Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space, Remy Ngamije
Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space, Remy Ngamije
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Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space
A Literary Mixtape

Author: Rémy Ngamije

Narrator: Janina Edwards, Aaron Goodson, Dennis Kleinman, Anthony Oseyemi

Unabridged: 8 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/03/2024


Synopsis

In this “absolute marvel of a book” (Dinaw Mengestu, author of Someone Like Us), acclaimed author Remy Ngamije offers up a vibrant collection of award-winning short fiction.

Presented as a literary mixtape, Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space is a work that provides you with a uniquely modern reading experience. The A-Side, read as one narrative, tells the story of a soon-to-be thirty-year-old aspiring writer navigating a complicated world. The B-Side, taken as a separate experience, features (seemingly) independent and unrelated short stories.

There’s “Crunchy, Green Apples (or, Omo)”, a story about loss told by the strangest of narrative devices: a shopping list. “Sofa, So Good, Sort Of (or, John Muafangejo)” is a first-person account of a family’s history and a long journey towards hope. A group of friends attempts to navigate a recent breakup in “From the Lost City of Hurtlantis to the Streets of Helldorado (or, Franco).”

When read together, however, a third world emerges—a complex, intergenerational, and interconnected “journey across all genres” (Mukoma Wa Ngugi, author of Unbury Our Dead with Song) that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

About Rémy Ngamije

Rémy Ngamije is a Rwandan-born Namibian writer and photographer. He won the Africa Regional Prize of the 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize and was shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2021 and 2020. He is the founder of the Doek Arts Trust, an arts organization which publishes Doek! Literary Magazine, the country’s first literary magazine which he cofounded and serves as editor-in-chief. His work has been supported by the Civitella Ranieri Foundation and the Miles Morland Foundation and has been featured in literary festivals in Accra, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Berlin, and Basel. More of his writing can be read on his website: RemyTheQuill.com.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Chrissie on January 28, 2025

A literary mixtape, indeed. Every single story in this collection feels necessary and is a surprising combination of connected and whole, where any of them could stand on their own. Ngamije has set up pairings and pseudo-pairings of short stories...A-sides and B-sides. The A-sides carry a narrative......more

Goodreads review by Skyler on June 30, 2024

Thank you so much to Rémy Ngamije, Gallery/Scout Press, and NetGalley for providing this free eARC in exchange for an honest review. I do believe that the term "literary mixtape" is what initially drew me in to this series of stories. And after eating this right up, this is the only possible term tha......more

Goodreads review by Carson on December 21, 2025

4.5/5 stars (rounded down) I love when books get freaky with the structure. in some ways the stories told in this book aren’t that unique, especially the main storyline about a writer trying to make sense of his life before his 30th birthday, and his reflections on friendship, family, and love. but t......more

Goodreads review by Retta on January 04, 2025

This books wasn’t for me. It was too abstract and I struggled to figure out who was narrating, what was going on, and how it was all connected.......more

Goodreads review by Harris on December 29, 2024

This was one of the most unique and clever books I've ever read (caveat: this book is not going to enjoyable for everyone. It requires a lot of attention, patience, and appreciation for bold choices in writing styles). The metaphors come at the reader like a Vin Diesel movie franchise. I spent a lot......more


Quotes

"The collected voices featured here have an emotional power that's funny, shocking, and heartbreaking as they provide an absorbing look at contemporary Namibian life. Loosely threaded together into "A" and "B" sides, like a mixtape, the material has a natural rhythm. Anthony Oseyemi portrays the brash writer-on-the-make voice of the "A-side," which recounts how his dreams of becoming a successful writer were confounded by his struggles with women. The "B-side" provides the compelling backbone to the audiobook's themes of growth and survival. Aaron Goodson's voice is reflective as he recounts the violence he encountered and the sadness behind his family's choices. Dennis Kleinman delivers a chilling section on the spectre of war. Janina Edwards provides an effective counterweight to the men's performances as her voice elevates the audiobook's overall impact."