Small Worlds

De: Caleb Azumah Nelson

Narrado por: Caleb Azumah Nelson

Brought to you by Penguin.

WINNER OF THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 2024

An exhilarating and expansive new novel about fathers and sons, faith and friendship from Caleb Azumah Nelson, the no.1 bestselling, award-winning author of Open Water

The one thing that can solve Stephen's problems is dancing. Dancing at Church, with his parents and brother, the shimmer of Black hands raised in praise; he might have lost his faith, but he does believe in rhythm. Dancing with his friends, somewhere in a basement with the drums about to drop, while the DJ spins garage cuts. Dancing with his band, making music which speaks not just to the hardships of their lives, but the joys too. Dancing with his best friend Adeline, two-stepping around the living room, crooning and grooving, so close their heads might touch. Dancing alone, at home, to his father's records, uncovering parts of a man he has never truly known.

Stephen has only ever known himself in song. But what becomes of him when the music fades? When his father begins to speak of shame and sacrifice, when his home is no longer his own? How will he find space for himself: a place where he can feel beautiful, a place he might feel free?

Set over the course of three summers in Stephen's life, from London to Ghana and back again, Small Worlds is an exhilarating and expansive novel about the worlds we build for ourselves, the worlds we live, dance and love within.

©2023 Caleb Azumah Nelson (P)2023 Penguin Audio

An outstanding novel and a great audio production

This novel exposes the reality of Ghanian immigrants to London, The plot, relaying the emotional sacrifice of the families left behind, the struggle to create a safe, livable family reality in London and the tensions of generational expectations are beautifully told and relevant to all immigrants. This beautiful, understated plot also gently create in the reader a layer of understanding of the terrible added grief of racism, coping with the past (of the slave trade).

In addition to the beautiful plot, this novel includes a homage to jazz, the music of Ghana, and the food which together create a sense of identity. These notions are relevant to every human being, as are the generational expectations and the complexity of a father-son relationship.

it's beautifully written and an outstanding audio production. I hope he wins a Nobel prize for literature.