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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
“Sometimes a man cannot fully understand what he has done until he has told another person about it. Then his own action becomes clearer even to himself”, one of the truest sentiments from Chigozie Obioma’s An Orchestra of Minorities. The entire picture presented by the novel doesn’t become clear until the chi tells it in the court of the spirits.
The novel focuses on poultry farmer Chinonso and the lengths he’s willing to go for his love. Very early on it becomes clear that he will stop at nothing until he and Ndali can get their happy ending. Such determination and passion seems like something truly out of a fairytale, then misfortune strikes, and strikes, and strikes again. This novel is one wild ride that I think a true reader will enjoy.
At no part of the book was I able to guess what would happen next. I had my suspicions, but the entire thing was largely unpredictable and still enjoyable. The concept of spirit narration was so fresh and well done. Chinonso’s chi constantly stepped in and reminded the counsel of spirits, while also reminding the reader, to go easy on this man because he has indeed suffered a lot. At times it felt as though the chi functioned as the voice of the author dropping in, keeping the reader focused and on track while providing beautiful details and quotables.
It also becomes clear that the author wants the reader to be encapsulated by all the going-ons around the protagonist when things are going well for him. You get descriptions of shops, and mountains, tourist spots, etc. When things are going poorly, as they often do, the narrative tightens up and focuses on Chinonso, his chi, and very little else. This writing really helped me focus on what the author wanted me to, making for a better reading experience as I felt I was genuinely being guided and taken along on a journey. A true breath of fresh air and a pleasure this was to read.
The novel focuses on poultry farmer Chinonso and the lengths he’s willing to go for his love. Very early on it becomes clear that he will stop at nothing until he and Ndali can get their happy ending. Such determination and passion seems like something truly out of a fairytale, then misfortune strikes, and strikes, and strikes again. This novel is one wild ride that I think a true reader will enjoy.
At no part of the book was I able to guess what would happen next. I had my suspicions, but the entire thing was largely unpredictable and still enjoyable. The concept of spirit narration was so fresh and well done. Chinonso’s chi constantly stepped in and reminded the counsel of spirits, while also reminding the reader, to go easy on this man because he has indeed suffered a lot. At times it felt as though the chi functioned as the voice of the author dropping in, keeping the reader focused and on track while providing beautiful details and quotables.
It also becomes clear that the author wants the reader to be encapsulated by all the going-ons around the protagonist when things are going well for him. You get descriptions of shops, and mountains, tourist spots, etc. When things are going poorly, as they often do, the narrative tightens up and focuses on Chinonso, his chi, and very little else. This writing really helped me focus on what the author wanted me to, making for a better reading experience as I felt I was genuinely being guided and taken along on a journey. A true breath of fresh air and a pleasure this was to read.
In An Orchestra of Minorities, a Nigerian chicken farmer Nonso interrupts a young woman Ndali who is about to throw herself off a bridge, thereby saving her life. They form a connection that grows into something more, but her family does not approve of him. The chicken farmer, after a chance encounter with an old schoolmate, decides to sell off all of his possessions and enroll in college in Cyprus with his old friend's "help". He arrives in Cyprus to discover that his classmate has scammed him, but he makes a couple friends and things look like they could turn out okay for him... The novel is narrated by his guardian spirit who is defending him in some sort of spiritual court.
This was a hard novel to read. Things often do not go well for Nonso, and I really really wanted them to go well for him. It is well-written, and I recommend it to people who enjoy literary fiction and fiction from and about other cultures. It is long though. I really want to say more, but I don't want to spoil anything.
August 2019 update: I recently downgraded my rating because I realized that I have zero interest in revisiting this book. There's no nostalgia for it whatsoever, and I feel like that's meaningful.
This was a hard novel to read. Things often do not go well for Nonso, and I really really wanted them to go well for him. It is well-written, and I recommend it to people who enjoy literary fiction and fiction from and about other cultures. It is long though. I really want to say more, but I don't want to spoil anything.
August 2019 update: I recently downgraded my rating because I realized that I have zero interest in revisiting this book. There's no nostalgia for it whatsoever, and I feel like that's meaningful.
It's possibly the best Nigerian book - classics aside - that I read recently. I lately almost gave up on Nigerian authors - their books more of an Africa Magic melodrama-style but this, wow. The language, the narrative, the gods, finally treated with due respect. Again, other Nigerian books - classics aside - I read use gods for cheap entertainment. The reading wasn't easy to me but it was this way more rewarding - I could taste and enjoy the writing slowly. Now let Mr Obioma write about Borno State and my life will be complete.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a complicated book: narrated by Chinoso's chi (guardian spirit) as a case appealing to the grand master of all chis. The narrative was propelled on by this frame pretty well; I for one kept wondering what exact awful thing befell Chinoso. The characters are lovely, I learned a lot more about Nigeria, and Chigozie Obioma has some downright gorgeous sentences.
It wasn't a page turner per say but a gripping tale of what man will do to be with the woman he loves.
It wasn't a page turner per say but a gripping tale of what man will do to be with the woman he loves.
This book is told from the perspective of a chi (basically a guardian spirit) who lives inside an African man named Chinonso (Nonso). We go through Nonso’s life as his chi describes mundane events, including him looking after his birds, or him cleaning his house.
Nonso eventually falls in love with a woman named Ndali, but in order for her parents to accept him, he must complete his education and get a well-payed job. Nonso travels from Africa to Cyprus to attend university. He is told by his friend that it is amazing there, and so Nonso sends his friend all his money for accommodation and fees so he can pay it for him. He promises Ndali he will be back soon, however, when he arrives in Cyprus he suspects that something isn’t quite right.
This book is insanely beautiful. The chi takes on this “all-knowing” narrator persona, and he talks to us in metaphors and riddles than can be confusing and difficult to digest. I found myself having to re-read sentences just so I could understand them fully.
Obioma does not hold back in his descriptions, openly discussing sex and body fluids as general conversation points.
“
Nonso eventually falls in love with a woman named Ndali, but in order for her parents to accept him, he must complete his education and get a well-payed job. Nonso travels from Africa to Cyprus to attend university. He is told by his friend that it is amazing there, and so Nonso sends his friend all his money for accommodation and fees so he can pay it for him. He promises Ndali he will be back soon, however, when he arrives in Cyprus he suspects that something isn’t quite right.
This book is insanely beautiful. The chi takes on this “all-knowing” narrator persona, and he talks to us in metaphors and riddles than can be confusing and difficult to digest. I found myself having to re-read sentences just so I could understand them fully.
Obioma does not hold back in his descriptions, openly discussing sex and body fluids as general conversation points.
“
thought it was beautifully written, did find the plot a bit stretched out at times but that is to be expected from an odyssey retelling
My two stars correspond to the goodreads rating: it was ok. But I can't say I disliked it. I finished it through. Obioma has a terrific talent for memorable scenes, for starters. They would look great in a movie, for example. Additionally, in this specific book, the whole idea of the fragility and powerlessness of simple backyard chicken, as ultimate prey, made me think, made me sensitive, mollified me. I enjoyed the whole first third of the book. I read that first part in a breeze. But once the action moves to Cyprus, I found it hard going. The narrator of the story, the "chi", sort of a guardian angel to the protagonist, was not a captivating voice for me. I found its pleading voice incredibly repetitive. The same rhythm, the same music, omg so much pleading. And also, so much distractions, detours, I was like, where's the editor? Obioma needs a better editor. Finally, the story goes around a circle, and it ends where it began, a woman, the same woman, in extreme distress. Anyway, I could go on about annoying stuff, but I stop here and wish the author better luck and judgement next time.
THIS WAS SO INCREDIBLE!! Honestly wish I could give it more than 5 stars, the writing was IMMACULATE and had such a captivating storyline. I loved how Obioma played with cheeky hints of foreshadowing in his writing without giving away the entire plot. The ending was heartbreaking and unresolved and honestly left me numb and in tears- perfect haha. Highly highly highly reccomend