Ghostroots
“Ghostroots” by ‘Pemi Aguda is a debut short story collection set in Lagos, Nigeria, blending the mundane with the supernatural. The twelve stories explore themes of inheritance, maternal lineage, and haunting legacies, often focusing on women grappling with familial and societal burdens. Aguda’s prose weaves unsettling yet deeply human narratives, where everyday life intersects with spectral presences. Notable stories include “Breastmilk,” which delves into generational trauma. The collection has been praised for its elegant voice and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, marking Aguda as a significant new voice in contemporary literature.
Description
- “Ghostroots” by ‘Pemi Aguda is a debut short story collection set in Lagos, Nigeria, blending the mundane with the supernatural. The twelve stories explore themes of inheritance, maternal lineage, and haunting legacies, often focusing on women grappling with familial and societal burdens. Aguda’s prose weaves unsettling yet deeply human narratives, where everyday life intersects with spectral presences. Notable stories include “Breastmilk,” which delves into generational trauma. The collection has been praised for its elegant voice and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, marking Aguda as a significant new voice in contemporary literature.
FAQs
- What is Ghostroots about?
- • Ghostroots is a collection of short stories by ‘Pemi Aguda, set primarily in Lagos, Nigeria. The stories explore themes of haunting—both literal and metaphorical—with a focus on maternal lineages, supernatural elements, and the complexities of female relationships. The narratives blend the uncanny with everyday life, creating an unsettling yet deeply human experience.
- What makes Ghostroots unique?
- • The book stands out for its seamless fusion of Nigerian cultural context with speculative and gothic fiction. Critics compare Aguda’s style to Shirley Jackson and Brian Evenson, praising her “razor-sharp” prose and ability to unsettle readers while delving into themes of identity, inheritance, and the supernatural.
- Who would enjoy this book?
- • Fans of literary fiction, speculative or gothic tales, and short story collections will appreciate Ghostroots. It’s ideal for readers who enjoy eerie, thought-provoking narratives that challenge assumptions about family, memory, and reality.
- Is Ghostroots part of a series?
- • No, this is ‘Pemi Aguda’s debut short story collection, though it has garnered significant acclaim, including a National Book Award longlisting.
- How have critics and readers responded to Ghostroots?
- • Reviews highlight its “hauntingly intricate” storytelling and “elegant, unsettling” voice. The Chicago Review of Books praised its exploration of womanhood, while Goodreads readers called it “cohesive” and “darkly creative.” Many note its lingering emotional impact.
- Are there recurring themes in the stories?
- • Yes, maternal hauntings, generational trauma, and the tension between individuality and ancestral ties recur throughout. The opening story, “Manifest,” sets the tone with a woman confronting her abusive mother’s ghost in her daughter’s face.
- Where is Ghostroots available for purchase?
- • The book is sold by major retailers like Amazon and indie platforms (e.g., Virago Bookshop). It’s also available in libraries, as noted by reviewers who borrowed copies.
Quotes
- “If I die, or if I go away. What’s the difference?” — Pemi Aguda
- “You’ll be alive,” she said. “It’ll be different for you.” I remained quiet. I couldn’t hope, but I could let her. — Pemi Aguda
- “Once you are caught in its currents, you flow with it no matter where it runs. And it runs through gorgeous and startling places.” — Pemi Aguda (from the story “Breastmilk”)
- “There is no right way to move in Aguda’s world. It is a world haunted, burdened—and fascinating, for anyone brave enough to dive into her evocative, eerie stories.” — Chicago Review of Books
- “Ghostroots, Pemi Aguda’s spectacular debut collection, is an instant classic, an elegant suite of stories set in Lagos, impeccably voiced and consistently unsettling—some in the way of the real, some of the unreal.” — Locus Magazine
- “Many of the book’s ghosts are passed down through maternal lineages, and it seems that hauntings are reserved mostly for women.” — Kirkus Reviews
- “In this beguiling collection of twelve imaginative stories set in Lagos, Nigeria, ‘Pemi Aguda dramatizes the tension between our yearning to be individuals and the ways we are haunted by what came before.” — Bookclubs.com
- Manifest 2,302 Words
- Breastmilk 2,335 Words
- Contributions 2,140 Words
- The Hollow 2,235 Words
- Imagine Me Carrying You 2,380 Words
- 24, Alhaji Williams Street 2,304 Words
- Things Boys Do 1,852 Words
- Birdwoman 2,365 Words
- Girlie 2,127 Words
- The Wonders of the World 2,359 Words
- The Dusk Market 2,335 Words
- Masquerade Season 2,251 Words
Quotes
“If I die, or if I go away. What’s the difference?”
— Pemi Aguda
“You’ll be alive,” she said. “It’ll be different for you.” I remained quiet. I couldn’t hope, but I could let her.
— Pemi Aguda
“Once you are caught in its currents, you flow with it no matter where it runs. And it runs through gorgeous and startling places.”
— Pemi Aguda (from the story “Breastmilk”)
“There is no right way to move in Aguda’s world. It is a world haunted, burdened
— and fascinating, for anyone brave enough to dive into her evocative, eerie stories.” — Chicago Review of Books
“Ghostroots, Pemi Aguda’s spectacular debut collection, is an instant classic, an elegant suite of stories set in Lagos, impeccably voiced and consistently unsettling
— some in the way of the real, some of the unreal.” — Locus Magazine
“Many of the book’s ghosts are passed down through maternal lineages, and it seems that hauntings are reserved mostly for women.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“In this beguiling collection of twelve imaginative stories set in Lagos, Nigeria, ‘Pemi Aguda dramatizes the tension between our yearning to be individuals and the ways we are haunted by what came before.”
— Bookclubs.com
FAQs
What is Ghostroots about?
• Ghostroots is a collection of short stories by ‘Pemi Aguda, set primarily in Lagos, Nigeria. The stories explore themes of haunting—both literal and metaphorical—with a focus on maternal lineages, supernatural elements, and the complexities of female relationships. The narratives blend the uncanny with everyday life, creating an unsettling yet deeply human experience.
Who would enjoy this book?
• Fans of literary fiction, speculative or gothic tales, and short story collections will appreciate Ghostroots. It’s ideal for readers who enjoy eerie, thought-provoking narratives that challenge assumptions about family, memory, and reality.
How have critics and readers responded to Ghostroots?
• Reviews highlight its “hauntingly intricate” storytelling and “elegant, unsettling” voice. The Chicago Review of Books praised its exploration of womanhood, while Goodreads readers called it “cohesive” and “darkly creative.” Many note its lingering emotional impact.