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The House of Rust
A Novel
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 1,577 ratings, 327 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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The House of Rust
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy magical realism, cultural folklore, and coming-of-age stories. Those interested in African fiction and richly atmospheric narratives rooted in Swahili and Hadrami heritage will find this debut novel especially captivating.
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
The House of Rust, the first Graywolf Press African Fiction Prize winner, is a story of a girl's fantastical sea voyage to rescue her father.
This enchanting novel tells the story of a Hadrami girl in Mombasa. When her fisherman father goes missing, Aisha embarks on a magical boat made of a skeleton to rescue him. Guided by a talking scholar's catโand soon crows, goats, and other animals join the conversationโAisha's journey unfolds.
Along the way, Aisha encounters three terrifying sea monsters. After surviving a final confrontation with Baba wa Papa, the father of all sharks, she rescues her own father and hopes for a return to normalcy. However, upon returning home, things only grow stranger.
Khadija Abdalla Bajaber's debut is a magical realist coming-of-age tale, narrated through the lens of Swahili and diasporic Hadrami culture in Mombasa, Kenya. Richly descriptive and written with an imaginative approach and sharp eye for unusual detail, The House of Rust is a memorable novel from a thrilling new voice.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Praised for its compelling heroine and vivid storytelling, The House of Rust has been called "astonishing" by The New York Times Book Review for its blend of rich oral traditions and adventurous narrative. BuzzFeed highlighted its "sparse, sharply written prose and surreal imaginings," while Yvonne C. Garrett of The Brooklyn Rail described it as a "riveting read" focused on courage, loyalty, and family. Vulture commended Bajaber's "matter-of-fact and gem-cut" writing that captures the invigorating mystery of the sea.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781644450680
Publisher: Graywolf Press,U.S.
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 19 October 2021
Country: United States
Imprint: Graywolf Press,U.S.
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 22.0mm
Width: 143.0mm
Height: 213.0mm
Weight: 353g
Pages: 272
About the Author
Khadija Abdalla Bajaber is a Mombasarian writer of Hadrami descent and the winner of the inaugural Graywolf Press African Fiction Prize. Her work has appeared in Enkare Review, Lolwe, and Down River Road, among other places. She lives in Mombasa, Kenya.
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