Bookish: PAULOS ESHETU
Paulos Eshetu is the founder of ADJECTIVE - a contemporary African art magazine, based out of Cape Town. In this month's bookish series, Paulos recommends his favorite African reads with us!
1. What was the first book you read?
Friends - This was the first book of the Sunrise Readers series offered in primary school in Zimbabwe.
2. What’s your favorite quote from a book?
We are but dust and shadow - Horace the Roman Poet
3. Which book would you recommend to everyone?
Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison
4. What do you prefer reading: fiction or non-fiction and why?
Non-fiction - our lives have enough wonder and mystery.
5. What’s your favorite place to read a book?
Whilst traveling whether it be on a bus, train or plane.
6. What’s your favorite word in your native tongue and why?
Bunna (coffee). Coffee is important for the economy, and in everyday life in Ethiopia. However, the social ritual is more important than the coffee itself.
7. Which author, dead or alive would you like to have a conversation with?
Jiddu Krishnamurti
8. Which three books should be mandatory for everyone?
Religious text, a dictionary, and 1984 (George Orwell). Yes, I have a read a dictionary from front to back.
9. Can you name a book that you’ve never read but always planned on reading some day?
Something from Russian literature.
10. What do you look for in a book?
New Ideas - can turn a blind eye to grammar when discovering new perspectives.
11. Which book would you take with you to a deserted island?
A bible.
12. What would the title of your memoir be?
Blood is thicker than Water.
13. Which person do you know personally is the best story teller, and why?
My mother - she has shared hundreds of story with so much emotional content. I listen to her with both ears.
14. What do you prefer: audio book or e-book?
E-book
15. What was your favourite African story growing up, and why?
Queen of Sheba, Battle of Adwa - These stories shaped my identity and sense of belonging in the world.