Why the Sun
A gripping and unruly coming-of-age novel, from Rwanda to the suburbs of Helsinki.
Moses’ uncle David knows how to make money out of human misery. He rescues Moses from the Rwandan civil war and redeems his ticket to Finland. Overnight, Moses becomes David’s son, Elias. In their new homeland, they pretend to be a family, and no one suspects a thing.
Thanks to Finnish rap, Elias learns the language, and a field trip to a pig farm seals a fragile sense of togetherness. But there is another reality in the background, that of a mother and sister left behind in Rwanda. How can one reconcile two different worlds and find harmony between the new and old selves? Who should he become, and why?
Why the Sun tells a story of the fragility of identity and the incredible journey between two realities. A moving and gritty debut about finding one’s true identity in a layered and immediate narrative leavened with humour and heart. Ideal for readers of Gael Faye’s Small Country and Pajtim Statovci’s A Cow Gives Birth at Night.
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Reviews
“A very mature and linguistically complex postcolonial discourse.”
“Sensitive topics are discussed in beautiful language and with humor, which make the book feel lighter and, despite its content, not as heavy as one might imagine. The book contains amusing observations about Finland and living as a black person, and I often laughed out loud while reading Elias's thoughts. Feelings of infatuation, close friendship, and the exploration of one's own identity run parallel to growing up from beginning to end. Friendships in particular are associated with a lot of humour, as well as tender care and comfort.”
“A promising debut.”
“Fascinating - worth checking out.”
“An immigrant boy's journey turns into a flowing debut novel. ”
“An important book in terms of its subject matter alone – pioneering work, in fact.”
