The Daily Assortment of Astonishing Things: The Caine Prize for African Writing 2016

The creators of Africa’s best-known literary prize collect another stunning assortment of stories from around the continent. The stories include domestic dramas, heart-wrenching family narratives, and the absurd realms of the mathematicians behind the formulas for just about everything on earth—including grief. These stories highlight some of Africa’s best emerging writers. Some, like NoViolet Bulawayo (We Need New Names), have already found global success; others, such as Lesley Nneka Arimah, have yet to publish a full-length book. As with most anthologies, some of the pieces don’t strike as loud a chord, but, for the most part, the breadth of writing and storytelling styles is refreshing and consistently engaging. Standouts include Okwiri Oduor’s precisely written “The Daily Assortment of Astonishing Things,” which won the prize, and Arimah’s “What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky.” For those interested in world literature, this is a great way to get a foothold in the expanse of excellent African writing, and fans of literature in general will find this a choice collection of well-crafted and consistently surprising stories. [em](Dec.) [/em]