Welcome to The Author As A Reader where your favourite authors reveal the books that shaped them. In this series, we dive into their reading lives, from the stories that bring them comfort to the books they can’t stop recommending. They’ll share the novels they’d love to see on screen, the covers they can’t resist, and even the book that made them believe in the power of words. It’s a cozy, behind-the-scenes look at the books that have left a mark and who knows, you might just find your next memorable read.
I’m appointing him a bookish ecosystem builder, yes, I just made that up but the shoe fits. Troy Onyango is a Kenyan storyteller whose debut collection, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings, grabbed our attention in 2022. He’s also the founder of Lolwe, a Pan‑African literary magazine, and co-owner of Lolwe Books in Kenya and the UK.
Now, Troy’s has gone global: he’s one of the judges for the 2026 International Booker Prize, joining a stellar panel appointed in June 2025 to spotlight the best translated fiction from around the world. If you haven’t read his work, this is your sign to do so. Also, #SupportLolwe.
The Author As A Reader | Troy Onyango
My earliest reading memory: Wait, are we talking way back in nursery school? Haha. Probably the Moses series by Barbara Kimenye because they were always laying around in our house. I was too young to be reading them but I just kept going.
A book I’d like to see adapted to the screen is: A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James would be my first pick. Bloody, brutal, filled with music and just brilliant on so many levels. Another one would be The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste, because who wouldn’t want to see that level of genius on screen! My other wish used to be One Hundred Years of Solitude and that’s now a TV show on Netflix. Go watch it!
A book I return to for comfort is: Devotions by Mary Oliver and Poems: 1968-2020 by Nikki Giovanni. I find that poetry is always where I run to when I’m looking for some solace.
The most recent book I’ve seen with the most gorgeous cover: Losing the Plot by Derek Owusu! I want that cover on my wall. Also, Masobe covers are gorgeous and I love the care they put into each and every one of them!
The book I think is most underrated: There’s so many books that I think are underrated especially when it comes to books by African authors but I’ll go with The Eternal Audience of One by Rémy Ngamije, The Dragonfly Sea by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, These Letters End in Tears by Xaviere Musih Tedji, The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, and Things They Lost by Okwiri Oduor! These are such bold, audacious books and I feel like I’d want to force everyone to read them.
If my book had a soundtrack, the first song would be… Probably Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin or Show by Victoria Kimani, which is in the first story.
The last book I purchased: Theft by Abdulrazak Gurnah. I absolutely love his work because I feel like I have access to the work in a way that elevates the reading experience.
A book that made me recognize the power of words: Sula by Toni Morrison! I mean everything Toni Morrison wrote is out of this world but Sula is that book that gave me permission to read and write in a way that no other book ever did.
A book whose author I’d like to go to lunch with: The Most Secret Memory of Men because I am currently obsessed with Mohamed Mbougar Sarr and would love nothing more than to go to lunch with him! Also, I definitely want to have lunch with Arundhati Roy because The God of Small Things lives in my mind rent free!
A book with the best opening line: Definitely Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions! A masterclass in opening lines!
The book I’m most ashamed not to have read: None. There’s no shame when it comes to books for me. I read books when I’m ready for them and when I feel able to appreciate them then the most.
If I could recommend one book to my younger self, what it would be: Decolonising the Mind by Ngugi wa Thiongo. Just wish I read this earlier because I would have thought about a lot of things differently.
Something Bookish Curators are always on the lookout for the next great read to add to your #TBR. Whether it’s a backlist gem, a breakout debut, the book everyone will be talking about next, or a beloved classic, we’ve got recommendations you won’t want to miss. Join the conversation and read along with us on social!
