Binti: Home

There seems to be no better day than today, International Women's Day, to talk about an extraordinary piece of science fiction written by the brilliant Nnedi Okorafor, about belonging and identity from the perspective of a powerful young woman. You might recall that Binti was one of my two favorite works of science fiction of last year. It was evocative. Beautiful. Frightening. Most importantly, it was different. It managed to pack an incredible and vibrant world, a complex and compelling protagonist, and a spectacular plot into a fairly short piece of fiction. It told a story that could have easily fallen into the category of sci-fi tropes, but it avoided them by applying a unique voice and perspective through Binti, it’s main character. Binti: Home finds Binti after about a year at Oomza University. A year after she heroically (and accidentally, if I recall correctly) brokered peace between two warring planets. A year after she left home in the dead of night, against the wishes of her family and community, to study what is essentially mathemagics off-world. Binti’s experiences have changed her enormously—represented by a physical transformation: her dreaded hair has become like the tentacles of the jellyfish-like Meduse. The physical change is a vital piece of the story, not an on-the-nose metaphor for the internal changes in Binti. Much is made of physical appearances in Binti’s world, from the red clay she adorns herself with to the tribal intolerance she suffers at the hands of the upper class on Earth (and at Oomza U), and to the seemingly strange behaviors of the “desert people” that Binti’s tribe finds less-than-worthy of a seat at the table. As Binti is a story of perseverance and growth in the face of different types of adversity, Binti: Home is a story about shedding preconceived notions and inbuilt intolerances; about how experience inexorably changes us, and changes how the world sees us. The events of Binti were, for the most part, things that happened to Binti. In Binti: Home, she is confronted by the reality that despite her lack of agency or choice in most of the things that happened to her, she is blamed. She is mistrusted. She is made a pariah. The things that happen to us leave a mark. Sometimes, it’s subtle. Sometimes, it’s as dramatic as having tentacles for hair. Binti: Home explores the intersection between changing personal identity and changed external perception. It’s a fascinating, emotionally resonant exploration of an eminently relatable condition, couched within beautiful prose and a once-again spectacular plot. Nnedi Okorafor has once again left me deep in thought. While Binti: Home wasn’t as explosive a read for me as its predecessor, it was nevertheless a spectacular book. Nnedi Okorafor’s storytelling is masterful, and she has made a lifelong fan of me with Binti and Binti: Home. I eagerly await the next installment of Binti’s story.

BINTI: HOME is the followup to Nnedi Okorafor's multiple award winning novella Binti. While the original was short, compact, and told what was essentially an adventure space opera with some intriguing character and cultural elements seamlessly added into the story, BINTI: HOME is a much longer story. The expanded narrative gives all the characters room to breathe and not only have their story told, but but have the backstory of the culture and history of Binti's people presented to the reader in a way that deepens appreciation for what Binti is going through and what is to come. It is a year after the events of BINTI. Binti comes back to Earth and is accompanied by her friend, the Meduse Okwu. Binti has come home to make a pilgrimage that is customary for Himba women, a sort of rite of passage into adulthood. Binti has been struggling with life at the university. She has no friends other than Okwu - who along with other Meduse killed everyone on the ship transporting Binti to Oomza (so already things are a little out of the ordinary) - and is having to deal with the after effects of the massacre that happened on the ship. But as there are problems offworld at school, there are even more problems at home. Binti has a very complicated relationship with her friends and family back on Earth. Her family feels betrayed by her leaving home to go to the university, and both her friends and family feel that now she will never be able to settle down and marry. The Himba are both technologically advanced and provincial, both in the way they live their lives and their attitudes toward Binti, Okwu, and anything that is other. What Binti has done is nearly unforgivable. What Binti is about to go through will make things even worse. BINTI: HOME is a much richer story than the original BINTI. As Binti discovers her lineage and heritage - and how that lineage and heritage has affected her parents' behavior and attitude - she comes to understand so much more about herself and her people, while at the same realizing there is so much more to know, and that frightens her. BINTI: HOME, while the second story in a trilogy, with BINTI: THE NIGHT MASQUERADE being the third book in the Binti trilogy, does not suffer from "second book in the trilogy" syndrome. BINTI: HOME is a better book than its predecessor, made so by the fact that it is longer, giving Okorafor room to breathe and delve into the backstory and characters in a much deeper fashion, and in a way that was not possible in BINTI. BINTI: THE NIGHT MASQUERADE was published earlier this year. Given the promise of the second book - and the cliffhanger upon which it ends - I'm looking forward to reading the final book in the trilogy. If the first two books are any indication, I'm expecting a spectacular conclusion to the story.

"I was Himba, a master harmonizer. Then I was also Meduse, anger vibrating in my okuoko. Now I was also Enyi Zinariya, of the Desert People gifted with alien technology. I was worlds. What was home?" The first Binti novella was excellent, and its sequel did not disappoint. I was hooked from the very beginning and remained at the edge of my proverbial seat the entire time. I fell more in love with Binti on every page, as she struggled to find herself and prove that she belongs with her people, all while she knows who she is deep down, and it's someone who can be put into a box. After a year at the galaxy's top university, Binti feels compelled to return home to attempt to repair her family relationships and prove that she is a true woman of her people by making the traditional pilgrimage. She brings Okwu with her, her friend and classmate who belongs to a species long at war with Earth's primary race of people. It's dangerous, but she is a master harmonizer, and she is determined to bring him in peace. "What will you be?” she asked. “Maybe it is not up to you." As you might expect, her homecoming does not go as smoothly as Binti expects. And her pilgrimage—the journey that will prove to her people and to herself that she is still Himba, still one of them—is not to be either. Instead, she is handed another layer of complexity to her identity, and she has to figure out whether she can live with that. "In the stories of the Seven, life originated from the rich red clay that had soaked up rains. Microorganisms were called into active being when one of the Seven willed it and the others became interested in what would happen. That clay was Mother, otjize. I was clay now." Throughout this novella, I found myself especially intrigued by the symbolism of otijze, the clay mixture with which Himba women cover their skin and hair. They literally cover every inch of themselves in mud. But only the women. And it is considered extremely shameful for them to ever be seen without it—if that happens, their chances for marriage are shot. But the women are proud to wear it, and it's a central part of their identity. To Binti, it is a constant tie to her people and heritage, and rather than seeking to wash it off, she clings to the tradition as though her entire sense of self-worth depends on it. But it is not just mud, not just dirt. It's also soil, rich and fertile. It symbolizes women's place as dirty, less than, but also their role as mothers, life-giving. It is shame and also pride. Dirt and life. I loved following Binti's journey in this part of her story, as she rebels against her own strength and unique identity before she learns to embrace it and become who she is meant to be. I don't think she's all the way there yet, but I hope the emergency she's rushing off to circumvent at the end (darn you, cliffhanger!!) will take her the rest of the way. I can't wait to read the last one when it comes out soon!

Another novella by Nnedi Okorafor, a direct sequel to her Hugo and Nebula Award winning "Binti," this book again follows our title character Binti, a mathematics genius and member of the Himba people of Earth attending classes at the prestigious Oomza University on a distant planet. Binti has just finished her first year of classes and is still getting used to living so far from home -- and still growing accustomed to the transformations she's had to go through. Now she is headed home to Earth, accompanied by her friend, Okwu, one of the warlike Meduse aliens, who is attempting -- with very limited success -- to acclimate to the other species of the galaxy. But Binti's homecoming to Africa is strained. Her family, like the rest of the Himba people, are very traditional -- only a few ever venture far from home, and Binti traveling completely off the planet -- and causing some financial hardship at home -- leaves her even more of an outcast. But to her surprise, she learns that there are people even more outcast than the Himba, and after she makes a pilgrimage to meet them, she learns of their unexpected connections to her. This is another truly wonderful story by Okorafor, with excellent characterization and deepening mysteries about Binti's background and abilities. It's nice to get a closer look at Binti's family and community, and her quest balances on the edge between weird science and weirder mythology. There's a lot less for Okwu to do in this story, but what he does, he does very well. On one hand, he's deeply angry and usually just on the edge of committing spectacular violence. On the other, he often seems to be better in control of his emotions than anyone else -- aware of when he's angry and able, with only a little persuasion, to either stifle his rage or withdraw to a safe location. And his worshipful attitude when he discovers how plentiful water is on Earth is a beautiful thing to see. He's a bizarre, jellyfish alien, but he makes a perfect traveling companion for Binti. If you loved the first novella in this series, it's certain you'll want to pick this book up, too.

This is the second novella in Okorafor's Binti trilogy; I previously reviewed the first, [book:Binti|25667918]. Binti has been at Oomza Uni for a year, studying mathematics while her Meduse friend, Okwu, studies weapons technology. Binti, of course, is now partly Meduse herself, with her hair replaced by tentacles that leave her permanently connected to the Meduse. On the one hand, she's truly enjoying her education and her life there. On the hand, she's still suffering from PTSD and experiencing panic attacks, after the traumatic events on the ship The Third Fish that brought her to Oomza. She's also intermittently experiencing rages that she barely contains, and that, as a master harmonizer, are simply wrong. She fears she's broken something within her by leaving her home in defiance of the customs and wishes of her people. So she decides that, at the end of the term, she needs to go home, and go on pilgrimage with other Himba women. She also decides to bring Okwu with her. The first novella, Binti, is basically a Heinlein coming of age story, and I really enjoyed her. However, it was, barring a young African girl who is really African and not just someone we're told has that background, not a lot more than a Heinlein coming of age story. Binti: Home is a significantly richer, fuller story, giving us more background on her family, her culture, and the world they live in. This is includes more about the technology that isn't as visible in their culture as ours is in our culture, but every much a part of their lives--and secrets Binti never knew about her own family. Her welcome home isn't as warm as she had hoped, and perhaps not helped by her decision to bring Okwu with her, given the history of conflict between the Meduse and the Himbas' neighbors, the Koush. I found it a really enjoyable and absorbing story. Fair warning, though: It ends on a cliffhanger, and you'll want to have Binti: The Night Masquerade ready to hand when you finish reading Binti: Home. Rcommended. I bought this book.

This is book two and Binti is on her way home. She has spent the last year at Oomza Uni (on another planet) learning, growing her skills and dealing with the strange changes that have happened inside her body. She is a hero and a peace keeper, and has now decided to travel home to take part in the pilgrimage. Going home forces her to face her fears head on. Has she truly changed? Will her family accept her? Going home means confronting where she came from and reconciling who she is now with who everyone wants her to be. Who does SHE want to be? She must understand her past to understand her future. Who is she really? What she learns could change everything. Brilliantly written, this series has captivated me. The sci fi elements are spectacular, as are the desert scenes. The edan Binti carries, the meduse DNA changes that have altered Binti’s body from within, the history of her family line, her current day family relationships, expectations and attitudes… There are so many elements layered into this story and are all deftly written and emotionally dramatic. The Sci fi elements are interwoven with culture, history and family in a rich tapestry of connection, friendship and discovery. Binti is on a journey to discover her true self and what she learns will change her once more. I can’t wait to start book three.

In this continuation of “Binti”, we find our main character, one year after, in the process of returning to her home planet for some respite from her studies. Although she longs for her family and the healing environment of her people, all is not what it seems. Leaving from the school where she is treated as a true celebrity for all she had been able to accomplish, she finds that the rest of the Milky way galaxy does not view her or the Medusae companion she brings with her with the same aplomb. When she reaches her home planet, all seems well initially. Her family greats her with love and enthusiasm, but the mere sight of the Medusae who follows right after her causes the situation to degrade to a tense armed stand-off that she is barely able to contain without lives lost. Once settled in at her parents’ abode, Binti finds much pain, anger and hatred surrounding her escape to attend school. She is far too unlike the Hinti people, whose passions are focused on staying on planet, introspection, and duty to family. Her eldest sister is furious at her, claiming that her leaving is the root of her father’s malady and that she has totally abandoned her culture. Binti loses her best friend Dede, who has immersed himself in the old ways, now despises her for her apparent abandonment of her culture. The people of her village she hears speaking cruelly and maliciously about her and her family. Her parents, who really do love Binti and want her to be happy, are at a total loss as to how to help her. Despite an intriguing story line, there is very little character development. Most of the book is focused on Binti herself and her further development. I found the end of the book to be too much like a cliffhanger from a soap opera with far too much left too unresolved. It was as if it was Christmas and there were too many presents still unpacked and the room chocked full of shredded wrapping paper, bows, ribbons and gift cards. I found myself lost in the details too much. I gave this book 3 stars simply because when I compared it to its predecessor , it did not measure up. It is still an enjoyable read, but be prepared to be left hanging with your feet dangling at the end.

The events of the first novella were very traumatic for Binti. She is still learning how to handle her nightmares in addition to the changes in her body after some Meduse DNA was placed in her. Is she still Himba with the addition of alien DNA? Will her family ever be able to accept her if she goes home? She decides that she has to go back to Earth to see. Her goal is to take part in a pilgrimage that will earn her place as an adult woman of the Himba. Okwa, her Meduse friend, decides to go with her. He will be the first Meduse to ever come to Earth peacefully. Friends and family members turn their back on her. Then she is prevented from going on the pilgrimage by the arrival of members of a desert people who the Himba have always looked down on. They take her into the desert to explain their history to her. Her father is one of the them but he turned his back on them to become Himba. Again we get into questions of identity. Binti was raised to stay in her own community. Her world keeps expanding against her will. While she is in the desert, her family and Okwa are attacked. Now she has to try to make her way back to see if anyone survived. This was my favorite of the series. Binti is pushing through the boundaries that have been set for a woman of her age and tribe. As she grows, there is a ripple effect in her community.

Da lettrice seriale devo dire che mi capita di rado di leggere qualcosa che mi dia vero piacere. qui ambientazione, trama, personaggi intreccio tra fantascienza, misticismo, tradizioni etniche é gradevolissimo. non sempre alcune questioni etniche o sociali sono immediate per me ( l'autrice é afroamericana e mette certe questioni nelle trame) ma é comunque interessante la parte di accettazione sociale, di tradizione e rottura con la stessa, di questioni razziali e sociali e anche la questione femminile ed é leggero e gradevole il modo in cui sono inserite in trama. Ma soprattutto é innovativo.Ho letto entrambi i romanzi della serie e aspetto con piacere il prossimo.

This one definitely pleasantly surprised me! I read BINTI in December and wasn't a huge huge fan but I could see a lot of potential for the series so I decided to give the next one a chance. I'm very glad I did! HOME had a completely different atmosphere than BINTI and I think I enjoyed this one more! As with the first book, I still loved the writing style but I felt so much more immersed in this one! I loved reading about the Himba and the Enyi Zinariya and their cultures. Binti's struggle to reconcile these two parts of herself, added with becoming part Meduse was very well done and felt very real. After the cliffhanger this book left on, I am definitely impatiently waiting for the release of the next book! I have high hopes that this series will just get better and better! Definitely recommend you check it out if you're looking for a fresh, unique sci-fi.

Me encanta esta autora quiero todos sus libros excelente continuación de Binti 1 la historia es hermosa y al mismo tiempo te hace pensar...

Encore mieux que le 1er tome, j'ai dévoré celui-là et ai acheté le 3ème livre dans la foulée ! Je recommande

Há muita criatividade na escrita de Nnedi Okorafor. É apresenta uma cultura tão diferente da qual estou habituado, que faz com cada capítulo se torne algo inesperado.