"Thursdays" by Jackson Biko

I picked up Thursdays while travelling, thinking it would keep me company for a while. Three hours later, I was staring at the last page wondering, "Wait... that is it?" The book is short, fast-paced, and ridiculously easy to read. Honestly, if books were matatus, this one would be the express route, no unnecessary stops.

One thing Jackson Biko does exceptionally well is make ordinary Nairobi life feel alive. His writing is witty, relatable, and effortless. Before you know it, you have become emotionally invested in Vina Wira and its members. I was quietly rooting for them as if they are my own friends. Everytime Thando got more attached to Mwendwa I nearly screamed telling her not to break the band.

The struggles of the band members can all be summed up to, "There is nothing as sad as singing to chairs."

My biggest disappointment was the ending. Not because it was bad, but because it felt... abrupt. I was not ready to say goodbye to these characters.

I wanted Vina Wira to finally get the break they had worked so hard for. I wanted Mwendwa to find healing. I wanted JP to fully embrace who he was without carrying the weight of hiding. I wanted Halima's voice out there. I wanted just a few more pages to see everyone's stories unfold. Is it so bad to want??

Instead, the ending felt like someone switched off the lights while the band was still playing.

Overall, I enjoyed the journey much more than the destination. It is the kind of book you can finish in one sitting without feeling like you have sacrificed an entire weekend, and for that alone, it deserves credit.

I just wish Biko had given us a few more pages of the winding down. Unfortunately... what do they say about wishes?