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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a very good book, though it took me a very long time (some extraneous circumstances were involved, to be fair). I found the chi semi-omniscient narration to be appropriate and well-done, so I was surprised to see the criticism of it here. This is a challenging story, yet it is deeply moving and relatable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had heard about An Orchestra of Minorities from Chigozie's promotion of the book on the Shakespeare & Company podcast, and, with nothing to read and a growing disgust for American and British novels, I was motivated to loan the book from my school's library and give it a try. I must say, I am impressed. Obioma's novel unraveled in ways that I never would have expected. Through the novel's narration of the chi, the simple story of Chinonso is packed with an investigation into human emotion and existence, allowing Western readers to both reinterpret their own world through Igbo cosmology and resonate in the universal experience of being human. There is a depth to Chinonso's emotions developed by the narrator's patience in explaining Chinonso's life and traumas, championed by Obioma's mastery of storytelling and the English language. Because of work, it took me a few weeks to finish the novel which, I believe, disrupted my pacing as a reader and has made the events at the novel's beginning feel disconnected and hazy as I finish. So, I cannot specify all that I would like to say about this novel, but overall, An Orchestra of Minorities was a powerful read, and I think it will be a novel that I will continue to chew on and resonate with as I move forward.
This is a true tragedy in the classical sense. The protagonist does a bunch of irrational things that bring about his downfall. Although Chinonso is no hero and we barely hear from the woman driving all of this madness, I found the book compelling.
An Orchestra of Minorities
By Chigozie Obioma
Rating: 5/5
http://sravikabodapati.blogspot.com/2022/06/an-orchestra-of-minorities-by-chigozie.html
By Chigozie Obioma
Rating: 5/5
http://sravikabodapati.blogspot.com/2022/06/an-orchestra-of-minorities-by-chigozie.html
An Orchestra of Minorities is a grossly overwritten book. I frequently skipped entire paragraphs because of Chinonso's chi's ramblings. It very nearly took me the entire 21 days of my library loan to read this novel because it just wasn't fun nor easy to read. Also, Chinonso's treatment of Ndali
Spoiler
after his return from Cyprus is deplorable. The stalking, intimidation, and manipulation of Ndali and her family by Chinonso are unacceptable. Even though her presence in the pharmacy during the arson was an accident, it still doesn't change the problematic message that women should be blamed and punished for the mistakes and suffering of men.
I absolutely adored this book. I will say that it was a tad long in parts, but that is also mainly because we are left to stew in negative emotions for quite a bit at time and those made me very uncomfortable, but also worked really well in helping to showcase how these types of negative feelings can fester and simmer to the point where its impossible to step away.
But let's rewind and start at the beginning. We are introduced to our main character Chinonso, but his voice is not the narrative voice. We are given Chinonso's story through the testimony of his guardian spirit, his chi. His chi is defending him in front of the creator of all, informing the creator that the horrible acts he has commited were accidental. So from the very beginning we are aware that this story will resolve into tragedy.
The narrative style is very much rooted in Igbo cosmology, which for a western reader can be confusing at first. The language being used is a mixture of Pidgin, non-translated Igbo and "the White Man's language". We are often times navigating a spirit world with terminology that is very unknown to most western readers, but I feel like this is navigated very well by the author and enrichens the story greatly.
Chinonso is a simple poultry farmer who one day stumbles upon a woman who is standing on the edge of a bridge contemplating jumping over. He manages to deter her from jumping, but the event doesn't just save her life, but also deeply connect both characters. And we see Chinonso's life get deeply uprooted throuhg his love for thi woman Ndali. Ndali comes from a rich family and her parents instantly disapprove of the match. In his quest to hang on to Ndali, Chinonso has to endure a lot of emotional, financial and physical anguish and all of this ultimately transforms him into a different man.
It is important at this point to point out that I don't think the author is taking a stance in this book. In my opinion, he purposely held of on using the authorial voice in order to have the story do its own talking and have the reader come to their own conclusion. I have seen some people say that this book condones Chinonso's perspective because it is told in his defense by his Chi. However, his chi might be a reincarnation and might have inhabited many different hsots, but it is remarked in this book that a chi and his host become more or less one. Therefore the chi's perspective is as much of an unreliable narrator as Chinonso himself would have been. And throughout you also often feel the desperation of the chi as it witnesses his host going down dangerous path without being able to influence him. It is also to be pointed out that as a chi, he also needs to defend his hosts actions, for otherwise these actions could be seen as the fault of the chi not doing a good enough job. So, in no way do I believe the author is actually trying to defend Chinonso's actions.
I read this book as a brilliant look in a character that struggles with fear and anxiety throughout and how that bad experiences he lives through feed into that fear, that anxiety and make him feel more and more helpless, more and more out of control and ultimately push him more an more into resentment and anger and push him into actions that make him seize control. In my experience this book wasn't trying to say that Chinonso isn't to be blamed for his actions, it is just trying to show how the Chinonso that we meet at the beginning of this book could've ever ended up doing what we see him doing at the end of the book.It showcases a spiral of despair that can ultimately push someone to extremes.
But let's rewind and start at the beginning. We are introduced to our main character Chinonso, but his voice is not the narrative voice. We are given Chinonso's story through the testimony of his guardian spirit, his chi. His chi is defending him in front of the creator of all, informing the creator that the horrible acts he has commited were accidental. So from the very beginning we are aware that this story will resolve into tragedy.
The narrative style is very much rooted in Igbo cosmology, which for a western reader can be confusing at first. The language being used is a mixture of Pidgin, non-translated Igbo and "the White Man's language". We are often times navigating a spirit world with terminology that is very unknown to most western readers, but I feel like this is navigated very well by the author and enrichens the story greatly.
Chinonso is a simple poultry farmer who one day stumbles upon a woman who is standing on the edge of a bridge contemplating jumping over. He manages to deter her from jumping, but the event doesn't just save her life, but also deeply connect both characters. And we see Chinonso's life get deeply uprooted throuhg his love for thi woman Ndali. Ndali comes from a rich family and her parents instantly disapprove of the match. In his quest to hang on to Ndali, Chinonso has to endure a lot of emotional, financial and physical anguish and all of this ultimately transforms him into a different man.
It is important at this point to point out that I don't think the author is taking a stance in this book. In my opinion, he purposely held of on using the authorial voice in order to have the story do its own talking and have the reader come to their own conclusion. I have seen some people say that this book condones Chinonso's perspective because it is told in his defense by his Chi. However, his chi might be a reincarnation and might have inhabited many different hsots, but it is remarked in this book that a chi and his host become more or less one. Therefore the chi's perspective is as much of an unreliable narrator as Chinonso himself would have been. And throughout you also often feel the desperation of the chi as it witnesses his host going down dangerous path without being able to influence him. It is also to be pointed out that as a chi, he also needs to defend his hosts actions, for otherwise these actions could be seen as the fault of the chi not doing a good enough job. So, in no way do I believe the author is actually trying to defend Chinonso's actions.
I read this book as a brilliant look in a character that struggles with fear and anxiety throughout and how that bad experiences he lives through feed into that fear, that anxiety and make him feel more and more helpless, more and more out of control and ultimately push him more an more into resentment and anger and push him into actions that make him seize control. In my experience this book wasn't trying to say that Chinonso isn't to be blamed for his actions, it is just trying to show how the Chinonso that we meet at the beginning of this book could've ever ended up doing what we see him doing at the end of the book.It showcases a spiral of despair that can ultimately push someone to extremes.
čitati polako, pustiti svakoj rečenici da odjekne. ovo je knjiga prepuna životne mudrosti, one mudrosti koju imamo svi mi samim time što smo rođeni kao ljudska bića, mudrosti na koju zaboravljamo obraćati pažnju i kojoj ne dopuštamo da nam progovori jer smo zaslijepljeni niskim strastima, željama koje nisu dobre za nas i krivim odlukama.
narator chi (duh čuvar), vodi te kroz priču nigerijca chinonsa koji, spletom raznih okolnosti, kotrlja svoj život u propast, a chi -u skladu s onime što jest- promatra, proživljava, komentira i suosjeća sa svojim "domaćinom". tu se povlače pitanja ljubavi, odanosti, vjernosti, prijateljstva, iskrenosti, izdaje, smrti, agresije, ljubomore, povjerenja, ponosa... i nemoguće je ne pitati se tijekom čitanja koje izbore imamo, koje odluke donosimo, koga slušamo, čije savjete uvažavamo i koje su posljedice naših odluka. važno štivo za svakoga tko se želi konektirati sa svojom dušom/savjesti/duhom.
narator chi (duh čuvar), vodi te kroz priču nigerijca chinonsa koji, spletom raznih okolnosti, kotrlja svoj život u propast, a chi -u skladu s onime što jest- promatra, proživljava, komentira i suosjeća sa svojim "domaćinom". tu se povlače pitanja ljubavi, odanosti, vjernosti, prijateljstva, iskrenosti, izdaje, smrti, agresije, ljubomore, povjerenja, ponosa... i nemoguće je ne pitati se tijekom čitanja koje izbore imamo, koje odluke donosimo, koga slušamo, čije savjete uvažavamo i koje su posljedice naših odluka. važno štivo za svakoga tko se želi konektirati sa svojom dušom/savjesti/duhom.