Reviewed by Tammy
TITLE: Guess Who’s Coming to Karamu
SERIES: 2018 Advent Calendar ”Warmest Wishes”
AUTHOR: Cy Blanca
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 25 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2018
BLURB:
Grant Cary, a twenty-eight-year-old grad student, has let his Kwanzaa shopping go to the very last minute. In his rush to get home, he quite literally bumps into Will Sheritan, a fortysomething software developer, in the elevator. But luck favours (or curses) the adventurous, because their elevator shuts down due to a blackout. Grant and Will learn about each other’s pasts and find more than just a casual interest.
Will has never celebrated Kwanzaa, and he’s reluctant to enter into a relationship, but exploring a new tradition—with a new friend—might brighten his lonely holiday. And if Will accepts Grant’s invitation to join his family for the Karamu feast, Grant might get his Imani gift early.
REVIEW:
I must confess that as an Australian I was clueless as to what Karamu and Kwanzaa meant. ( A Karamu Ya Imani (Feast of Feasts) is a feast that takes place on December 31, the sixth day of the Kwanzaa period. A Kwanzaa ceremony may include drumming and musical selections, libations, a reading of the African Pledge and the Principles of Blackness, reflection on the Pan-African colors, a discussion of the African principle of the day or a chapter in African history, a candle-lighting ritual, artistic performance, and, finally, a feast, a Karamu.)
I’m not sure exactly what to say about this story. On the one hand it’s a very short but sweet story about two lonely men who get stuck in an elevator due to a blackout. On the other hand the story gets confusing because Grant Cary is so busy carrying on a conversation with himself in his head that you don’t learn anything about Will Sheritan. Honestly? If it wasn’t written in the blurb you would never know anything about either man by what is written within the story.
All in all, I can’t say that I enjoyed reading Guess Who’s Coming to Karamu but I didn’t hate it either. Unfortunately I’m not able to recommend this book.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Dreamspinner Press – Single Story
Amazon
Hmm I’m a fan of May/Sept but the review pretty much shot it down. And from what I understand there’s not much heat too soo… i’ll pass
Thanks for the review.
Good to know!
Thank you for defining it for use! I had no idea either.
Thanks for review. I’m contemplating if I’m gonna go reading this novella… hmm.
Sounds like there was too much to shoehorn into a short…
Well I have the package spot will be read – thanks for the update on Kwanzaa though!
I’m with you on this story. Wasn’t really my cup of tea either.