I may confess that I have a very hard time reading fantasy fiction. It never been different, only that this time it is almost impossible to focus on stories from the world of pure fantasy. And although I am really sorry for my limitations, I am not giving up. It takes an enormous amout of time to finish a book belonging to this genre, however I am committed to delve as much as my overactive minds allows it. And very often, it is a rewarding experience to do so.
My latest fantasy read, The House of Rust by Mombassa writer Khadija Abdalla Bajaber was awarded with the first Graywolf Press Africa Prize. A - I may add beautifully crafted - debut novel, it follows the journey of Aisha, a Mombassa girl searching for her fishermen father, while trying to figure out her own place into this world.
Accompanied by a wise talking cat, she is fighting against sea monsters or other fantastic creatures, evoking elements of old Swahili and Hadhram culture. We are maybe used to stories of coming of age instrumentalized in the case of boys. The House of Rust though, is focused on a brave girl, Aisha, and her infinite love for her father whom she is ready to save from the belly of the waters, without keeping in mind her potential limited resources. It is a different kind of ritual, nevertheless it marks a transition from childhood to adulthood.
The prose is expansive and descriptive, captivating the reader at least as much as the story itself.
The House of Rust is a dense story full of symbols that may keep interested until the end even the most evasive fantasy readers as me. At a certain extent it opened up my appetite for even more fantasy, so hopefully I can finish a couple of more books belonging to this genre until the end of the year.
Rating: 4 stars
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