Chris Abani Book order

"A collection of poems by Chris Abani"-- Provided by publisher

An anthology of noir stories set in the tumultuous metropolis, Lagos. Edited by Chris Abani, this collection brings together brand new stories from some of Nigeria's best loved writers.

Nigerian-born author and poet Chris Abani gives a profound and gorgeously wrought short memoir that navigates the stories written upon his own face. Beginning with his early childhood immersed in the lgbo culture of West Africa, Abani unfurls a lushly poetic, insightful, and funny narrative that investigates the roles that race, culture, and language play in fashioning our sense of self

A gritty, riveting, and wholly original murder mystery from PEN/Hemingway Award-winning author and 2015 Edgar Awards winner Chris Abani Before he can retire, Las Vegas detective Salazar is determined to solve a recent spate of murders. When he encounters a pair of conjoined twins with a container of blood near their car, he’s sure he has apprehended the killers, and enlists the help of Dr. Sunil Singh, a South African transplant who specializes in the study of psychopaths. As Sunil tries to crack the twins, the implications of his research grow darker. Haunted by his betrayal of loved ones back home during apartheid, he seeks solace in the love of Asia, a prostitute with hopes of escaping that life. But Sunil’s own troubled past is fast on his heels in the form of a would-be assassin. Suspenseful through the last page, The Secret History of Las Vegas is Chris Abani’s most accomplished work to date, with his trademark visionary prose and a striking compassion for the inner lives of outsiders.

Imaginative and witty, this poetry collection showcases a vibrant energy and a profound beauty of expression, drawing on themes from contemporary life, history, and art. The poems range from meditative to narrative, often highlighting extreme situations where compassion and individual determination prevail. Notable works include "Daphne's Lot," which delves into the life of an Englishwoman during the Nigerian civil war, and "Buffalo Women," an epistolary sequence exploring love amid the American Civil War. Through irony and empathy, the collection presents characters in conflict with their societies.

The narrative delves into the life of a woman who embodies resilience and defiance against societal norms. Set against a backdrop of political turmoil and personal struggles, it intricately weaves themes of identity, survival, and the human spirit. The protagonist's journey is marked by her connection to dogs, symbolizing loyalty and freedom, as she navigates the complexities of love, loss, and the search for belonging. Abani's poetic prose and vivid imagery create a compelling portrait of a woman fighting for her place in a fractured world.

Trained as a human mine detector, My Luck, a boy soldier in West Africa witnesses and takes part in unspeakable brutality. At 12 his vocal cords are cut to prevent him from screaming and giving away his platoon's presence, should he be blown up.

Chris Abani’s fourth poetry collection, Hands Washing Water, is a mischievous book of displacement, exile, ancestry, and subversive humor. The central section, “Buffalo Women,” is a Civil War correspondence between lovers that plays on our assumptions about war, gender, morality, and politics. Abani’s writing is ruthless, boldly engages with trauma, and is filled with surprising twists and turns.

This novel is set in Maroko, a sprawling, swampy, crazy and colorful ghetto of Lagos, Nigeria, and unfolds against a backdrop of lush reggae and highlife music, American movies and a harsh urban existence. Elvis Oke, a teenage Elvis impersonator spurred on by the triumphs of heroes in the American movies and books he devours, pursues his chosen vocation with ardent single-mindedness. He suffers through hours of practice set to the tinny tunes emanating from the radio in the filthy shack he shares with his alcoholic father, his stepmother and his stepsiblings. He applies thick makeup that turns his black skin white, to make his performances more convincing for American tourists and hopefully net him dollars. But still he finds himself constantly broke. Beset by hopelessness and daunted by the squalor and violence of his daily life, he must finally abandon his dream.With job prospects few and far between. Elvis is tempted to a life of crime by the easy money his friend Redemption tells him is to be had in Lago's underworld. But the King of the Beggars, Elvis's enigmatic yet faithful adviser, intercedes. And so, torn by the frustration of unrealizable dreams and accompanied by an eclectic chorus of voices, Elvis must find a way to a Graceland of his own making.Graceland is the story of a son and his father, and an examination of postcolonial Nigeria, where the trappings of American culture reign supreme.

The collection delves into the themes of disempowerment and power through a series of poignant and complex poems. The poet reconstructs his feminized identities, showcasing a spectrum of emotions from outrage to compassion. The voices of women throughout the work resonate with authenticity as they express their struggles and resilience, navigating the challenges of their worlds. With its lyrical depth and emotional range, this collection stands out as a significant contribution to contemporary poetry, offering a bold exploration of human experience.