Listen to a sample
The Unfortunates
- Author
- J K Chukwu
- Narrator
- Deanna Anthony
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 3 August 2023
- Run Time
- 8 hours 31 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
'A gripping call to action—and a daring triumph of a novel' ADORAH NWORAH
'Masterfully portrays the splintering of the mind in its most striking, unfiltered form' AIWANOSE ODAFEN
'A playful, powerful debut' ZAKIYA DALILA HARRIS
A RAZOR-SHARP NOVEL FROM AN UTTERLY UNIQUE NEW VOICE.A lot is happening to Me. Will Me survive?
Sahara is a student at one of the most elite universities in America – and she is Not Okay. Her grades are subpar, she’s not Nigerian enough for her family, and her long-term Life Partner* is threatening to take over. When she’s not contemplating killing herself or the wealthy white students around her, she’s receiving an increasing number of ‘Unfortunate News’ emails, which inform her that the few Black classmates she has are disappearing.
Will Sahara end up joining the ranks of ‘The Unfortunates’, or can she avoid becoming yet another statistic?
Written in the style of a thesis, J K Chukwu’s highly original debut is a darkly funny and biting take on the campus novel, set in the mind of a young Black woman who is losing hers.
*depression
Critics Review
-
'Teeming with dark humor and astute observations about academia through the lens of a queer, Black woman, Chukwu’s The Unfortunates is a gripping call to action—and a daring triumph of a novel' Adorah Nworah
'Masterfully portrays the splintering of the mind in its most striking, unfiltered form, blending humour and resilience… a work that's refreshing in its uniqueness. We would benefit from more like it' Aiwanose Odafen
‘[A] playful, powerful debut… A poignant reminder of how tight a hold mental illness can have’ Zakiya Dalila Harris, New York Times Book Review
‘Meticulously and brilliantly balances tough topics like depression with biting comedy, crafting a narrative about a young woman trying to survive and help others do the same’ Shondaland
‘An extraordinary coming-of-age novel, with a fascinating protagonist and a tone that is just right for her material. The book’s dark atmosphere is enhanced by the presence of the author's own black-and-white illustrations. The result is a tour-de-force’ Booklist
‘Formidable…powerful. This blistering anthem brims with rage and hope’ Publishers Weekly
‘A powerful call to arms by a promising young writer who is not afraid to take risks, and for that we are very fortunate indeed’ Bookpage
‘Required reading…What do you do when your fellow Black co-eds are disappearing, and you fear you’re next? Sahara, a queer, half-Nigerian student at an elite college, pens her opus, a no-holds-barred thesis to the racist institution that has stolen a part of her soul, but she and her community of BIPOC women won’t give up without a fight’ Ebony
GLOWING READER REVIEWS
'I have not been able to put this book down'
'A very powerful, dark, upsetting, devastating, enthralling… IMPORTANT read'
'Powerful and razor-sharp'
'One of the most unique reading experiences I've had in a while… feels one-of-a-kind from start to finish'
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- J K Chukwu
- Narrator
- Deanna Anthony
- Duration
- 8 hours 31 minutes
- Release Date
- 3 August 2023
- ISBN
- 9780008478032
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Narrative theme: Social issues, Narrative theme: Coming of age, Humorous fiction, Modern and contemporary fiction: general and literary
Synopsis
‘[A] playful, powerful debut… A poignant reminder of how tight a hold mental illness can have’ Zakiya Dalila Harris ‘Chukwu meticulously and brilliantly balances tough topics like depression with biting comedy, crafting a narrative about a young woman trying to survive and help others do the same’ Shondaland Dear Reader,It has come to my attention that smoking kills, along with police, loner white boys, and looks. While embroiled in the process of trying to live, I have written this honors thesis. It is dedicated to the first years who haven’t yet died from alcohol poisoning, exhaustion, or overdosing. This work has been a labor of love and of hate. In it, you will find juxtaposition, verisimilitude, French, Freud, and anything else I’ve wasted 60K a year to learn.I would like to thank my advisors: Mr. White Supremacy, Mr. Capitalism, Ms. Racism, and, of course, my Life Partner for all the guidance they have provided during this process. Set in the mind of a young Black woman who is losing it, THE UNFORTUNATES is a darkly funny debut about the realities of elitist institutions from an exceptional new writer.
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.