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gilly22's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shelbybreedpreshaw's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
han_reads_13579's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
This book was a delightful surprise. I'm not sure how to describe it and I'm not going to try because the discovery was the best part. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing which made me breeze through it effortlessly
libbysbookshelf's review
CASTLES FROM COBWEBS by J A MENSAH
This is a glorious coming of age novel following a young girl growing up in a convent after she was found by nuns as a baby left in the snow. The girl finds out that her family are Ghanaian and she finally gets the opportunity to learn about herself and meet people who look like her after craving it for so long.
The reason I read this book this month is because of its spooky title and because there is a spooky element of magic weaved throughout.
I really enjoyed the juxtaposition between the snowy and cold convent and the lovely and warm Ghana. The contrast really highlighted how lonely life must have been for the girl growing up around white people who taught her nothing about her ancestors or family.
I enjoyed this book and I recommend it for any month of the year.
#castlesfromcobwebs #jamensah #books #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #blackhistorymonth2021 #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover
This is a glorious coming of age novel following a young girl growing up in a convent after she was found by nuns as a baby left in the snow. The girl finds out that her family are Ghanaian and she finally gets the opportunity to learn about herself and meet people who look like her after craving it for so long.
The reason I read this book this month is because of its spooky title and because there is a spooky element of magic weaved throughout.
I really enjoyed the juxtaposition between the snowy and cold convent and the lovely and warm Ghana. The contrast really highlighted how lonely life must have been for the girl growing up around white people who taught her nothing about her ancestors or family.
I enjoyed this book and I recommend it for any month of the year.
#castlesfromcobwebs #jamensah #books #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #blackhistorymonth2021 #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover
literarylucie's review
4.0
“This is my story, which I share with you. If it be sweet, if it not be sweet, take some and share, and let some come back to me”
Castles from Cobwebs is a stunning debut about Imani - a young black girl raised by white nuns. As the one black person in this remote community, she is made so aware that she is different from everyone from a very young age. The only form of representation she had was a concealed magazine in which she hid a list of famous black dancers, and a painting of the Assumption of Mary, where Mary is depicted as a black woman. When she is 19 she gets a call letting her know her biological mother has died. Imani drops everything and goes to Ghana in search of her family and to understand her heritage and ultimately her identity.
The novel follows a non-linear narrative, split between Northumbria, Ghana and New York. Mensah does a fantastic job of making such a stark contrast between these separate stages of her life and how she grows and develops and as woman who learns to understand herself. She goes from a place where she is defined by her blackness and feels confused and isolated because of it to a place where she is so much more to her than her skin colour. In Ghana she is embraced into this world full of culture, history and rhythm, all shown through such poetic and lyrical writing. Surrounded by all this family she learns all out the life her mother lead, and about family traditions being passed over from past generations. The section is Ghana is so immersive and captivating and helped raise some important questions about race, faith and reality.
My absolute favourite thing is when her past and present interweave to the point that she is surrounded by other versions of herself. I love the fact that she is looking back over her life and seeing past versions of herself and reliving things we experienced for the first time with her in previous chapters. I feel like that is an amazing way of showing Imani’s growth and adds to this wonderful folklore storytelling element. Imani’s story paused the moment she was rescued as a baby, and reignited when she found her voice in Ghana. She is now able to tell her story, the story of her life and her culture, in her own way and on her own terms.
The story is spun out in a huge number of directions; over many immersive locations, multiple complex female characters spanning different cultures and generations, a literal journey across the world and a figurative one to discover herself. There is a lot going on and it was a bit confusing at first, however in the end, all the threads come together to form the perfect cobweb.
Castles from Cobwebs is a stunning debut about Imani - a young black girl raised by white nuns. As the one black person in this remote community, she is made so aware that she is different from everyone from a very young age. The only form of representation she had was a concealed magazine in which she hid a list of famous black dancers, and a painting of the Assumption of Mary, where Mary is depicted as a black woman. When she is 19 she gets a call letting her know her biological mother has died. Imani drops everything and goes to Ghana in search of her family and to understand her heritage and ultimately her identity.
The novel follows a non-linear narrative, split between Northumbria, Ghana and New York. Mensah does a fantastic job of making such a stark contrast between these separate stages of her life and how she grows and develops and as woman who learns to understand herself. She goes from a place where she is defined by her blackness and feels confused and isolated because of it to a place where she is so much more to her than her skin colour. In Ghana she is embraced into this world full of culture, history and rhythm, all shown through such poetic and lyrical writing. Surrounded by all this family she learns all out the life her mother lead, and about family traditions being passed over from past generations. The section is Ghana is so immersive and captivating and helped raise some important questions about race, faith and reality.
My absolute favourite thing is when her past and present interweave to the point that she is surrounded by other versions of herself. I love the fact that she is looking back over her life and seeing past versions of herself and reliving things we experienced for the first time with her in previous chapters. I feel like that is an amazing way of showing Imani’s growth and adds to this wonderful folklore storytelling element. Imani’s story paused the moment she was rescued as a baby, and reignited when she found her voice in Ghana. She is now able to tell her story, the story of her life and her culture, in her own way and on her own terms.
The story is spun out in a huge number of directions; over many immersive locations, multiple complex female characters spanning different cultures and generations, a literal journey across the world and a figurative one to discover herself. There is a lot going on and it was a bit confusing at first, however in the end, all the threads come together to form the perfect cobweb.
livsliterarynook's review
4.0
Imani, is a young black girl who is raised by nuns on a remote Northumbrian island. She grows up with strong feelings of displacement as she is cut off from her family, her heritage and her identity. At nineteen she answers a call that will take her away from her sheltered life at the nunnery to Accra following the death of her biological mother. Here she starts to understand and explore her identity and find her family.
The novel structure is rather non-linear as at times it skips between past and present and was a little difficult to initially follow. It also splits into three parts which covers Imani's time between Northumbria, Ghana and New York.
I have to say initially I was a little sceptical as to whether I was enjoying the book and wasn't sure I was going to like it. However, as the story developed and Imani went to Ghana, I became immersed in the story, her experiences and her struggles.
It's only by the end of the novel did many of the threads I struggled to understand initially really come together. This is as Imani herself really started to work out and deal with her own history of identity issues and conflict surrounding her blackness.
There was a lot to like about this novel and Imani's arc was very well done. It also raised some important questions surrounding race as it examined the impact on Imani's relationship with her blackness after being raised by white nuns.
My favourite parts of the book centered on Imani's time with her Aunt Esi and Maame Yaa. The bonds she built, the stories she learnt and the family she created.
Overall, I think this is a strong debut that has a lot to offer and one I'd definitely recommend.
Out in February, thanks to @sarabandbooks for the arc (ad-pr product).
The novel structure is rather non-linear as at times it skips between past and present and was a little difficult to initially follow. It also splits into three parts which covers Imani's time between Northumbria, Ghana and New York.
I have to say initially I was a little sceptical as to whether I was enjoying the book and wasn't sure I was going to like it. However, as the story developed and Imani went to Ghana, I became immersed in the story, her experiences and her struggles.
It's only by the end of the novel did many of the threads I struggled to understand initially really come together. This is as Imani herself really started to work out and deal with her own history of identity issues and conflict surrounding her blackness.
There was a lot to like about this novel and Imani's arc was very well done. It also raised some important questions surrounding race as it examined the impact on Imani's relationship with her blackness after being raised by white nuns.
My favourite parts of the book centered on Imani's time with her Aunt Esi and Maame Yaa. The bonds she built, the stories she learnt and the family she created.
Overall, I think this is a strong debut that has a lot to offer and one I'd definitely recommend.
Out in February, thanks to @sarabandbooks for the arc (ad-pr product).
hrkershaw's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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