In Every Mirror She's Black: A Novel

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This book must be published in Swedish immediately. (A recording with readers who are more adept with the Swedish language, and American Southern and Swedish accents should follow closely afterwards. Thus 4 stars for the audiobook, instead of 5.) The various experiences of Afro Swedish women in this book speak into a yawning void in Sweden, where the existence of racism is largely denied.

A chance meeting with Jonny in business class en route to the U.S. propels former model-turned-flight-attendant Brittany-Rae Johnson into a life of wealth, luxury, and privilege—a life she’s not sure she wants—as the object of his unhealthy obsession.I think I was surprised by how much these stories seemed wrapped up in isolation and loneliness. I found Kemi’s storyline to be the most relatable, while Muna’s was the most engaging (at least for a while), and Brittany-Rae’s was certainly the most bizarre. This all seemed very purposeful. Even as a white American woman who has immigrated to Sweden, these characters spoke to cultural exclusion I’ve experienced where my (white American) husband thrives. The stark difference being that he was recruited for a high level position (similar to Kemi’s story) and I followed. This puts me in a position closer to Muna’s, where I struggle to find steady employment, despite an American university degree and fluency in English - advantages that Muna doesn’t have. And refugee Muna Saheed finds a job cleaning the toilets at Jonny's office as she works to establish her residency in Sweden and, more importantly, seeks connection and a place she can call home.

First of all, I love the title both in and outside of the context of the novel. That is mostly what drew me in as a reader, as well as the idea of three women who are all in some way related to this powerful exec. Muna’s story was powerfully told. I know Lola from the travel blogging and photography world, and so I was familiar with the gorgeous portraits she did of refugees in Sweden, and know that the author drew from her work there to create Muna’s character. Setting and the Novel There is a sequel coming out in 2023 that I do want to read, but only because some of the storylines felt unfinished in the end. I guess I was intentional knowing she did write a two book deal at the outset.With that being said, I disliked Johnny from the beginning. I knew there was something slimy and manipulative about him. He's a creepy stalker who anchored himself in Brittany's life (and she let him *shakes head in abject disappointment*), got her pregnant, lured her to his country to isolate her, and married her, all to feed his disturbing obsession with his dead ex-girlfriend. He convinced Brittany to name (unbeknownst to her) their daughter after her! Wtf! And then ultimately holds their daughter as leverage to keep Brittany from leaving Sweden. An evil mastermind, I tell you! He never fooled me with his innocent act. Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham is a Young Adult novel about the 1921 Tulsa Massacre. Like Mirror, this book is told from different perspectives that ultimately intertwine. Also like Mirror, Dreamland teaches about a weighty and important topic in a manner which is both engaging and enjoyable. A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism. Do be aware that there are lots of very steamy romantic scenes in Mirror, so this book is not for those seeking strictly G-rated reading. There are also several mentions of violence: physical and emotional harm, as well as deep-dives into weighty issues such as racism, self-harm, abuse, and sexism. I could not put this down. I was hoping all 3 women would meet but their stories aligned in a way i didn't expect.

Yasmiin and Kadija went through trauma on their own and I don’t know whether I was happy with how their stories ended. Throughout the novel, Muna develops many short-lived relationships, with the longest being her uncomfortable acquaintance with Yagiz. Why do you think these relation- ships are transient, and what do you think the author is trying to convey in her relationship with Yagiz?I just want to send a request to all authors. . . . please don't waste my time with a story you never intended to finish. I don't need an HEA and things wrapped up in a pretty bow. Real life doesn't work that way therefore, I don't expect it in books. There is no need to finally divulge information that’s life altering and then end the book. WTF?!?!?!

I wondered what means her curiosity served though. It was really not my cup of tea, lol. I couldn’t decide what kind of character she was with that side ; was she quiet or outspoken? Because she barraged people with personal questions but couldn’t speak to Kemi ? That was simply not meant to be ; it was plain hostile and it really pushed the narrative that women generally do not like each other and for me that was a problem. Considering Muna and the other two girls Yasmiin and Kadija were all broken I expected that they’d be some sort of refuge for each other; but no And how could she forget the Jamaican real estate agent, Devan, whose gaze kept trailing every white woman who sauntered past their table while professing unflinching love for the sisters? I found this novel slightly uneven - of the three almost-intersecting stories, one is considerably weaker than the other two and unfortunately comes to somewhat dominate the narrative.

About the contributors

The author, Lola Akinmade Åkerström (who I’ve been following for years as a travel blogger) is a Nigerian-American woman who has lived in both Sweden and America, and thus brings a depth of experience to the novel which few others could pull off. What is It Like to Read? To my two beautiful kids, all I do, I do for you so we’re having the uncomfortable conversations in society that will finally create the fertile soil for you to fully bloom and thrive. Malcolm, Jose, and Tobias were the best! Lovely men and friends, and such needed warmth, connection, and support amid the pain and isolation. They also added much to the book’s inquiry of what makes a “suitable match.” Gunhild also fits this category of warmth-bringers. Kemi’s relationship with Ragnar is unhealthy almost from the start. What does her final interaction with him show about her own growth and what she’s learned about herself in Sweden?