<This might be the sappiest thing I have ever written, but please indulge me, it is 2am while I'm writing this and I'm in my feelings, hehe>
It would only be a slight exaggeration if I said that I have read "love in colour" a thousand times over.
It is a collection of short love themed re-imagined pieces of mythical stories from different parts of the world.
The book makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside and no matter how many times I read it, I still smile at the parts where I first smiled at, so I thought, "why not write about it?".
<Warning: This book could make you text your ex. Do not go on to read it if your past relationship was toxic or whatever, no say I no warn you, hehehe>
I am usually one to claim "indabosky", "hard girl", "badosky", "who needs a man?", but after reading love in colour, something in me broke, literally.
I cried like a brat baby, half because the book had ended and I had been thrown out of the lovey-lovey world, and half because chineke nna, what????
My life felt more than dull in comparison to the colourful ones the characters led.
In this 'almost review', I will be writing about my 5 favourite stories in the book, yes, there would be spoilerzzzz, you are welcome.
I fell in love with the book from the author's biography and the book's introduction
<Check it out and you will find out why, no spoilers here>, so you can imagine how difficult it was to pick just 5 out of 12!
I have also suggested songs that I thought fit the stories as well *sigh, the things I do because I love you lot. You should support me and this blog don't you think? Click here to become a blog partner today: Blog support
V. Siya.
Listen: Sexy Villain by Remi Wolf.
This story was re-imagined from the Soninke people of Wagadou. In the original folklore, Siya was a helpless virgin who was to be sacrificed to a snake-god and saved by an army officer named Maadi. In Bolu's story, Siya is the saviour and the leader of her clan and Maadi is her next in command, that is totally smitten. How cool is that!
I loved the dynamics of their 'commander-seargent' relationship and the fluidity it had, the respect that laced their interactions, how they were both complete in themselves and fitting right beside each other as friends, as comrades and as lovers. I love that they had built a partnership already even before they were willing and able to see that they had the hots for each other. I think friendship solidifies the foundations of any romance.
I am happy that Siya was able to look past her fear of heartbreak to make the first move—not that it is something that I would dare to do, hehehe.
My favourite lines this story:
"Siya raised her chin, as she did when addressing her army. ‘I have one more order, Sergeant.’ Something like disappointment rose up in Maadi’s eyes, but he inclined his head. ‘Anything, Commander.’ He stepped back, but Siya reached out to snatch his wrist. ‘Kiss me.’"
2. Naleli.
Listen: LOVE AFFAIR by Umi
This story is particularly close to my heart, mostly because it creates awareness about a medical condition and its destigmatization and secondly because it is all young luuurveeeee, the purest kind in friendship.
In the original story, Naleli is given little chances to form the narrative of her story, but in Bolu's story, Naleli is a bad-ass that finds a home in her skin and of course gets the boy.
My favourite line:
‘I said,’ I lifted the bottom of my shirt, pulled it over my braids and threw it on the floor, revealing the hot pink bikini that I’d been hiding, ‘I’m going for a swim. You coming?’
3. Scheherazade
Listen to: Beauty and the beast by Ariana Grande and John Legend.
This story felt like Bolu held my hands through a gentle journey into the lives of two lovers. Watching them transition from strangers, to two people wild in lust, to two people crazy in love, growing into each other. I loveeeeed this story too much and it made me cry.
My favourite lines:
'I am a man who is in love with you. You can’t do what you do out there in here,’ he gestured to the space between us. ‘In here it’s us. In here it’s sacred.
You and me. Don’t insult us by doing that. If you want to call it quits, then do it, but I won’t let you make me do it. If you want to walk out right now, do it, but you’re not going to make me push you out. I thought this was a love story, but if it isn’t, tell me I’m wrong. If I’m right, though, I can promise you that it will never end with me leaving you. I will want you forever.’
2. Ọṣun
Listen to: "wherever I go" by Lagbaja
Words are not enough to explain my lurrrrve for this story<btw, lurrrrve= love x 10,000>. It is a story of two souls finding each other, a mortal with very smooth flows and a goddess underappreciated by the god that was supposed to be her significant other, entwined by love into fate.
This piece was so beautifully written, it felt as though I were right there watching and listening to Erinlé woo Ọṣun into a spirit dance.
My favourite lines:
‘And how do you know that’s me?’ Erinlẹ shrugged in a matter-of-fact manner. ‘How do crows know when an earthquake is about to happen?’ Ọ ṣ un raised a brow. ‘So you sensed your destruction?’ Erinlẹ laughed, eyes glinting. ‘I sensed my world about to shift.’
Ọṣun, may I borrow you, I will kill a thousand lions for your dowry, Scale mountains to pluck the stars for your wedding jewels, Slap the clouds to make them cry so your rivers will always overflow.’
Stand tall, my queen. I would give you the universe but how Can I gift you to you? So I will give you my heart, strong and true, I cannot conjure thunder, but I will plant a forest for you, sow flowers that bloom In your presence, fruit that tastes like your essence.’
Ọṣun, oh, Ọṣun, My beat is calling your waist, Won’t you answer?
1. Alagomeji
Listen: POV by Ariana Grande
This one is in the number one spot because it felt too real. I am tempted to think it was based on a true life story. The descriptions are too vivid, the timing, the precision of the emotions felt by the characters at every point of the story, the softness of their love...everything.
I really hope it is based on a real life romanzz.
My favourite lines:
Time was constructed with love in mind. It is why the moments before a desired kiss stretch, why when your lips are finally introduced with another pair, it feels as if they have wanted to meet for some time, and why a day with your loved one can feel like an eternity on turbo-speed. Achingly, deliciously slow, but too fast, over too quick, melting between too-hot fingers. Time and love are intertwined, they are both measures of life, they are the two clocks.
Bolu Babalola's 'LOVE IN COLOUR' was an easy read, a page-turner and a heart toucher. She obviously understood the assignment and boy did she deliver.
The book is not one of those hot and fast romance novels with poorly cooked plots and jagbajantis coitus everywhere—no offence to those authors by the way.
The characters and the stories had depth to them and the power to make a hard girl weak inna the knees.
Haven't read the book yet? Don't worry, I got you.
Check it out here: Love in colour
P.S Follow me on Twitter! @xxcell__
<so that when I find this love, I will pepper you properly, teinkxxx>
P.S.S Have you read Love in colour already? Tell me how it made you feel in the commentsss!
P.S.S.S Any other book you've read that made your heart go 'ghish ghish'? Please recommend in the comments too, I'd love to check it out.
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