An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah
It’s an outstanding collection of 13 short stories set in Zimbabwe. The settings shift from squalid townships to affluent suburbs, giving a vivid picture of how these environments shape the characters’ experiences.
The opening story, At the Sound of the Post, is a brilliant introduction to Petina Gappah’s writing. It’s an outrageous tale, filled with caricature-like characters, that immediately draws you in. The book maintains a satirical tone throughout. I found myself chuckling half the time while reading. Trust Petina to make you laugh about punitive burial rights or a man being robbed of his entire pension.
Some of the stories have unexpectedly dark twists that will leave you staring into the distance (whew! SisiBlandina). What makes this collection especially remarkable is how seamlessly sadness and humor are interwoven in each story.
Standout themes include: bureaucracy, immigration, hyperinflation, HIV/AIDS, corruption, mental health, loss, and family traditions.
Aside from the book being named after the second story, the word elegy is relevant to all the stories. In each one, there is some form of lament and remembrance—of people, places, resources, or experiences lost to unfortunate circumstances.
My book club read this as part of #TheCompletistChallenge2025, and the discussion was both charged and hilarious. It was amazing to see how everyone had a different favourite story. The title story, An Elegy for Easterly, is by far the most moving and an absolute tearjerker. My personal favourite was The Mupandawana Dancing Competition because of how much it made me laugh.
I’m convinced this book would be a perfect slump-buster for anyone trying to get back into their reading rhythm.
I cannot recommend this collection enough.
