Fall Apart’- that’s like reading ‘Gone With the Wind’ and thinking you know all about America.” Of course! I realized that the cultural understanding I’ve been flirting with in a number of posts, can be found in fiction. I feared, however, that I didn’t know where to start.

Luckily, Chris is easily reachable via email and responded to my inquiry for African book recommendations with the following list:

1. Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun both by Chimamanda Adichie
2. Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala
3. The Beautiful Ones Are Not yet Born – Ayi Kwe Armah
4. A Question of Power – Bessie Head
5. Butterflies Burning – Yvonne Vera
6. The Sand Child – Tahar Ben Jelloun
7. Waiting for an Angel – Helon Habila

If you have any other recommendations, leave them in the comments. But, regardless, do yourself a favor and watch his talks.