Seattle Picks: Black International Fiction | The Seattle Public Library

Book - 2020

Not so gentle stories, be they thriller or mystery, all of which are set in Ethiopia's capital. Not so gentle stories, be they thriller or mystery, all of which are set in Ethiopia's capital. Show less

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Little Family

by Beah, Ishmael

Book - 2020

This family of 5 know 15 languages and 3 dialects between them. But they know nothing of one another's lives before they came together by happenstance, before the world became virtually unlivable. This family of 5 know 15 languages and 3 dialects between them. But they know nothing of one another's lives before they came together by happenstance, before the world became virtually unlivable. Show less

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Queenie

A Novel

by Carty-Williams, Candice

Book - 2019

Jamaican-British Queenie Jenkins experiences intersectional culture and feels fully comfortable nowhere. In this novel, Queenie carves out a space for herself. Jamaican-British Queenie Jenkins experiences intersectional culture and feels fully comfortable nowhere. In this novel, Queenie carves out a space for herself. Show less

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Love, Anger, Madness

A Haitian Triptych

by Chauvet, Marie

Book - 2010

A grouping of three novellas that explore the violent brutality and societal inequity Haiti has undergone. They are named Love, Anger, and Madness, respectively. A grouping of three novellas that explore the violent brutality and societal inequity Haiti has undergone. They are named Love, Anger, and Madness, respectively. Show less

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The Belle Créole

by Condé, Maryse

Book - 2020

22-year-old Black gardener Dieudonne Sabrina is accused of killing his white female employer/lover. La Belle Creole is his boathome and getaway vehicle, and the novel follows his escape and rumination therein. 22-year-old Black gardener Dieudonne Sabrina is accused of killing his white female employer/lover. La Belle Creole is his boathome and getaway vehicle, and the novel follows his escape and rumination therein. Show less

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This Mournable Body

A Novel

by Dangarembga, Tsitsi

Book - 2018

The follow-up to Nervous Conditions, in which Tambudzai is approaching her 40s and fumbling around for a place in the world, with a series of events that forces her to move back in with her impoverished parents. The follow-up to Nervous Conditions, in which Tambudzai is approaching her 40s and fumbling around for a place in the world, with a series of events that forces her to move back in with her impoverished parents. Show less

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Accra Noir

by Danquah, Nana-ama (EDT)/ Brew-hammond, Nana Ekua (CON)/ Dawes, Kwame (CON)/ Twum, Adjoa (CON)/ Ocansey, Kofi Blankson (CON)

Book - 2020

Set in the capital of Ghana, these short stories are chilling and mysterious, giving you a feel for the city's distinct neighborhoods and cultures. Set in the capital of Ghana, these short stories are chilling and mysterious, giving you a feel for the city's distinct neighborhoods and cultures. Show less

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At Night All Blood Is Black

by Diop, David

Book - 2020

A young, Senegalese man leaves home for the first time to join the army during World War I with his friend. A series of events leads him on a deadly mission every night to quiet his soul. A young, Senegalese man leaves home for the first time to join the army during World War I with his friend. A series of events leads him on a deadly mission every night to quiet his soul. Show less

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Butter Honey Pig Bread

A Novel

by Ekwuyasi, Francesca

Book - 2020

This novel tells the story of a Nigerian woman who believes she is a spirit who is supposed to bring suffering through a death she doesn't carry out. Instead she raises two twin daughters. This novel tells the story of a Nigerian woman who believes she is a spirit who is supposed to bring suffering through a death she doesn't carry out. Instead she raises two twin daughters. Show less

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The Death of Vivek Oji

by Emezi, Akwaeke

Book - 2020

When Vivek dies, the family and friends left behind sort out their feelings and memories as Vivek's hidden story and true self comes to light. When Vivek dies, the family and friends left behind sort out their feelings and memories as Vivek's hidden story and true self comes to light. Show less

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How the One-armed Sister Sweeps Her House

A Novel

by Jones, Cherie

Book - 2021

In the close-knit community of Baxter Beach, Barbados, a crime goes wrong, setting off a chain of events that rocks the people of the town, expats and natives alike. In the close-knit community of Baxter Beach, Barbados, a crime goes wrong, setting off a chain of events that rocks the people of the town, expats and natives alike. Show less

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Nairobi Noir

Book - 2020

Mystery and thriller short stories, all of which are set in the capital of Kenya. Mystery and thriller short stories, all of which are set in the capital of Kenya. Show less

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The Death of Comrade President

A Novel

by Mabanckou, Alain

Book - 2020

This historical, post-colonial fiction novel follows a young boy during his first experiences being exposed to the politics of his coastal Congolese home town after their country's president is murdered. This historical, post-colonial fiction novel follows a young boy during his first experiences being exposed to the politics of his coastal Congolese home town after their country's president is murdered. Show less

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How Beautiful We Were

by Mbue, Imbolo

Book - 2021

An environmental read told from the perspective of an activist who grew up in a fictional African village while its land and her people were poisoned by nearby American industry. An environmental read told from the perspective of an activist who grew up in a fictional African village while its land and her people were poisoned by nearby American industry. Show less

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His Only Wife

A Novel

by Medie, Peace Adzo

Book - 2020

When seamstress Afi Tekple agrees to marry a wealthy man of her small Ghanian town, the love she finds in the new marriage is not in the place one would expect. When seamstress Afi Tekple agrees to marry a wealthy man of her small Ghanian town, the love she finds in the new marriage is not in the place one would expect. Show less

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The Shadow King

A Novel

by Mengiste, Maaza

Book - 2019

This historical novel set in 1935 Ethiopia finds the main character working as a maid for a family she follows into battle during Mussolini's raid. This historical novel set in 1935 Ethiopia finds the main character working as a maid for a family she follows into battle during Mussolini's raid. Show less

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Igifu

by Mukasonga, Scholastique

Book - 2020

This novel follows the lives of five Rwandan Tutsi characters who live on the margins of society after the Hutu Revolution in 1959 and waves of genocidal killings spanning two decades. This novel follows the lives of five Rwandan Tutsi characters who live on the margins of society after the Hutu Revolution in 1959 and waves of genocidal killings spanning two decades. Show less

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That Time of Year

by NDiaye, Marie

Book - 2020

Described as a critique of bourgeois French society, this novel follows Herman, a Parisian teacher whose wife and child disappear during vacation in a remote village. In order to get them back, he has to lose everything, including himself. Described as a critique of bourgeois French society, this novel follows Herman, a Parisian teacher whose wife and child disappear during vacation in a remote village. In order to get them back, he has to lose everything, including himself. Show less

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La Bastarda

by Obono, Trifonia Melibea

Book - 2018

Okomo is a teenager allowed little individuality whose ethnicity is Fang of Sub-Saharan Africa. She is encouraged to find her father, whose identity has been hidden from her, an experience that exposes her to the harsh aftermath of colonialism. Okomo is a teenager allowed little individuality whose ethnicity is Fang of Sub-Saharan Africa. She is encouraged to find her father, whose identity has been hidden from her, an experience that exposes her to the harsh aftermath of colonialism. Show less

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The Freedom Artist

by Okri, Ben

Book - 2020

The novel depicts a world in which people have let themselves fall asleep and blindly follow their leaders, known as the ‘Hierarchy.’ The novel depicts a world in which people have let themselves fall asleep and blindly follow their leaders, known as the ‘Hierarchy.’ Show less

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Gingerbread

by Oyeyemi, Helen

Book - 2019

A gingerbread recipe is the curse of a multi-generational family, the ingredients of which puts its cook into a coma, bringing a lie to light that must now be revealed. A gingerbread recipe is the curse of a multi-generational family, the ingredients of which puts its cook into a coma, bringing a lie to light that must now be revealed. Show less

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That Hair

by Almeida, Djaimilia Pereira de

Book - 2020

The story of Mila's hair, shown through cuts, styles, celebrations, and cultural expectations. The story of Mila's hair, shown through cuts, styles, celebrations, and cultural expectations. Show less

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The Shadow

by Raabe, Melanie/ Taylor, Imogen (TRN)

Book - 2021

In this psychological thriller, Norah is told she will kill a man. Then she meets him and begins to suspect him as the source of her tragic past. In this psychological thriller, Norah is told she will kill a man. Then she meets him and begins to suspect him as the source of her tragic past. Show less

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Grand Union

Stories

by Smith, Zadie

Book - 2019

These short stories dive into the socio-political dynamics of various characters in different settings, including gender, race, wealth, and sex. These short stories dive into the socio-political dynamics of various characters in different settings, including gender, race, wealth, and sex. Show less

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The Perfect Nine

The Epic of Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi

by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo

Book - 2020

This novel presents the legends of the Gikuyu family people, whose ten daughters have ten male suitors who are given tests to show their character, ultimately forming the 10 clans of the Gikuyu people. This novel presents the legends of the Gikuyu family people, whose ten daughters have ten male suitors who are given tests to show their character, ultimately forming the 10 clans of the Gikuyu people. Show less

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