House of Stone

Look, some books should be read twice. I just needed to put that out there.

To be fair, I am a little biased. Here is why: I listened to the audio book before reading the physical copy. The voice used on audible is of someone who captures the Southern African [specifically a touch of South Africa and Zimbabwe intonations] perfectly. Now, having lived there for a bit, it felt like listening to a South African or Zimbabwean tell this story. The only thing missing on my end was a fire and maybe some more listening ears to pull off an old-school fireside story time with a village elder.

House of Stone is one of the more enjoyable historical fiction books set in Africa. It is written by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, who is Zimbabwe. I believe it takes great talent to pull off a successful House of Stone, and when you pick up this book, I bet you UGX 5000 that you will agree [I think this could get you a rolex in Kampala].

One of the thoughts I walked away with was: can we ever really edit our histories? I was struck by how at the very core of the main character was a person looking to belong, to be accepted, and in their desperation ended up holding hostage the very people from whom he desired a sense of home.

The story bears the complexities not unfamiliar to the former Rhodesian world, the politics of struggle, the desire for freedom [including personal freedom], and flickers of redemption [unsuccessful as it were].

I read this book twice, and enjoyed the sprinkling of comic relief in the story.

I love it when Africans produce excellent work.