So far, 2025 has been an amazing year for me, particularly when it comes to my reading life. On the first day of this year, I set a goal to read more than 60 books across different genres. Considering that I am an avid book lover and my course requires extensive reading, I knew I would be able to reach and surpass my reading target. However, what I did not see coming was how I’d manage to complete more than half of my reading goal in just 5 months. This morning, while preparing for church, I went through my Book app (an app I used to read soft copies) and I discovered that so far, I have read a total of 41 books, minus short stories and poems. That's a big deal! So far, I have read more Nigerian books—books that made me question my identity, books that made me take a deep look into my nationality, and books that opened my eyes to the many cultures in my country.
As I mentioned above, I have read a total of 41 books. Interestingly, out of these books, three stood out for me for different reasons. These three books made me think deeply into life and its complexities and also the cultures in my country. If you are looking to read interesting and insightful books, consider checking out my top 3 books of the year so far.
Growing up, my mom often told me about Fela Anikulapo Kuti. She often told me his stories in fragments. The things I knew about Fela from what my mom told me was that he fought against the government for his country. He married 27 women in a single ceremony. Finally, when the government couldn't withstand him anymore, soldiers raided his house and burned his residence down. That was pretty much everything I knew about this man named Fela. Who knew that years later I would take a course on Autobiographical literature with Fela as our main focus? Reading Fela’s biography, I found out more interesting things about him; how he grew up with strict parents, and how he became a fighter for his country. What interests me most in Fela’s story is how he married 27 women in a single ceremony. If you are looking to know more about this great man, consider reading Fela: This Bitch of a Life by Carlos Moore.
Efuru by Flora Nwapa is one of the earliest novels published by a Nigerian woman. One of the reasons I enjoyed reading this novel is that it brought back memories from childhood days. When I was a kid, my mom and older cousin often told us stories. Those stories caught our attention and made us glued to the teller’s eyes and gestures, from the beginning to the end. We understood and enjoyed those stories because they were simple, yet interesting. This is exactly how Flora Nwapa uses language in her story. She used simple, yet descriptive and interesting language. If you are looking to read books about womanhood and motherhood, consider reading Efuru by Flora Nwapa.
Why do people go into prostitution and other illegal jobs? Do you think if they had a choice they would have done it? What if they were barely surviving on meager earnings, should they have been content with that or opted for other dirty jobs so they would start living a comfortable lifestyle? These are the questions Chika Unigwe asks in On Black Sisters’ Street. I also enjoyed reading this book because the author used vivid and descriptive language.
I’m pretty sure I’ll still come across more interesting books as the year unfolds, but so far, these are my top 3 picks. I recommend you read them.
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Thanks for reading.
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