Abi Daré’s Book Recommendations

Welcome to Shelf Life, ELLE.com’s books column, in which authors share their most memorable reads. Whether you’re on the hunt for a book to console you, move you profoundly, or make you laugh, consider a recommendation from the writers in our series, who, like you (since you’re here), love books. Perhaps one of their favorite titles will become one of yours, too.

And So I Roar by Abi Daré

$28 at penguinrandomhouse.com $18 at Amazon

Abi Daré’s second book, And So I Roar (Dutton), picks up days after her last book, the 2020 NYT-bestselling The Girl with the Louding Voice ends. For that book, she won the Desmond Elliott Prize, British Book Awards Best Book of The Year, the Nigeria Prize for Literature (Africa’s largest literary Prize), and the Bath Novel Award for unpublished manuscripts. She bought an electronic toothbrush for her taxation professor mother with some of the prize money, but it was Daré’s daughter who, complaining about having to load the dishwasher, sparked the idea for the story about a 14-year-old housemaid in Lagos, Nigeria. (Bridgerton actress Adjoa Andoh will narrate the audiobook of And So I Roar.)

The Lagos-born and -raised, Essex, UK-based author studied law at University of Wolverhampton, earned master’s degrees (with distinction) in creative writing from Birkbeck, University of London (the book, which took three years, was part of her dissertation) and in international project management at Glasgow Caledonian University, where she also received an honorary doctorate of letters.

She founded the Louding Voice Educational and Empowerment Foundation, which provides scholarships to girls in rural Nigeria (her title: Chief Louding Officer); collaborates with companies to incorporate storytelling in their businesses; is a board member of the BIC Corporate Foundation; works for an academic publisher in project management; contributed an essay to Of This Our Country about Nigerian identity; was a judge for the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (and was a guest at Buckingham Palace to meet the winners); hasn’t finished a TV series in some time; considered selling shoes and quitting writing; once self-published Christian fiction and edited her church newsletter; and worked at a jewelry store when she first moved to the UK.

Inspirations: Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.

Likes: Teaching, cafes, the sound of rain (but needs silence when editing), hazelnut lattes, puff-puff (a Nigerian doughnut-like snack), the Louding Voice chair her publishers gave to her for her first book. Curl up with one of her recs below.

The book that:

…helped me through a breakup or a loss:

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. I read this about 20 years ago while at emotional crossroads and found its themes of resilience and finding strength through adversity incredibly comforting.

…made me miss a train stop:

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. I read this while traveling from London to Manchester and very nearly missed my stop on the train. It was that good. It made me cry too.

…made me weep uncontrollably:

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. The depth of the characters’ suffering and the beauty of their enduring hope broke my heart.

…I recommend over and over again:

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Its exploration of friendship, betrayal, and redemption is timeless and universally resonant.

...shaped my worldview:

The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Walker’s portrayal of resilience in the face of systemic oppression and personal trauma broadened my understanding of human strength and dignity.

...made me rethink a long-held belief:

A Thousand Splendid Suns painted Afghanistan’s beauty and showed the devastation of war, making me reconsider my preconceived notions about the country and its people.

…I swear I’ll finish one day:

Ulysses by James Joyce. I don’t even know where to start with this one. Everyone talks about how brilliant it is, and I want to join the conversation, but I’m unsure how!

...I read in one sitting; it was that good:

Room by Emma Donoghue. The child narrator’s voice and the story’s harrowing yet hopeful journey kept me hooked from the first page to the last.

…currently sits on my nightstand:

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason. I’m captivated by its raw portrayal of mental health and relationships.

…I’d pass on to a kid:

The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. These classic adventure stories are perfect for igniting a love of reading in children.

…I’d give to a new graduate:

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Its insights into finding meaning and direction can be incredibly grounding during life transitions.

…made me laugh out loud:

I LOVED Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. Its sharp wit and humorous take on suburban life had me in stitches.

…I’d like turned into a TV show:

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams. The protagonist’s vibrant personality and complex life would make for compelling viewing.

…I first bought:

It must have been one of the Famous Five novels by Enid Blyton. Begged my mother to buy this on one of her trips back from the UK because I was so convinced I was one of the Famous Five. These books sparked my lifelong love of reading.

…I last bought:

White Teeth by Zadie Smith. Her portrayal of multicultural London is both hilarious and deeply insightful.

…has the best title:

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. The title captures the essence of adolescence with a simple yet profound question.

…has the best opening lines:

The first line in Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. “Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.” sucked me right in.

…has the greatest ending:

The Kite Runner. It’s such a difficult one to answer. The ending of this book brings a sense of catharsis and hope that stays with you long after you’ve finished the book.

…broke my heart:

The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma. The unraveling of brotherly bonds against the backdrop of Nigerian folklore was profoundly tragic.

…features a character I love to hate:

Martha Friel’s complexity and flaws in Sorrow and Bliss make her both frustrating and utterly compelling.

…helped me become a better writer:

The Color Purple. Its epistolary form and raw emotional honesty taught me the power of voice and perspective.

…grew on me:

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. Initially slow, but the humour and depth of character development won me over.

…is a master class on dialogue:

White Teeth. The multiculturalism portrayed in this book is excellent, with witty and true-to-life dialogue that makes the characters feel real.

…describes a house I’d want to live in or a place I’d want to visit:

The mansion in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Manderley’s gothic charm and eerie beauty are irresistibly alluring.

…should be on every college syllabus:

The Color Purple. Its exploration of race, gender, and resilience is essential reading for understanding human rights and dignity.

…I’ve re-read the most:

The Color Purple. Its powerful narrative and emotional depth draw me back again and again.

…I consider literary comfort food:

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Its atmospheric storytelling and timeless intrigue provide a perfect escape.

…I would have blurbed if asked:

Every single book I’ve bought! Each one offers something unique and valuable.

…I never returned to the library (mea culpa):

It’s funny, I always buy books and then donate to the library!

…sealed a friendship:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. For some reason, I didn’t connect with this book at the first try, my friend kept on trying to convince me to give it another go. I am glad I did! Discussing its themes, characters, and emotional impact brought us closer!

…inspired me to donate to a cause:

A Thousand Splendid Suns. Its portrayal of Afghan women’s struggles motivated me to support women’s education globally.

…makes me feel seen:

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. Its diverse narratives and intersectional perspectives resonate deeply with my own experiences.

…features the coolest book jacket:

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. The cover’s lush, evocative artwork is as mesmerizing as the writing.

…everyone should read:

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Its chilling dystopia and powerful feminist themes are thought-provoking.

…I could only have discovered at a quaint independent bookstore in London:

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. McBride’s masterful storytelling and richly drawn and often humorous characters create a vivid portrait of a diverse neighborhood coming together in the face of adversity. A complete gem!

…fills me with hope:

The Purpose Driven Life. Its guidance on living a meaningful life is profoundly uplifting.

…surprised me:

Rebecca. Its unexpected twists and psychological depth kept me on my toes.

…I’d want signed by the author:

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Her poignant storytelling and brilliant writing deserve a treasured autograph.

…I asked for as a kid:

Malory Towers by Enid Blyton. I loved the adventures and friendships at the boarding school.

Bonus question: If I could live in any library or bookstore in the world, it would be:

Stuttgart City Library (Stuttgart, Germany). Give me a tiny room in this modern architectural marvel with its pristine white, minimalist design and I’d be happy! It’s such a serene and visually stunning haven for book lovers!