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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
This was a book I had no idea what to expect as I began, but I was quickly absorbed by its mysticism and unique writing style as part of the Igbo, Indigenous African tradition, from the first few chapters and sustained throughout.
Obioma left me engrossed by a unique and memorable protagonist who finds himself a poor poultry farmer chasing the illustrious woman never quite within his reach. Narrated through his chi, essentially his spirit that watches over him, an epic tale unfolds of the power of one's desire and will when feelings of love are concerned.
Critically, An Orchestra of Minorities divulges into a dark and dramatic tale, its protagonist at ills with challenge after challenge until he finally succumbs to the futility of his quest. As references to Odysseus become a last glimmer of hope, Chinonso is broken, stripped down and exposed as animalistic, a shell of his previous self. The ultimate act that concludes his story is that of a man whose being has truly died.
An Orchestra of Minorities is bleak, dark, and shocking throughout, but at the same time, it is addictive, grand, and memorable. If one can accept the former, the latter makes it a must read for 2019.
Obioma left me engrossed by a unique and memorable protagonist who finds himself a poor poultry farmer chasing the illustrious woman never quite within his reach. Narrated through his chi, essentially his spirit that watches over him, an epic tale unfolds of the power of one's desire and will when feelings of love are concerned.
Critically, An Orchestra of Minorities divulges into a dark and dramatic tale, its protagonist at ills with challenge after challenge until he finally succumbs to the futility of his quest. As references to Odysseus become a last glimmer of hope, Chinonso is broken, stripped down and exposed as animalistic, a shell of his previous self. The ultimate act that concludes his story is that of a man whose being has truly died.
An Orchestra of Minorities is bleak, dark, and shocking throughout, but at the same time, it is addictive, grand, and memorable. If one can accept the former, the latter makes it a must read for 2019.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Co ja właśnie przeczytałam...
Literacko rzecz nawiązuje do tradycji oralnych, więc tutaj każdy musi sam ocenić swoją wrażliwość na taki sposób opowiadania. To nie mój klimat, ale nie mogę w tej warstwie nic "Orkiestrze..." zarzucić. Poza tym jednak mamy do czynienia z historią znęcającego się nad zwierzętami stalkera pisaną z perspektywy jego usprawiedliwiającej każdy wybryk mamusi (no, konkretnie to jego chi, ducha opiekuńczego). Chinonso jest dość żałosnym osobnikiem, który w wyniku swojej własnej naiwności i niezaradności popada w coraz większe kłopoty. Mamy tu do czynienia z nieomal grecką tragedią, gdzie okrutne okoliczności sprzysięgają się przeciw miłości bohatera, co samo w sobie nie jest złym pomysłem na powieść, tylko... wszystko to ten chłop sprowadza na siebie poprzez nieprzemyślane decyzje, bierność i niemal nadprzyrodzoną zdolność obdarzania zaufania każdego napotkanego człowieka jak podejrzany by się nie wydawał. Chinonso nic nie robi sam, on tylko znajduje kolejną osobę, która ma się nim zaopiekować i mu pomóc. W efekcie jest okradany, wrabiany, porzucany i oszukiwany. Zrozumiałe, że budzi to w nim złość. Gorzej że ta złość zostaje wyładowania na meblach, zwierzętachTYP KRZYŻUJE JASTRZĘBIA i byłej dziewczynie, ale już jedynej osobie, która naprawdę zrobiła mu krzywdę wybacza, no bo - domyślam się - nikt by się wtedy nim nie zajmował.
Naprawdę nie wiem co autor miał na myśli, ale bohater jest tu bardzo usilnie kreowany na ofiarę, do stopnia w którym skala nieszczęść w zakończeniu ociera się o śmieszność. A tymczasem jest to żałosny typ, który mści się na postronnych za niepowodzenia, które sam na siebie sprowadził.
Literacko rzecz nawiązuje do tradycji oralnych, więc tutaj każdy musi sam ocenić swoją wrażliwość na taki sposób opowiadania. To nie mój klimat, ale nie mogę w tej warstwie nic "Orkiestrze..." zarzucić. Poza tym jednak mamy do czynienia z historią znęcającego się nad zwierzętami stalkera pisaną z perspektywy jego usprawiedliwiającej każdy wybryk mamusi (no, konkretnie to jego chi, ducha opiekuńczego). Chinonso jest dość żałosnym osobnikiem, który w wyniku swojej własnej naiwności i niezaradności popada w coraz większe kłopoty. Mamy tu do czynienia z nieomal grecką tragedią, gdzie okrutne okoliczności sprzysięgają się przeciw miłości bohatera, co samo w sobie nie jest złym pomysłem na powieść, tylko... wszystko to ten chłop sprowadza na siebie poprzez nieprzemyślane decyzje, bierność i niemal nadprzyrodzoną zdolność obdarzania zaufania każdego napotkanego człowieka jak podejrzany by się nie wydawał. Chinonso nic nie robi sam, on tylko znajduje kolejną osobę, która ma się nim zaopiekować i mu pomóc. W efekcie jest okradany, wrabiany, porzucany i oszukiwany. Zrozumiałe, że budzi to w nim złość. Gorzej że ta złość zostaje wyładowania na meblach, zwierzętach
Naprawdę nie wiem co autor miał na myśli, ale bohater jest tu bardzo usilnie kreowany na ofiarę, do stopnia w którym skala nieszczęść w zakończeniu ociera się o śmieszność. A tymczasem jest to żałosny typ, który mści się na postronnych za niepowodzenia, które sam na siebie sprowadził.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Toxic relationship, Stalking
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt
Convinced my chi once inhabited a host from the time of The Great Fathers
"They were the minorities of this world whose only recourse was to join this universal orchestra in which all there was to do was cry and wail."
An Orchestra of Minorities 🖤
The only reason I could justify reading a book of this size during term time is a) it’s a twist on Greek classic The Odyssey and b) it kept me sane during the last month of term which has been quite draining.
Having read this and a few others in the same genre I legit want to study Igbo culture and language full time! I am convinced that my chi previously inhabited a host from the time of The Great Fathers and guides me to the people and books that have educated me this last year.
"They were the minorities of this world whose only recourse was to join this universal orchestra in which all there was to do was cry and wail."
An Orchestra of Minorities 🖤
The only reason I could justify reading a book of this size during term time is a) it’s a twist on Greek classic The Odyssey and b) it kept me sane during the last month of term which has been quite draining.
Having read this and a few others in the same genre I legit want to study Igbo culture and language full time! I am convinced that my chi previously inhabited a host from the time of The Great Fathers and guides me to the people and books that have educated me this last year.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
From the first page of this I had a feeling that the book was going to give every excuse under the sun as to why unmoral/abusive/misogynistic men aren't actually responsible for their own horrible actions, and why they should be pitied instead. From some of the reviews I have now read, it looks like I was completely right…
This initial feeling was then exacerbated (on page 8 mind you) by the idea that 'men with abominable passions' and 'murderers of their own parents' are only driven to such acts because they're inhabited by evil spirits. Because OF COURSE men who commit terrible deeds could never actually be accountable for them.
This above passage also includes 'the mentally ill' and people with epilepsy in the SAME sentence as the abominable passioned men and murderers, making me think the author views these things in a similar light. FUCK OFF. Mentally ill people (let alone epileptics) cannot all be tarred with the same brush as MURDERERS.
NO THANK YOU.
NOT IN THE MOOD FOR SUCH ABELIST MISOGYNY.
GOODBYE.
This initial feeling was then exacerbated (on page 8 mind you) by the idea that 'men with abominable passions' and 'murderers of their own parents' are only driven to such acts because they're inhabited by evil spirits. Because OF COURSE men who commit terrible deeds could never actually be accountable for them.
This above passage also includes 'the mentally ill' and people with epilepsy in the SAME sentence as the abominable passioned men and murderers, making me think the author views these things in a similar light. FUCK OFF. Mentally ill people (let alone epileptics) cannot all be tarred with the same brush as MURDERERS.
NO THANK YOU.
NOT IN THE MOOD FOR SUCH ABELIST MISOGYNY.
GOODBYE.
As I read this book, I found myself on the verge of tears several times, but having read The Fishermen by the same author, I knew it would be a great read.
It tells an all too real story of love, classism, and basically many of the struggles that I think a few Nigerians would be able to relate to; especially in these times.
The pacing was impeccable, and the descriptions of important events were well done. It is a great book.
It tells an all too real story of love, classism, and basically many of the struggles that I think a few Nigerians would be able to relate to; especially in these times.
The pacing was impeccable, and the descriptions of important events were well done. It is a great book.
Chinonso, a poultry farmer, sees a woman, Ndali, on a bridge. Thinking she is going to jump, he stops his car, gets out and tries to dissuade her. Some time later, they meet again and become lovers. Ndali’s wealthy family disapprove of the relationship and Chinonso’s troubles begin.
The narrator of the novel is Chinonso’s ‘chi’, his spirit guardian who is pleading his case before the Igbo god. The reader knows early on that Chinonso has caused some harm to a woman, but the extent of it is not revealed until the end of the book.
I found the novel slow-starting and a bit of a struggle at first. However, once I got into the rhythm of it I enjoyed the writing. Obioma’s use of imagery is strikingly beautiful. I heard an interview with him in which he said he rewrote some of the sentences twenty times. As I reached the second and third parts of the novel, it became clearer why the earlier chapters contained so much detail.
Some reviewers have felt that this book endorses toxic masculine behaviours. I don’t agree with this. The author describes how some men act, but nowhere is he showing approval.
I learned a lot about Nigeria, in particular traditional Igbo beliefs. I would recommend it and am likely to read it again.
The narrator of the novel is Chinonso’s ‘chi’, his spirit guardian who is pleading his case before the Igbo god. The reader knows early on that Chinonso has caused some harm to a woman, but the extent of it is not revealed until the end of the book.
I found the novel slow-starting and a bit of a struggle at first. However, once I got into the rhythm of it I enjoyed the writing. Obioma’s use of imagery is strikingly beautiful. I heard an interview with him in which he said he rewrote some of the sentences twenty times. As I reached the second and third parts of the novel, it became clearer why the earlier chapters contained so much detail.
Some reviewers have felt that this book endorses toxic masculine behaviours. I don’t agree with this. The author describes how some men act, but nowhere is he showing approval.
I learned a lot about Nigeria, in particular traditional Igbo beliefs. I would recommend it and am likely to read it again.
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes