Books

Over the past year my book selections have mainly had an Ethiopian/African/African American focus. In case you're looking for a good book, here are some possibilities:

Fiction
Fortunate Son by Walter Mosley – A white doctor and an African American woman fall in love and bring their sons from previous relationships together. After tragedy strikes, the family is split apart and the boys have very different childhoods – one in privilege, the other in poverty.

Beneath the Lion’s Gaze by Maaza Mengiste: Set during the period of Communist rule in Ethiopia, the story focuses one family within the context of the Derg’s rise to power and their subsequent rule.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese: Set in part in Ethiopia, this is a great book for which I can’t even attempt to provide a couple sentence summary.

Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb: A novel about British nurse who was orphaned, raised as a Muslim in Morocco and then brought to Harar, a predominately Muslim city in Ethiopia.

Non-Fiction

Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou: The sentence that stayed with me – “I learned to love my son without wanting to possess him and I learned how to teach him to teach himself.”

Unbowed by Wangari Maathai: In her autobiography, Maathai recounts her journey from rural Kenya to an environmental and political activist. This Nobel Prize winner is an amazing, passionate woman.

Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo: Moyo argues that aid to Africa hasn't helped the continent. She also spends time proposing various economic solutions that could benefit Africa’s struggling economies. I have to admit I skimmed over the detailed economic stuff in the book, but I still found it a thought provoking read.

Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles by Richard Dowden: Written by a British journalist, the book examines the post-colonial history of several African countries. He weaves in his own experience reporting from these countries with the political/historical stuff.

The Soul of a New Cuisine: A discovery of the foods and flavors of Africa by Marcus Samuelson: This cookbook by Samuelson, an Ethiopian adoptee, is lovely. I enjoyed the photos and the stories that accompany the wide range of recipes. I’ve attempted some of the dishes but haven’t had the greatest results. The best thing I’ve made so far is probably the injera – it doesn’t quite taste like the real deal but is an adequate substitute.

I would love any suggestions for books to add to my must-read list!