Maya Binyam

Started with the text and really struggled--switched to audio when I could not renew the book again. It went much quicker.

An odd and somewhat confusing story of a man who has immigrated to and become a citizen of another country as he returns home to visit his dying brother. Nothing goes right, he has problem after problem as he slowly realizes he no longer fits in his home country--and he is no longer consider a citizen by those around him. He has lost the ability to blend in amongst family and strangers. He watches the news and it is all about his new country and other places. Not the country he is in.

This actually went exactly where I was thinking, if a bit more complicated. And I still have so many questions--did he return home by choice? Was he fleeing or was he sent for? Is his confusion actually a fever dream?

A very very slow read.… (meer)

Hangman by Maya Binyam is a very artistic work of writing which I have read for the very first time. I heard a lot about the book and read it as a part of #52booksin52weeks . Reading Hangman was a totally different experience for me. It's writing style is based on "Screeds" which means a long speech.

There were a few key moments which throws light on the political and social situation of sub - Saharan Africa. But, at few places I thought the conversations were too much stretched and had no relevance. It is my first time reading Screeds. I don't think I would be reading this again. Also, the book does not have any ending, it just stops. I would give the book only 3 stars.… (meer)