Tomorrow I'll Be Twenty

By Alain Mabanckou, Helen Stevenson (translator),

Book cover of Tomorrow I'll Be Twenty

Book description

Finalist for the Man Booker International Prize 2015

Michel is ten years old, living in Pointe Noire, Congo, in the 1970s. His mother sells peanuts at the market, his father works at the Victory Palace Hotel, and brings home books left behind by the white guests. Planes cross the sky…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Tomorrow I'll Be Twenty as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I was taken to Congo Brazzaville in the 70s. I know that 10-year-old boy, Michel, the narrator of this exploration of urban, postcolonial childhood. As the continent oscillates between cold war ideologies, Michel innocently observes the world around him and truthfully arrives at philosophical conclusions based on his intelligence. The skillful mix of moments of sad reflection with the joys of childhood thrills the adult perspective, thus giving us 1970s Pointe Noire and the air around it.

From Feyisayo's list on African post-colonial life.

Want books like Tomorrow I'll Be Twenty?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 35 books like Tomorrow I'll Be Twenty.

Browse books like Tomorrow I'll Be Twenty

Book cover of Wizard of the Crow
Book cover of Half of a Yellow Sun
Book cover of The Famished Road

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,187

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in postcolonialism, Tehran, and Iran?

Postcolonialism 24 books
Tehran 7 books
Iran 130 books