When I was handed this book, I was so ecstatic and couldn’t wait to get deep in it. First page, second page, the ninetieth page just like that, I had to put it down because well the world…. It sure is a page-turner. It is one of those books you can hardly put down; intriguing suspense one page after the other as you go deeper and deeper you submerge yourself right in the depths of the story unfolding in Mombasa, Kilifi, Indian Ocean, Nairobi and the other different locations mentioned in this book.
Haroun Risa, the author pens it down in a way only the end pages hold the answers and woe unto you if you don’t intend to finish it. When I attended the book launch I remember mentioning to a friend that he did indeed need an intimate group given by the chairs available at the Médiathèque, Alliance Française (who are by the way looking for Kenyan writers to give a platform to) but what a launch it was, very engaging and well organized betraying their thoughtful well laid out plans complete with a book signing session as you sip your cocktail at the end of the evening chatting away with fellow writers filmmakers and the likes.
The writing style he used of painting a picture of the events transpiring, it is like reading a careless script and if you are one of those people who imagine and travel to the world of the author, this book will form 24, the TV series in your head. Three days after…, two weeks before…,22:36 Nairobi…, Risa made sure you got hooked to the story and just like Russian dolls you unravel one story just to find the beginning of another. The pure mix of prose, promiscuous poetry and conspicuous factual intros is a masterpiece for a nippy mind. That is how I got to finish it in two weeks or less with only an hour to my day to read it every morning on my way to work.
#MombasaRahaMyFoot is just one the sequel of five books he is yet to release and drum rolls please….the book is soon being adapted to a film!!
I am incomplete bias whether to tell you what the book is about so I will just mention it briefly and kindly go find it here.
The book explicitly highlights the behind-the-scenes happenings of the sex trade/prostitution and child sexual molestation and abuse in the backdrop of Kenya’s tourism pride and prime destination-Pwani through complicated characters in a meticulous fictional story born out of four years of writing, travelling, interviewing and researching on the sex trade down the coast.
Thank you, Haroun Risa, for gracing us with this book which is a reflection of your gift as a writer, Asante!
That's music to my ears.
I will however want to read the book. Am keen on that.
Yeah, I couldn't have a better title of the review of the book than the title of the book...I will consult you next time dear reader.
The choice of MombasaRaha as the title is a super put off..