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My Top 10 Literary Liberators

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I learnt how to write through reading books. I spent my childhood buried under books. I read everything and anything that I could get my hands on and sometimes even books that I was not suppose to read. Books saved me. I lived through them and because of them. I traveled the world through books. I fell in love with people I did not even know. I became a global citizen with a sharp tongue and the ability to effortlessly glide my pen through numerous essays at school.

Below is a list of my top 10 writers, poets, authors and liberators and my favourite work/book/poem/essays by them. They have been my virtual mothers, grandmothers, sisters and chief advisers. Their words have moved me, shaken me and inspired me. I thank them from liberating me from small minded thinking and the tendency to over indulge in one's personal struggle. 

1. Maya Angelou
-I know why the caged bird sings (full autobiography collection)
-Letter to my daughter (book of essays)
-Phenomenal woman (poem)
-Still I rise (poem)
-A conceit (poem)
-Weekend glory (poem)


 2. Chinua Achebe
-Things fall apart (book)


3. Alice Walker 
-By the light of my father's smile (book)
-The colour purple (book)


4. Ben Okri
-The Famished Road (book)
-Songs of Enchantment (book)
-Infinite riches (book)


5. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
-We should all be feminists (essay)
-Dear Ijeawele, or feminist manifesto in 15 suggestions (book of essays)
-The danger of a single story (Ted Talk)
-Purple hibiscus (book)
-Half a yellow sun (book)
-That thing around your neck (book)
-Americanah (book)


6. Nayyirah Waheed
(could not find a pic)
-Salt (poetry book)
-Nejma (poetry book)


7.Paulo Coelho
-The Alchemist (book)


8. Toni Morrison
-Sula (book)
-God help the child (book)
-Beloved (book)


9. Warsan Shire
-Teaching my mother how to give birth (poetry book)


10. Yrsa Daley Ward
-Bone


*all poets images found via google images
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