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Ghostroots: Stories
A debut collection of stories set in a hauntingly reimagined Lagos where characters vie for freedom from ancestral ties.
’Pemi Aguda opens her collection of twelve stories with the chilling tale of a woman who uncannily resembles her sinister, deceased grandmother. When the woman shows a capacity for deadly violence, she wonders—can evil be genetic, passed from generation to generation?
Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Aguda’s stories unfold against a spectral cityscape where the everyday business of living—the birth of a baby, a market visit, a conversation between mothers and daughters—is charged with an air of supernatural menace. In “Breastmilk” a new mother’s inability to lactate takes on preternatural overtones. In “24, Alhaji Williams Street” a mysterious disease wreaks havoc with frightening precision. In “The Hollow,” an architect stumbles on a vengeful house.
Evocative, strange, and yet familiar, “the speculative conceits of these stories are elegantly balanced with the gorgeous fullness of human emotion, all the hunger and longing and fear and delight of being a human in the world” (Lauren Groff).
’Pemi Aguda opens her collection of twelve stories with the chilling tale of a woman who uncannily resembles her sinister, deceased grandmother. When the woman shows a capacity for deadly violence, she wonders—can evil be genetic, passed from generation to generation?
Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Aguda’s stories unfold against a spectral cityscape where the everyday business of living—the birth of a baby, a market visit, a conversation between mothers and daughters—is charged with an air of supernatural menace. In “Breastmilk” a new mother’s inability to lactate takes on preternatural overtones. In “24, Alhaji Williams Street” a mysterious disease wreaks havoc with frightening precision. In “The Hollow,” an architect stumbles on a vengeful house.
Evocative, strange, and yet familiar, “the speculative conceits of these stories are elegantly balanced with the gorgeous fullness of human emotion, all the hunger and longing and fear and delight of being a human in the world” (Lauren Groff).
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2024
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19570 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 586 reviews
October 14, 2024
this was a fantastic short story collection! i particularly loved “the hollow” and “masquerade season”
April 28, 2024
In a Nutshell: A beautiful OwnVoices collection of short stories set in Lagos, Nigeria. The locational feel as well as the writing is outstanding. Each story feels unique. An excellent debut, much recommended, especially to speculative fiction and dark fantasy lovers.
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The highlight of this collection of twelve stories is its setting. Each narrative is based in Lagos, a city that juxtaposes the modern as well as the traditional, the African culture with a sprinkling of Western modernity. (Probably, a bit like India in this sense. We have the best of both worlds – traditional roots and modern wings.) The stories have an authentic vibe that immerses you in the location and makes you feel Lagos and its sights and sounds.
The cover, with the inherent contrast between the serene smile and the gush of blood, ought to prepare you for the content. Most of the stories are a combination of the routine and the supernatural. Characters are portrayed in ordinary situations, but their ordinary itself is extraordinary, what with sentient houses and macabre babies and women turning into birds. If you expect straightforward or traditional stories, this book isn’t for you. But if you like the twisted, the dark, and the speculative, you will relish this creative set.
Each tale is primarily a chronicle of human struggle, whether against the sins of the past or the oppression of the present or a threat of the future. You see a granddaughter who suddenly finds her late grandmother reincarnate in the weirdest way possible. You see a servant girl who is kidnapped by someone least expected to commit such an act. You see a street full of fearful families as a strange virus takes the life of its sons, going linearly from one end of the road affecting each house in numerical sequence. The stories generate varied emotions, not just the negative ones. There is a fun and happy undertone as well in a couple of the tales, but most of the stories stay firmly rooted on the darker side.
A majority of the stories come to us from the female perspective, which seems to be the common situation in African writing. However, there are a couple of really strong tales with male leads as well. All the main characters feel relatable to us in their responses, even if their situations are too wild to be within the normal realm of human experience.
I am truly impressed that this is a debut work. The writing is so vivid and polished! I love how the author takes the heart of Nigerian culture and blends it seamlessly with the bizarreness that is spec fic. None of the stories repeats themes or plots, so every story feels distinct in content as well as impact. Nothing in the writing makes it seem like it required further polish or proofing. The endings are apropos to the speculative genre, so they worked excellently for me, but they aren’t for readers requiring happy endings.
The only thing I wish this collection would have incorporated is an author’s note. My friends know my fondness for authors’ notes, especially in collections/anthologies. Knowing the author’s intent behind the stories or even getting an idea of the theme connecting the stories prepares a great preparatory foundation, helping us know what to expect from the book.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the twelve stories, only two stories failed to touch the three-star mark, and that too by a narrow margin. The rest were all at 3.5 stars and above, leading to a great reading experience. These were my top favourites:
All in all, this has been a brilliant and satisfying OwnVoices work, even more impressive when you remember that it is a debut offering. The plotlines, the emotions, the cultural setting, and the strangeness work in harmony to create a mesmerising yet haunting effect.
Strongly recommended to all short story lovers who enjoy African speculative fiction. If you love content that challenges your mind and leaves you restless, this book is made for you. I am definitely going to keep a keen eye on what this writer will pen next.
4 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each story. (If you are familiar with my ratings, you will know that an average that goes to 4 stars and beyond is outstanding for an anthology.)
My thanks to W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for the DRC of “Ghostroots”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The highlight of this collection of twelve stories is its setting. Each narrative is based in Lagos, a city that juxtaposes the modern as well as the traditional, the African culture with a sprinkling of Western modernity. (Probably, a bit like India in this sense. We have the best of both worlds – traditional roots and modern wings.) The stories have an authentic vibe that immerses you in the location and makes you feel Lagos and its sights and sounds.
The cover, with the inherent contrast between the serene smile and the gush of blood, ought to prepare you for the content. Most of the stories are a combination of the routine and the supernatural. Characters are portrayed in ordinary situations, but their ordinary itself is extraordinary, what with sentient houses and macabre babies and women turning into birds. If you expect straightforward or traditional stories, this book isn’t for you. But if you like the twisted, the dark, and the speculative, you will relish this creative set.
Each tale is primarily a chronicle of human struggle, whether against the sins of the past or the oppression of the present or a threat of the future. You see a granddaughter who suddenly finds her late grandmother reincarnate in the weirdest way possible. You see a servant girl who is kidnapped by someone least expected to commit such an act. You see a street full of fearful families as a strange virus takes the life of its sons, going linearly from one end of the road affecting each house in numerical sequence. The stories generate varied emotions, not just the negative ones. There is a fun and happy undertone as well in a couple of the tales, but most of the stories stay firmly rooted on the darker side.
A majority of the stories come to us from the female perspective, which seems to be the common situation in African writing. However, there are a couple of really strong tales with male leads as well. All the main characters feel relatable to us in their responses, even if their situations are too wild to be within the normal realm of human experience.
I am truly impressed that this is a debut work. The writing is so vivid and polished! I love how the author takes the heart of Nigerian culture and blends it seamlessly with the bizarreness that is spec fic. None of the stories repeats themes or plots, so every story feels distinct in content as well as impact. Nothing in the writing makes it seem like it required further polish or proofing. The endings are apropos to the speculative genre, so they worked excellently for me, but they aren’t for readers requiring happy endings.
The only thing I wish this collection would have incorporated is an author’s note. My friends know my fondness for authors’ notes, especially in collections/anthologies. Knowing the author’s intent behind the stories or even getting an idea of the theme connecting the stories prepares a great preparatory foundation, helping us know what to expect from the book.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the twelve stories, only two stories failed to touch the three-star mark, and that too by a narrow margin. The rest were all at 3.5 stars and above, leading to a great reading experience. These were my top favourites:
🧿 Manifest - When a pimple manifests on the narrator's face, it's the first sign of a greater manifestation. Creepy and gripping. I anyway have a soft corner for the second person pov, so this was an easy winner. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🧿 Breastmilk - Not so speculative as much as psychological. The titular breastmilk plays an important role in this story about a woman struggling to let go, in more ways than one. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🧿 The Hollow - What is a house? Protection, secrecy, shelter, imprisonment? All this and more. I love it when speculative fiction combines the inexplicable seamlessly with reality. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🧿 Things Boys Do - When you read the title, would you expect the story to be about a group of new fathers trying to fit into their new role? And when I tell you that it's about these new dads, would you expect the story to be one of love or one of guilt and terror? Full marks for surprising me with the plot and satisfying me with the ending. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧿 Masquerade Season - It's an open secret that I am very dense when it comes to reading metaphorical/allegorical content. I know for sure that this story is in that category, and the deeper meaning of it went above my head. But the writing is so beautiful and so poignant that it ended up as one of my favourites. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
All in all, this has been a brilliant and satisfying OwnVoices work, even more impressive when you remember that it is a debut offering. The plotlines, the emotions, the cultural setting, and the strangeness work in harmony to create a mesmerising yet haunting effect.
Strongly recommended to all short story lovers who enjoy African speculative fiction. If you love content that challenges your mind and leaves you restless, this book is made for you. I am definitely going to keep a keen eye on what this writer will pen next.
4 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each story. (If you are familiar with my ratings, you will know that an average that goes to 4 stars and beyond is outstanding for an anthology.)
My thanks to W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for the DRC of “Ghostroots”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
February 25, 2025
Brilliant, fresh, haunting, unsettling, un-put-down-able!
As a lover of short story collections, Ghostroots by 'Pemi Aguda is now one of my favourites. This collection is cohesive, haunting and I felt that every story I read was my favoruite, but not only that, but its like each story also got better and better. A stunning collection!
Set mostly in Lagos, Ghostroots is collection of 12 stories that explores very haunting topics in fresh and unsettling ways. I loved the story that started the collection- Manifest is about a girl who starts spiraling and her mother keeps mistaking her for her grandmother who is evil incarnate. Brilliant and unsettling, I still get goosebumps thinking about it. In Breastmilk we are taken into a family that is falling apart but they just had a baby so they must put things aside. There’s the story of young boys who keep disappearing in a community and they can’t seem to figure why they are dying.
Honestly, every single story is exceptional, and I need more people to read this collection. I finished reading this collection two weeks now and I can’t stop thinking about it.
As a lover of short story collections, Ghostroots by 'Pemi Aguda is now one of my favourites. This collection is cohesive, haunting and I felt that every story I read was my favoruite, but not only that, but its like each story also got better and better. A stunning collection!
Set mostly in Lagos, Ghostroots is collection of 12 stories that explores very haunting topics in fresh and unsettling ways. I loved the story that started the collection- Manifest is about a girl who starts spiraling and her mother keeps mistaking her for her grandmother who is evil incarnate. Brilliant and unsettling, I still get goosebumps thinking about it. In Breastmilk we are taken into a family that is falling apart but they just had a baby so they must put things aside. There’s the story of young boys who keep disappearing in a community and they can’t seem to figure why they are dying.
Honestly, every single story is exceptional, and I need more people to read this collection. I finished reading this collection two weeks now and I can’t stop thinking about it.
Want to read
March 21, 2025help this collection looks too interesting
September 29, 2024
Goddamn, this slapped so hard. Every story sunk its fangs into me. Loved the unapologetically ferocious tone. (Those first two stories are burned into my psyche). Better believe I’ll read any future story she puts out. Hoping there’s a novel on the way because I know it’ll be badass.
(Jeeeez, all the books on this National Book Award fiction longlist are bangers)
(Jeeeez, all the books on this National Book Award fiction longlist are bangers)
March 8, 2025
چیزی که این ماه فهمیدم این بود که بین نویسنده آفریقایی و آفریقاییتبار چقدر تفاوت هست. نویسنده آفریقایی تبار مثل نویسنده مجموعه بینتی، تلاش می کنه تا یه داستانِ آفریقایی بنویسه و یه نویسنده آفریقایی مثل همین پِمی آگودا درپی نوشتن داستان هست. همینه که نوشته های آگودا خیلی ارگانیک سرازیر می شن و با شما ارتباط برقرار میکنن چون داستان مرزی نمی شناسه ولی بینتی با تمارضش به آفریقایی بودن با استفاده از اصطلاحات نالازم، فقط باعث پس زدگی ما می شه.
در مجموعه Ghostroots و همینطور که از اسمش برمیاد، آگودا در پی کشف ریشه های وَبالی هست که تاریخچه مورثی بر دوشمون می ذاره و این ارواح (ghosts) می تونن در طول زندگی موجودیت ما رُ تسخیر کنن (haunt). آگودا معتقده ما، همگی به صورت اپیجنتیک تسخیرشده حافظه تاریخی خانوادگی، جنسیتی و حتی فردیت خودمون هستیم. و برای همین آگودا در توضیح کتابش همیشه از اصطلاح haunted stories استفاده میکنه.
درطول خوندن کتاب کم و بیش از داستان ها و حتی طرح جلد آپدیت هایی دادم و فقط اجازه بدید به شما پیشنهاد بدم اگه شده حتی یه داستان، حتی کوتاه ترینشون رُ انتخاب کنید و بخونید و به شما قول میدم شما هم به تسخیرشدگان بپیوندید.
در مجموعه Ghostroots و همینطور که از اسمش برمیاد، آگودا در پی کشف ریشه های وَبالی هست که تاریخچه مورثی بر دوشمون می ذاره و این ارواح (ghosts) می تونن در طول زندگی موجودیت ما رُ تسخیر کنن (haunt). آگودا معتقده ما، همگی به صورت اپیجنتیک تسخیرشده حافظه تاریخی خانوادگی، جنسیتی و حتی فردیت خودمون هستیم. و برای همین آگودا در توضیح کتابش همیشه از اصطلاح haunted stories استفاده میکنه.
درطول خوندن کتاب کم و بیش از داستان ها و حتی طرح جلد آپدیت هایی دادم و فقط اجازه بدید به شما پیشنهاد بدم اگه شده حتی یه داستان، حتی کوتاه ترینشون رُ انتخاب کنید و بخونید و به شما قول میدم شما هم به تسخیرشدگان بپیوندید.
October 19, 2024
There were a couple stand out stories for me but the rest of them felt pretty mediocre. There were a handful of stories that felt strongly derivative of other works, which I usually don’t mind, if the story can do it well, but it didn’t quite feel like anything new or fresh was brought to the table in the end.
There was a feminine horror theme through out. Just an undercurrent of something sinister brewing beneath the surface. They all start out pretty mundane but then that feeling bubbles up. Those were the parts I enjoyed most.
I hesitate to call this feminine rage, because the women aren’t really perpetrating anything, but in these stories men are almost always the victims. Oftentimes they deserve it? But the forces at work tend to be supernatural in nature.
But then the last three stories really petered out- they didn’t fit with the theme of the first 9ish stories. They felt more like contemporary fiction (which is fine) but failed to make an impact. Their endings felt abrupt, and as a result the story often felt like it was originally an idea for a longer work but then left unfinished and included here.
I think the best stories were the shorter ones, and I do wonder if some of them had been trimmed down a bit if I wouldn’t have gotten more out of them.
My favorites were (in my best attempt not to spoil anything):
Manifest - A story about a woman who starts behaving in a manner most troubling to her family and friends.
Contributions - A WEIRD story about women that loan each other money (you know, when the banks can’t/won’t help) and the things they take when you can’t pay.
The Hollow - A story about a… weird house. lol. That’s all I’ll say.
Things Boys Do - A story about three different men, who each have a son, and the history that ties them together.
Honorable mention to The Dusk Market I think? This was no plot just vibes but the vibes were good.
There was a feminine horror theme through out. Just an undercurrent of something sinister brewing beneath the surface. They all start out pretty mundane but then that feeling bubbles up. Those were the parts I enjoyed most.
I hesitate to call this feminine rage, because the women aren’t really perpetrating anything, but in these stories men are almost always the victims. Oftentimes they deserve it? But the forces at work tend to be supernatural in nature.
But then the last three stories really petered out- they didn’t fit with the theme of the first 9ish stories. They felt more like contemporary fiction (which is fine) but failed to make an impact. Their endings felt abrupt, and as a result the story often felt like it was originally an idea for a longer work but then left unfinished and included here.
I think the best stories were the shorter ones, and I do wonder if some of them had been trimmed down a bit if I wouldn’t have gotten more out of them.
My favorites were (in my best attempt not to spoil anything):
Manifest - A story about a woman who starts behaving in a manner most troubling to her family and friends.
Contributions - A WEIRD story about women that loan each other money (you know, when the banks can’t/won’t help) and the things they take when you can’t pay.
The Hollow - A story about a… weird house. lol. That’s all I’ll say.
Things Boys Do - A story about three different men, who each have a son, and the history that ties them together.
Honorable mention to The Dusk Market I think? This was no plot just vibes but the vibes were good.
tbr-overdrive
December 25, 2023i'm in love with the cover design. a+++ work
April 1, 2024
Reading for review in the April 2024 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: Strong Sense of Place, Uncanny, strong narrative voice
Draft Review:
In this debut collection, O'Henry Award winner Aguda makes her home city of Lagos the star, bringing the place and its inhabitants to life. The 12 thought-provoking, speculative stories, featuring mostly female protagonists, a strong narrative voice, and a focus on the unsettling results of generational divides, lay bare the universal human experience illuminating the menace that constantly lurks just below the surface. The first story, “Manifest,” follows a young woman who might be possessed by her grandmother, superbly setting the uncanny tone that defines the entire volume. Other standouts include “The Hollow” in which an architect attempts to renovate a house that holds generations of secrets in its walls, “24, Alhaji Williams Street,” where a fever is killing each youngest son, on a single street, one address at a time, and “Birdwoman” a tale that is as upsetting as it is beautiful.
Verdict: Aguda is one of a number of Nigerian speculative fiction authors deserving of a wider American audience right now. The breadth of this excellent collection is similar to last year’s critically acclaimed, Jackal, Jackal by Tobi Ogundiran, but her appeal is evident in works by authors from around the world such as Eugen Bacon, Lisa Tuttle, and most strikingly, Karen Russell.
Unsettling
These are stories of the human experience w/ underlying menace.
12 stories. I love how the author gives readers a real sense of life in Lagos without worrying about making it palatable to a Western office.
Mostly female protagonists
A real focus on the old and new ways and how they are combining or in conflict. As well as the every day weird that remains
Very strong collection and will appeal to a wide readership of speculative tales. My favorites were: "Manifest" (a great opener to set the tone), "Contributors," "The Hollow," "24, Alhaji Williams Street" (my overall favorite), "Things Boys Do," "Birdwoman"
Readalikes: There are many Lagos writers of Speculative fiction you should be reading now, but the breadth of this collection across the speculative landscape reminded me of Jackal, Jackal by Tobi Ogundiran. Also, Australian Eden Bacon's collection Chasing Whispers, and the work of Lisa Tuttle. American readers who want to know who Aguda is most similar to, that is easy-- Karen Russell.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Strong Sense of Place, Uncanny, strong narrative voice
Draft Review:
In this debut collection, O'Henry Award winner Aguda makes her home city of Lagos the star, bringing the place and its inhabitants to life. The 12 thought-provoking, speculative stories, featuring mostly female protagonists, a strong narrative voice, and a focus on the unsettling results of generational divides, lay bare the universal human experience illuminating the menace that constantly lurks just below the surface. The first story, “Manifest,” follows a young woman who might be possessed by her grandmother, superbly setting the uncanny tone that defines the entire volume. Other standouts include “The Hollow” in which an architect attempts to renovate a house that holds generations of secrets in its walls, “24, Alhaji Williams Street,” where a fever is killing each youngest son, on a single street, one address at a time, and “Birdwoman” a tale that is as upsetting as it is beautiful.
Verdict: Aguda is one of a number of Nigerian speculative fiction authors deserving of a wider American audience right now. The breadth of this excellent collection is similar to last year’s critically acclaimed, Jackal, Jackal by Tobi Ogundiran, but her appeal is evident in works by authors from around the world such as Eugen Bacon, Lisa Tuttle, and most strikingly, Karen Russell.
Unsettling
These are stories of the human experience w/ underlying menace.
12 stories. I love how the author gives readers a real sense of life in Lagos without worrying about making it palatable to a Western office.
Mostly female protagonists
A real focus on the old and new ways and how they are combining or in conflict. As well as the every day weird that remains
Very strong collection and will appeal to a wide readership of speculative tales. My favorites were: "Manifest" (a great opener to set the tone), "Contributors," "The Hollow," "24, Alhaji Williams Street" (my overall favorite), "Things Boys Do," "Birdwoman"
Readalikes: There are many Lagos writers of Speculative fiction you should be reading now, but the breadth of this collection across the speculative landscape reminded me of Jackal, Jackal by Tobi Ogundiran. Also, Australian Eden Bacon's collection Chasing Whispers, and the work of Lisa Tuttle. American readers who want to know who Aguda is most similar to, that is easy-- Karen Russell.
January 21, 2025
a solid 3.5! i'm really hit or miss w short stories, i really enjoyed most of these, some not as much but i definitely want to read more from aguda
January 14, 2025
A spectacular collection.
I’ve read and loved Pemi’s writing for more than a decade now and I am continuously stunned. If you’ve never read her work before, this is an excellent introduction. Each story is perfectly constructed, deeply human, breathtakingly beautiful, and just a bit numinous. Go get it.
Full review in Locus magazine - https://locusmag.com/2024/07/wole-tal...
I’ve read and loved Pemi’s writing for more than a decade now and I am continuously stunned. If you’ve never read her work before, this is an excellent introduction. Each story is perfectly constructed, deeply human, breathtakingly beautiful, and just a bit numinous. Go get it.
Full review in Locus magazine - https://locusmag.com/2024/07/wole-tal...
December 6, 2024
cured my short story (writing and reading) phobia . SOOO GOOD !!!
December 9, 2024
Literally nothing stood out, nothing to justify the high rating, and I won't pretend it did.
December 11, 2024
As I find with most short story collections, there are some bangers and then there’s others that I just don’t mesh with. My favourites from this collection were:
Manifest
Imagine me carrying you
24, Alhaji Williams Street
Things boys do (loved)
Manifest
Imagine me carrying you
24, Alhaji Williams Street
Things boys do (loved)
May 19, 2025
Africa in my 1404 Bookmark Calendar Challenge – Ordibehesht
'thrilling ... I couldn't feel much
and disturbing' ... definitely!
A house is a house, and you can erase it, wreck it, tear it to the ground. A house is a house, and no, you can never forget, but you can walk away.
--The Hollow
Abusive husband/lover
Abusive mother/father
Abuse...
You skim the inside headlines of the newspaper you picked from the top of the magazine rack. Woman Cuts Lover’s Penis Off in Rage of Jealousy.Man Beats Daughter to Death for Skipping School.Community in Outskirts of Lagos Hack Thief to Pieces. You close the paper.
--MANIFEST
'thrilling ... I couldn't feel much
and disturbing' ... definitely!
A house is a house, and you can erase it, wreck it, tear it to the ground. A house is a house, and no, you can never forget, but you can walk away.
--The Hollow
Abusive husband/lover
Abusive mother/father
Abuse...
You skim the inside headlines of the newspaper you picked from the top of the magazine rack. Woman Cuts Lover’s Penis Off in Rage of Jealousy.Man Beats Daughter to Death for Skipping School.Community in Outskirts of Lagos Hack Thief to Pieces. You close the paper.
--MANIFEST
May 23, 2025
I’m so impressed by this short story collection. Each one was different whether it was about family, trauma, or belief, but yet they flowed together so seamlessly.
My favorite was “The Hollow” - I could have read an entire full length novel on this piece alone.
My favorite was “The Hollow” - I could have read an entire full length novel on this piece alone.
June 25, 2024
Twelve short stories set in Nigeria.
Each story displays a character struggling, in some way, with the ghosts of the past. They’re not horror stories in the traditional sense—dread, terror, gore—but there is a little touch of magic, mythology, and the supernatural which I adored. Aguda has a compelling, strong narrative voice and I would be delighted to read more of her work.
Favorites are hard to choose out of such a potent collection but my top three were *probably* Contributions, The Hollow, and Girlie with The Hollow ringing in at the top.
Each story displays a character struggling, in some way, with the ghosts of the past. They’re not horror stories in the traditional sense—dread, terror, gore—but there is a little touch of magic, mythology, and the supernatural which I adored. Aguda has a compelling, strong narrative voice and I would be delighted to read more of her work.
Favorites are hard to choose out of such a potent collection but my top three were *probably* Contributions, The Hollow, and Girlie with The Hollow ringing in at the top.
January 18, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
an enjoyable and entertaining read. easy to get lost in.
my favorites were;
• masquerade season
• manifest
• the hollow
• things boys do
• contributions
• the dusk market
an enjoyable and entertaining read. easy to get lost in.
my favorites were;
• masquerade season
• manifest
• the hollow
• things boys do
• contributions
• the dusk market
Read
July 20, 2025Sad, scary, thought-provoking, fascinating collection of stories by a Nigerian author.
(That one with the baby, tho? I wouldn't have forgiven that man. Ever.)
*I am not rating books read for the World Fantasy Award.*
(That one with the baby, tho? I wouldn't have forgiven that man. Ever.)
*I am not rating books read for the World Fantasy Award.*
February 27, 2025
wow! this collection is so special. reading this was like walking down a bustling street at night that turns into a foggy dense forest and around the next corner is something bright and magical and i’m feeling nervous and cautious and excited and quiet and loud and present all at once.
February 21, 2025
What a brilliant short story collection! I especially enjoyed "The Hollow." There's so much to wrap my head around with this one re: femininity, generational trauma and Nigerian folklore/superstition. Also, if I could give an extra half-star for the cover design alone I would.
January 29, 2025
Dec 28
Manifest: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 4
Breastmilk: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 19
Contributions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The hollow: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 20
Imagine me carrying you: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 22
24, Alhaji Williams Street: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 23
Things boys do: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Birdwoman: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 25
Girlie: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 26
The dusk market ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 27
The wonders of the world ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 28
Masquerade season ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Manifest: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 4
Breastmilk: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 19
Contributions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The hollow: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 20
Imagine me carrying you: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 22
24, Alhaji Williams Street: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 23
Things boys do: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Birdwoman: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 25
Girlie: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 26
The dusk market ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 27
The wonders of the world ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jan 28
Masquerade season ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 31, 2025
The first story in this collection reeled me in, but the rest of the book disappointed me. The stories with the best premises ended up being too short, often stopping right at the point where the premise was really blossoming. The longer stories meandered and felt more like sequences of events than narratives with a destination in mind. I did really enjoy the characters across the book—they all felt very vivid and compelling.
2.5/5
2.5/5
September 7, 2024
4.5 stars
Pemi Aguda, the woman that you are! May both sides of your pillow be cold and fluffy
12 incredible stories that leave you stunned(complementary)
My favourites were,
- contribution
- the hallow
- imagine me carrying you
- 24, alhaji Williams street
- things boys do
- masquerade season
Pemi Aguda, the woman that you are! May both sides of your pillow be cold and fluffy
12 incredible stories that leave you stunned(complementary)
My favourites were,
- contribution
- the hallow
- imagine me carrying you
- 24, alhaji Williams street
- things boys do
- masquerade season
December 16, 2024
“A son? My heart broke a little. A son who could grow up to become a man, a man who might hurt other people no matter how well I raise him because a man is a man, even when he is the best man.”
Wowzerz
Wowzerz
December 15, 2024
3.75 rounded up.
February 26, 2025
Luin tätä suht kauan, rakastuin tähän pikkuhiljaa - kirja kun taisi olla taas jonkinlaisen maagisen realismin ja kauhun rajapinnoille genretetty, mikä jotenkin täällä meillä globaalissa pohjoisessa tuntuu olevan vakio kaikelle muulle kuin reaalikirjalliselle Valkoisen Miehen Kirjallisuudelle. Ilmiö on jännä, ja ohjaa lukemista jo valmiiksi vinoon. Se eksotisoi ja laittaa magiaa sinne, missä lähtömaassa kyse on enemmän aivan oman arjen omista uskomus- ja maailmankatsomusjärjestelmistä. Ja tätä genrettelyä ja magiasoimista tehdään kaikelle ei-valkoiselle kirjallisuudelle Afrikasta Aasiaan, Polynesiasta Keski- ja Etelä-Amerikkaan. Että on tämä Meidän Realismi ja muu on eksoottista magiaa.
Kun tästä pääsee yli, kirja on juuri omanlaisenaan, ilman Valkoisen Miehen määritelmiä upea. Se kuvaa erilaista nyrjähtänyttä arkea, yllättäviä kohtaamisia, lapsen menetyksen surua, isiä kaikennielevien pienokaisten äärellä. Aguda kirjoittaa suoraa, taitavaa proosaa, novellit vangitsevat, jättävät länsimaalaisen lukijan osin ulkopuolelleenkin, mikä on hyvinkin tervehdyttävää. Akwaeke Emezi on kirjoittanut aiemmin afrikkalaisten länsimaalaisten odotuksiin kirjoittamasta kirjallisuudesta, kirjallisuusmaailman vaatimuksesta taipua stereotypiaan - ja hänen lisäkseen muun muass ’Pemi Aguda osaa kieltäytyä tästä roolista taiten.
Kun tästä pääsee yli, kirja on juuri omanlaisenaan, ilman Valkoisen Miehen määritelmiä upea. Se kuvaa erilaista nyrjähtänyttä arkea, yllättäviä kohtaamisia, lapsen menetyksen surua, isiä kaikennielevien pienokaisten äärellä. Aguda kirjoittaa suoraa, taitavaa proosaa, novellit vangitsevat, jättävät länsimaalaisen lukijan osin ulkopuolelleenkin, mikä on hyvinkin tervehdyttävää. Akwaeke Emezi on kirjoittanut aiemmin afrikkalaisten länsimaalaisten odotuksiin kirjoittamasta kirjallisuudesta, kirjallisuusmaailman vaatimuksesta taipua stereotypiaan - ja hänen lisäkseen muun muass ’Pemi Aguda osaa kieltäytyä tästä roolista taiten.
July 19, 2025
An incredible short story collection. It's so rare for me to find a collection where I enjoy each story so thoroughly, and for me to feel each story is strong and hold its own. I was so impressed with how cohesive and striking this was as a whole.
Set in Lagos, Nigeria, the stories explore culture, tradition vs modernity, motherhood, generational divides, all written in a style I found very fresh and distinct. I loved the elements of the supernatural, the uncanny, the magical realism influences. So many of these stories were so unsettling and haunting, and left such an impression.
Set in Lagos, Nigeria, the stories explore culture, tradition vs modernity, motherhood, generational divides, all written in a style I found very fresh and distinct. I loved the elements of the supernatural, the uncanny, the magical realism influences. So many of these stories were so unsettling and haunting, and left such an impression.
February 27, 2025
nice and spooky
July 4, 2024
It's been a while since I wrote a considered book review. Breaking out of a hibernation of sorts for this special book:
In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, a character tells the protagonist, Milkman, “You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.”
The beauty of most short story collections is that as one reads the writer's obsession starts to emerge. This is evident to anyone who reads 'Pemi Aguda's debut short story collection. Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Aguda's characters are eager to unburden themselves of what they believe they have inherited or has been passed down to them. In some instances, like in the stories "Contributions" and "Birdwoman,"the freedom they seek is from their physical bodies. Another thread is this astutely written collection is the centering of the familial dynamics: what they cost us and what we do to get free.
This book's strength lies not only in the surprisingly surreal and psychological twists that Aguda brings to her stories. It is also in the precise and exacting prose, as well as the writer's astute gaze and psychological read on situations that one can easily pass off as mundane.
So, do yourself a favor and run to get this brilliantly layered and sharply written collection of short stories. Since I began this review with a Toni Morrison quote, I'll end with one: "Sometimes you don’t survive whole. You just survive in part. But the grandeur of life is that attempt."
In GHOSTROOTS, we see the characters make this attempt and it's a marvel to experience.
In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, a character tells the protagonist, Milkman, “You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.”
The beauty of most short story collections is that as one reads the writer's obsession starts to emerge. This is evident to anyone who reads 'Pemi Aguda's debut short story collection. Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Aguda's characters are eager to unburden themselves of what they believe they have inherited or has been passed down to them. In some instances, like in the stories "Contributions" and "Birdwoman,"the freedom they seek is from their physical bodies. Another thread is this astutely written collection is the centering of the familial dynamics: what they cost us and what we do to get free.
This book's strength lies not only in the surprisingly surreal and psychological twists that Aguda brings to her stories. It is also in the precise and exacting prose, as well as the writer's astute gaze and psychological read on situations that one can easily pass off as mundane.
So, do yourself a favor and run to get this brilliantly layered and sharply written collection of short stories. Since I began this review with a Toni Morrison quote, I'll end with one: "Sometimes you don’t survive whole. You just survive in part. But the grandeur of life is that attempt."
In GHOSTROOTS, we see the characters make this attempt and it's a marvel to experience.
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