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mulkurul's review against another edition
4.0
What They Did That Night by Jude Dibia ☆☆
Heaven’s Gates by Chika Unigwe ☆☆☆
Showlogo by Nnedi Okorafor ☆☆☆
The Swimming Pool by Sarah Ladipo Manyika ☆☆☆☆
What Are You Going to Do? by Adebola Rayo ☆☆☆☆☆
For Baby, for Three by Onyinye Ihezukwu ☆☆
Eden by Uche Okonkwo ☆☆☆
Joy by Wale Lawal ☆
Choir Boy by ‘Pume Aguda ☆☆☆
The Walking Stick by E. C. Osondu ☆☆
Uncle Sam by Leye Adenle ☆☆☆
Killer Ape by Chris Abani ☆☆☆
Heaven’s Gates by Chika Unigwe ☆☆☆
Showlogo by Nnedi Okorafor ☆☆☆
The Swimming Pool by Sarah Ladipo Manyika ☆☆☆☆
What Are You Going to Do? by Adebola Rayo ☆☆☆☆☆
For Baby, for Three by Onyinye Ihezukwu ☆☆
Eden by Uche Okonkwo ☆☆☆
Joy by Wale Lawal ☆
Choir Boy by ‘Pume Aguda ☆☆☆
The Walking Stick by E. C. Osondu ☆☆
Uncle Sam by Leye Adenle ☆☆☆
Killer Ape by Chris Abani ☆☆☆
thebookmushroom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
diamondhope's review against another edition
4.0
I really love this short story compilation. Gritty, raw and highly riveting. Definitely recommend.
bankole's review against another edition
3.0
Short stories help figure out what to read next and which authors are interesting.
stunnerz25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
4.0
lipglossmaffia's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed all the stories but I wanted more darkness.
now_booking's review
3.0
Good but not for me...
This is a well-curated short story collection featuring dark, gritty, “noir” selections. The stories are diverse with different themes and each one set in a different Lagos neighborhood. The common thread is that all the stories are pretty grim and almost universally depressing as one would expect with this genre. There are some dark stories redeemed by dark humor and to me, that’s where this collection shines and those were the parts I found most enjoyable. I think this was a pretty overall realistic collection with characters anyone who has ever lived in Lagos will readily recognize.
The stories in this collection are overall high enough quality. My main issue with this collection is that I’m neither a fan of short stories nor noir. I read this for a book club. I would rate this 3.5 stars because I think it’s good and well-curated and I think this could be a 4-5-star collection for someone, but it just wasn’t for me.
This is a well-curated short story collection featuring dark, gritty, “noir” selections. The stories are diverse with different themes and each one set in a different Lagos neighborhood. The common thread is that all the stories are pretty grim and almost universally depressing as one would expect with this genre. There are some dark stories redeemed by dark humor and to me, that’s where this collection shines and those were the parts I found most enjoyable. I think this was a pretty overall realistic collection with characters anyone who has ever lived in Lagos will readily recognize.
The stories in this collection are overall high enough quality. My main issue with this collection is that I’m neither a fan of short stories nor noir. I read this for a book club. I would rate this 3.5 stars because I think it’s good and well-curated and I think this could be a 4-5-star collection for someone, but it just wasn’t for me.
pagesandsounds's review
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Noir short-story collection series landed in Lagos last year! The series which began with the Brooklyn Noir collection and has over 90 titles all named and set in major cities around the world now has a collection set in Lagos and written by some of the favourite Nigerian writers.
13 short stories set in different parts of Lagos – locations included MMIA, Obalende, Ikoyi and Berger. Some bland stories, some thought-provoking and some pulsating stories but all combine to make a pretty decent collection.
I enjoyed Chika Unigwe’s Heaven Gate for its portrayal of the hope that sustains the poor as they seek a breakthrough in the megacity that is Lagos. It also captures how same hope tempts the poor into taking risks that seem silly and irrational to a bystander.
Uche Okonkwo’s Eden raises urgent questions about parenting in middle-class Nigeria and how siblings bond in the strangest circumstances. The constant debate about spanking in parenting is present in the story and it is obvious how easily spanking strays into the domain of child abuse.
Another story that stood out in the collection for me is Igoni Barrett’s Just Forget and Try to Ignore. I have always found this writer frustrating. His short stories are either spectacular or completely flat, forced and forgettable. This one was spectacular. Every character in the story stands out, the frustrations of the main character are vividly described and felt by the reader. House hunting is a peculiar nightmare in Lagos and this story captures the essence with a good dose of wit.
The final story that stood out for me in Lagos Noir is Killer Ape by Chris Abani. It is a very humane story that revolves around a murder and a same-sex relationship between an expatriate and his housekeeper. It is an expertly told story. I could not have expected anything less from a writer with Chris Abani’s pedigree. It was a fitting end to a good collection of short stories.
http://pagesandsounds.com/
13 short stories set in different parts of Lagos – locations included MMIA, Obalende, Ikoyi and Berger. Some bland stories, some thought-provoking and some pulsating stories but all combine to make a pretty decent collection.
I enjoyed Chika Unigwe’s Heaven Gate for its portrayal of the hope that sustains the poor as they seek a breakthrough in the megacity that is Lagos. It also captures how same hope tempts the poor into taking risks that seem silly and irrational to a bystander.
Uche Okonkwo’s Eden raises urgent questions about parenting in middle-class Nigeria and how siblings bond in the strangest circumstances. The constant debate about spanking in parenting is present in the story and it is obvious how easily spanking strays into the domain of child abuse.
Another story that stood out in the collection for me is Igoni Barrett’s Just Forget and Try to Ignore. I have always found this writer frustrating. His short stories are either spectacular or completely flat, forced and forgettable. This one was spectacular. Every character in the story stands out, the frustrations of the main character are vividly described and felt by the reader. House hunting is a peculiar nightmare in Lagos and this story captures the essence with a good dose of wit.
The final story that stood out for me in Lagos Noir is Killer Ape by Chris Abani. It is a very humane story that revolves around a murder and a same-sex relationship between an expatriate and his housekeeper. It is an expertly told story. I could not have expected anything less from a writer with Chris Abani’s pedigree. It was a fitting end to a good collection of short stories.
http://pagesandsounds.com/