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Binti (Binti, #1)

Nnedi Okorafor,

N.K. Jemisin (Foreword)

Start date: November 11, 2015

Finish date: November 30, 2015

Discussion: Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: Group Novella Discussion November 2015
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What Members Thought

Feb 24, 2016 mina rated it it was ok

Not interesting at all.

(Might contain spoiler, you have been warned.)
I read this in audiobook format, read by someone with African accent, so it is really appropriate, although I have to struggle in the beginning to understand what she said.
The book mostly consists of monologue of the main character about her otjize, her hair, her multifunctional edan, and her tribe, when she did not talk to Meduse or the Council in Oomza University.

The novella maybe talked about prejudice against different tr ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 14, 2020 Netanella rated it really liked it

Shelves: hugo-winners, alien-encounters, nebula-winners, 2020-september-reading-challenges

This is a wonderful story of an exceptionally bright girl, Binti, of the Himba tribe of Namibia, who's on her way to the Harvard or Yale of the future - here, it's Oomza University, and Binti is clothed in the traditional garb of her people, including the red clay ochre that defines her as a person. But Binti is not just any ordinary math genius with a godstone in her pocket - no, she is much more than that. For when she encounters the deadly, tentacled Meduse on her first voyage from home, Bint ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2016 Tani rated it really liked it

Shelves: novella, female-author, scifi, sff-2016, sff-explorer-2016

With my husband away from home and my house preternaturally quiet this week, I'm having an impromptu read-a-thon, and Binti was my second pick. It's one I've been meaning to read for quite some time now, given its huge popularity. Novellas are kind of strange to fit into my reading rotation, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity.

I knew a very basic summary of Binti before I started reading, and from what I knew, I expected a coming-of-age story about a young girl away from home for With my husband away from home and my house preternaturally quiet this week, I'm having an impromptu read-a-thon, and Binti was my second pick. It's one I've been meaning to read for quite some time now, given its huge popularity. Novellas are kind of strange to fit into my reading rotation, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity.

I knew a very basic summary of Binti before I started reading, and from what I knew, I expected a coming-of-age story about a young girl away from home for the first time. My expectations were reinforced by the start of the novella. However, as the story went on, things changed drastically, and I'll admit that the change from what I was expecting came as a bit of a shock to me. I suspect that may be part of why I didn't love it like so many people did, although I did enjoy it greatly.

I was immediately drawn to the character of Binti. As someone who's naturally pretty anxious in public spaces, I completely empathized with her nervousness, and that let me easily slip into the story. I really love when that happens. And when the story abruptly shifted from being just a peaceful journey, I think I was just as shocked as Binti was. I loved the strength that she showed throughout the story. I think that was the aspect that made it the most enjoyable for me.

The world-building was also tremendous. Nnedi Okorafor was able to create a completely changed world in an incredibly small amount of space, and I think she did a very admirable job of conveying that world as complex and interesting without completely overwhelming me with detail. I loved how math was such a force in this world, and how adept Binti was at using it as a tool. Also, the different alien species that we got to meet were fantastic! I like my aliens to be different enough to truly feel alien, and yet to have some basic thread of spiritual connection to humans at the same time, if you know what I mean. These definitely fulfilled both of those requirements.

I very much enjoyed reading this. Nnedi Okorafor has been on my list for quite a while, and I'm very glad that I finally got a chance to read something by her. I hope that the coming year provides me with that chance again! ...more

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Nov 21, 2018 Shhhh... Books rated it it was amazing

Shelves: scifi, adult, ownvoices

This is between a 4 and a 5, but I really did enjoy this. I'd previously read Okorafor's Akata Witch and hadn't been wowed, but this one really worked for me. Here's why:

1. The intersection of Binti's identity as a Himba person with the violence of the Meduse - all because of the arrogant actions of the majority races on Oomza Uni - and how they come to really deeply communicate and resolve something that otherwise feels unresolvable ... made me very happy. #pacificism
2. I love the worldbuilding ...more

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