Genre Fiction
![Sussie Anie - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B094PVH4XC.jpg)
To Fill a Yellow House: A Novel
Lyrical, witty, moving and timely, To Fill a Yellow House is a story of community, friendship and the power of creativity and connection.
When Kwasi's familymoves abruptly from one side of London to the other, Kwasi is both excited by the change-the new house is so big-and unsettled by his new school and the pressures placed upon him by his parents and many aunties. One place Kwasi finds refuge and inspiration is the Chest of Small Wonders, an eclectic and run-down charity shop on the high street.
Rupert has run the Chest for decades, but since his wife's death several years before, he has struggled to keep their dreams for the shop alive. These days, fewer people shop second-hand, the Chest has become a depository for unwanted possessions, and Rupert is indulging more and more in herbal and perhaps-not-so-legal teas.
As Kwasi spends time in the Chest, an unexpected friendship develops between man and boy, a relationship that gives each a new sense of belonging. But the community and high street are changing, and when local politics threaten to engulf the Chest, both Kwasi and Rupert must decide who their allies are and where their futures lie.
To Fill a Yellow House is as vibrant and surprising as the city it is set in and marks the arrival of a bright and bold new talent.
When Kwasi's familymoves abruptly from one side of London to the other, Kwasi is both excited by the change-the new house is so big-and unsettled by his new school and the pressures placed upon him by his parents and many aunties. One place Kwasi finds refuge and inspiration is the Chest of Small Wonders, an eclectic and run-down charity shop on the high street.
Rupert has run the Chest for decades, but since his wife's death several years before, he has struggled to keep their dreams for the shop alive. These days, fewer people shop second-hand, the Chest has become a depository for unwanted possessions, and Rupert is indulging more and more in herbal and perhaps-not-so-legal teas.
As Kwasi spends time in the Chest, an unexpected friendship develops between man and boy, a relationship that gives each a new sense of belonging. But the community and high street are changing, and when local politics threaten to engulf the Chest, both Kwasi and Rupert must decide who their allies are and where their futures lie.
To Fill a Yellow House is as vibrant and surprising as the city it is set in and marks the arrival of a bright and bold new talent.
Editorial Reviews
"Anie's touching debut delivers a heartfelt message about what can happen when strangers from different backgrounds connect." - Washington Post
"A gentle, thoughtful and moving meditation on London and what it means to belong. The characters have really stayed with me." - Sarah Butler, author of Ten Things I've Learnt About Love
"A thought-provoking and stunning debut. Kwasi will break your heart." - Karen Angelico, author of Everything We Are
"Stunning. . . . A lyrical meditation on city life, creativity and loss, and the hope that can spring from an unlikely friendship." - Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated Child
"Gorgeous. . . . Textured, beautiful, all-engaging characters, a wonderfully realized setting, glorious prose – To Fill A Yellow House left me all warm with hope. What a debut." - Rajasree Variyar, author of The Daughters of Madurai
"To Fill A Yellow House explodes with creativity. A story about community, friendship and belonging beautifully told. Sussie Anie writes sensuous prose and creates a world that vibrates with life. You just want to step into it. A gorgeous debut." - Helen Paris, author of Lost and Found
"Widower Rupert is the owner of The Chest, a higgledy-piggledy London charity shop on hard times and Kwasi, a second-generation Ghanaian immigrant is a dreamer who doesn't quite fit in. Their unlikely friendship is at the heart of this vividly drawn and evocative debut novel." - Red
"An evocative story of community and companionship." - i
"Rings with such keen and resonant themes. . . . Touching . . . Kwasi's voice is majestically narrated, folding in Anie's authorial drive with his own syncopated artistic sensitivity . . . The characters are given a startlingly recognizable humanity. . . . Skillful narration. . . . It points a way to our untying ourselves from those with whom we share a history, to form more meaningful bonds with those of whom we share a future." - The Observer (London)
"A touching blend of coming-of-age and growing-...
"A gentle, thoughtful and moving meditation on London and what it means to belong. The characters have really stayed with me." - Sarah Butler, author of Ten Things I've Learnt About Love
"A thought-provoking and stunning debut. Kwasi will break your heart." - Karen Angelico, author of Everything We Are
"Stunning. . . . A lyrical meditation on city life, creativity and loss, and the hope that can spring from an unlikely friendship." - Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated Child
"Gorgeous. . . . Textured, beautiful, all-engaging characters, a wonderfully realized setting, glorious prose – To Fill A Yellow House left me all warm with hope. What a debut." - Rajasree Variyar, author of The Daughters of Madurai
"To Fill A Yellow House explodes with creativity. A story about community, friendship and belonging beautifully told. Sussie Anie writes sensuous prose and creates a world that vibrates with life. You just want to step into it. A gorgeous debut." - Helen Paris, author of Lost and Found
"Widower Rupert is the owner of The Chest, a higgledy-piggledy London charity shop on hard times and Kwasi, a second-generation Ghanaian immigrant is a dreamer who doesn't quite fit in. Their unlikely friendship is at the heart of this vividly drawn and evocative debut novel." - Red
"An evocative story of community and companionship." - i
"Rings with such keen and resonant themes. . . . Touching . . . Kwasi's voice is majestically narrated, folding in Anie's authorial drive with his own syncopated artistic sensitivity . . . The characters are given a startlingly recognizable humanity. . . . Skillful narration. . . . It points a way to our untying ourselves from those with whom we share a history, to form more meaningful bonds with those of whom we share a future." - The Observer (London)
"A touching blend of coming-of-age and growing-...
Readers Top Reviews
Ann Garcia De O'Neal
I was disappointed in this book. Obviously it was written by an intelligent and sensitive person, but her story failed to get my emotions involved. I thought her young character Kwasi was interesting as was Rupert, the owner of the charity shop. But they never really connected in a way that made me care. They skirted each other but never truly bonded. Also I didn't understand a good deal of the plot...who and what were the aunties? Why did the other boys want Kwasi to be part of their group? Why'd they abuse him? What was that weird thing about handing over a gun? Why did people think Rupert killed his wife? Who started the fire? Why was Kwasi questioned by the police and then released? Why did his dad stay away from London so long? And...here's the sting...why did I even care enough to waste my time trying to figure it all out? Wading through this was definitely not a trip I'd care to go on again. I read reviews to see what happened, but no reviewer told me anything I needed to know. In a word....boring.
Ellis
While good, To Fill A Yellow House is a bit of a slow burn. The story follows young Kwasi, who has a passion for art despite his family’s misgivings about it, and Rupert, an older shop owner trying to stay afloat. It’s a very artsy tale about belonging, immigration, social status, and more.
