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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A beautiful and heartbreaking story about love, hope, betrayal and redemption. Very well written. I predict it will be included in award lists for 2019.
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Did not finish. Lags too much. Sad because his first novel was brilliant.
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My notes: https://anaulin.org/blog/book-notes-an-orchestra-of-minorities/
This is the second book I have read this year which is narrated by spirits or in this case , specifically a ‘chi’, from Igbo culture. The first was Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi, which I also really enjoyed. It’s also the second book I have got to from this years Man Booker longlist.
I won’t reiterate the story in this review as the basic premise is well described in the info. I enjoyed the writing style, the forays into Nigerian speech patterns and language and the insights into Igbo belief systems and how they might interact with today’s world, though I found the voice of the chi a bit too repetitive at times as others have noticed. The writing style was easy to power through and I did get involved in Chinonso’s (v depressing) downwards trajectory. I have read reviews by other women who feel from a feminist perspective that this book is poor, not fleshing out the main female character or indeed, any, but I’m not sure I see this in quite the same way. The story is very much about Chinonso’s perspective and his limited ability to work with what he has in terms of emotional maturity, support, general ‘street’ intelligence and money, to move forward. It also highlights what I believe from reading interviews with the author, is a real problem that his friend experienced with scam artists in Nigeria targeting those desperate to get out and get an education elsewhere.
I didn’t think any of the other characters were particularly detailed, male or female, but I kind of thought this also maybe reflected the limited way in which Chinonso saw the world and related to others. I didn’t read it as an apology for toxic masculinity , is what I’m trying to say, but maybe a description of it and an attempt to explore it in this man. Was hoping to see the author at Edinburgh Book Fest this year what he thought about the gender issues, but sadly didn’t manage ;(
Anyway - interesting and enjoyable if not cheery! If it had been a bit less repetitive I’d have given it 5.
I won’t reiterate the story in this review as the basic premise is well described in the info. I enjoyed the writing style, the forays into Nigerian speech patterns and language and the insights into Igbo belief systems and how they might interact with today’s world, though I found the voice of the chi a bit too repetitive at times as others have noticed. The writing style was easy to power through and I did get involved in Chinonso’s (v depressing) downwards trajectory. I have read reviews by other women who feel from a feminist perspective that this book is poor, not fleshing out the main female character or indeed, any, but I’m not sure I see this in quite the same way. The story is very much about Chinonso’s perspective and his limited ability to work with what he has in terms of emotional maturity, support, general ‘street’ intelligence and money, to move forward. It also highlights what I believe from reading interviews with the author, is a real problem that his friend experienced with scam artists in Nigeria targeting those desperate to get out and get an education elsewhere.
I didn’t think any of the other characters were particularly detailed, male or female, but I kind of thought this also maybe reflected the limited way in which Chinonso saw the world and related to others. I didn’t read it as an apology for toxic masculinity , is what I’m trying to say, but maybe a description of it and an attempt to explore it in this man. Was hoping to see the author at Edinburgh Book Fest this year what he thought about the gender issues, but sadly didn’t manage ;(
Anyway - interesting and enjoyable if not cheery! If it had been a bit less repetitive I’d have given it 5.
If the prey do not produce their version of the tale, the predators will always be the heroes in the story of the hunt.
I read this ahead of Chigozie's scheduled appearance speaking at the Lawrence Public Library. I think I liked it more after hearing him talk about it. I listened to this on the audiobook which was great for the voices, but it was also an 18-hour audiobook that I felt didn't really get into the story until 4 hours in. So I'd recommend it, but it's also quite an adventure. It's probably solidly more a 3.5 for me, but I rounded up.
It's a story about a poor farmer, Chinonso, who falls in love with a woman from a well off family, and the journey he undertakes to be "worthy" of her in her family's eyes, but also somewhat in his own eyes. Throughout the story is told by the farmer's Chi, a kind of guardian spirit, who knows some things but not others. It's a lyrical, heartbreaking story.
I read this ahead of Chigozie's scheduled appearance speaking at the Lawrence Public Library. I think I liked it more after hearing him talk about it. I listened to this on the audiobook which was great for the voices, but it was also an 18-hour audiobook that I felt didn't really get into the story until 4 hours in. So I'd recommend it, but it's also quite an adventure. It's probably solidly more a 3.5 for me, but I rounded up.
It's a story about a poor farmer, Chinonso, who falls in love with a woman from a well off family, and the journey he undertakes to be "worthy" of her in her family's eyes, but also somewhat in his own eyes. Throughout the story is told by the farmer's Chi, a kind of guardian spirit, who knows some things but not others. It's a lyrical, heartbreaking story.