Leading Black Voices in Contemporary Literature Quiz
How well do you know your contemporary fiction?
Take this Faber Members quiz to test your literary knowledge of works by some of the world’s leading Black literary voices and (re)discover a range of exceptional works. Questions by John Grindrod.
—
Which Percival Everett novel was adapted into the Oscar-winning film American Fiction?
Correct!
Wrong!
Which of these is not the name of one of Cyril Pennington’s children in Candice Carty-Williams’s People Person?
Correct!
Wrong!
Natasha Brown, author of the novel Assembly, was named one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists in 2023. How many writers were on that list?
Correct!
Wrong!
Helen Oyeyemi’s novel Peaces takes place on which mode of transport?
Correct!
Wrong!
Ashley Hickson-Lovence’s novel Your Show follows the fortunes of Uriah Rennie, a Premier League . . .
Correct!
Wrong!
In Salena Godden’s 2021 novel, one of the two central characters is a shape-shifting Black woman, who is also . . .
Correct!
Wrong!
Derek Owusu’s 2022 novel Losing the Plot is based on his mother’s journey to Britain from which country?
Correct!
Wrong!
Bernardine Evaristo’s novel Girl, Woman, Other won multiple literary awards. Which of these is the only one it didn’t win (despite being shortlisted)?
Correct!
Wrong!
Akwaeke Emezi’s 2022 teen novel Bitter was a prequel to which 2019 book?
Correct!
Wrong!
Oyinkan Braithwaite’s bestseller My Sister, the Serial Killer was originally published in Nigeria under a different title. What was it?
Correct!
Wrong!
Zadie Smith has published six novels and two short story collections. Which one of these is a story collection rather than a novel?
Correct!
Wrong!
South African writer Peter Abrahams’s classic novel A Wreath for Udomo was reissued in 2020, but when was it first published?
Correct!
Wrong!
What is the name of the 2023 novel by Diana Evans that is framed by the tragedy at Grenfell Tower?
Correct!
Wrong!
In 2023 Colson Whitehead published a sequel to his acclaimed Harlem Shuffle. But what was it called?
Correct!
Wrong!
Teju Cole’s novel Open City, which follows a young Nigerian doctor as he wanders aimlessly, is set in which city?
Correct!
Wrong!
Tsitsi Dangarembga was shortlisted for the Booker prize in 2020 for which novel?
Correct!
Wrong!
Petina Gappah’s 2020 novel Out of Darkness, Shining Light follows the body of which explorer being transported across Africa?
Correct!
Wrong!
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun was made into a film in 2013. All of these actors featured in it apart from one, who is the odd one out?
Correct!
Wrong!
Leading Black Voices in Contemporary Literature Quiz
My Sister, the Serial Killer
Generally, a bit of a worry! You've got a bit of reading to do, but we hope the books in our quiz provide inspiration.
The Vanishing Half
What happened to the other half of your score?! Not to worry, read some of the books in our quiz and you'll be up to date in no time.
And Still I Rise
You contemporary fiction knowledge is on the up! Explore some of the titles in our quiz for more inspiration.
Queenie
You rule. End of. Your contemporary fiction knowledge is excellent. Pick up any of the titles you've haven't had a chance to read to treat yourself for being so clever.