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danireys's review
4.0
I had the hardest time beginning to read this book. I'm not sure it was anything wrong with the book, but for some reason every time I started it I couldn't follow through. I finally willed myself to get this book read and I'm glad I did. I liked the book, I feel like the description of the book doesn't do it justice though. I can't really say that it doesn't fit or is wrong, because it's not--- it's just so much more. First here's what it says: "The sprawling, swampy, cacophonous city of Lagos, Nigeria, provides the backdrop to the story of Elvis, a teenage Elvis impersonator hoping to make his way out of the ghetto. Nuances, lyrical, and pitch perfect, tis is a remarkable story of a son and his father, and a examination of postcolonial Nigeria, where the trappings of American culture reign supreme." But this book touches on everything, I feel like Elvis' dancing and "the trappings of American culture" did not make as much of an impact in this story as the coming of age journey set behind the mess of the life in the ghetto. Military clashing and a number of fringe jobs they show for survival make this story come alive. The discussions about the military governments and what if anything can be done really made the book feel real. My only issue was I feel there was excessive and needless sexual references---- not that I'm a prude, and to be fair everything felt so real. Confessions this boy is thinking and feeling feel remarkably honest, and I do love that though. So that's not much of a gripe since I both liked and disliked it.
I wished I had jotted down notes or had read this on my Kindle where I could highlight. There was some amazing quotes in this book. Having just finished the book tonight I can at least mark one I read today:
"Funds? What funds? Let me tell you, dere are no bigger tiefs dan dose World Bank people. Let me tell you how de World Bank helps us. Say dey offer us ten-million-loa for creating potable and clean water supply to rural areas. If we accept, dis is how dey do us. First dey tell us dat we have to use de expertise of their consultants, so dey remove two million for salaries and expenses. Den dey tell us dat de consultants need equipment to work, like computer, jeeps or bulldozers, and for hotel and so on, so dey take another two million. Den dey say we cannot build ne boreholes but must service existing one, so dey take another two million to buy parts. All dis money, six million of it, never leave de U.S. Den dey use two million for de project, but it is not enough, so dey abandon it, and den amy bosses take de remaining two million. Now we, you and I and all dese poor people, owe de World Bank ten million dollars for nothing. Dey are all tiefs and I despise dem--- our people and de World Bank people!"
Just a good example of how this book is so much more, it brings about many ideas, problems, and realities.
I wished I had jotted down notes or had read this on my Kindle where I could highlight. There was some amazing quotes in this book. Having just finished the book tonight I can at least mark one I read today:
"Funds? What funds? Let me tell you, dere are no bigger tiefs dan dose World Bank people. Let me tell you how de World Bank helps us. Say dey offer us ten-million-loa for creating potable and clean water supply to rural areas. If we accept, dis is how dey do us. First dey tell us dat we have to use de expertise of their consultants, so dey remove two million for salaries and expenses. Den dey tell us dat de consultants need equipment to work, like computer, jeeps or bulldozers, and for hotel and so on, so dey take another two million. Den dey say we cannot build ne boreholes but must service existing one, so dey take another two million to buy parts. All dis money, six million of it, never leave de U.S. Den dey use two million for de project, but it is not enough, so dey abandon it, and den amy bosses take de remaining two million. Now we, you and I and all dese poor people, owe de World Bank ten million dollars for nothing. Dey are all tiefs and I despise dem--- our people and de World Bank people!"
Just a good example of how this book is so much more, it brings about many ideas, problems, and realities.
marihellomari's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is packed with explorations on toxic/aggressive masculinity, young people learning about sex and sexuality, and cultural and historical contexts of African and Igbo peoples.
sam_bizar_wilcox's review
5.0
Abani's Elvis is a character on par with the great literary heroes. And this novel of scheming and plotting in Maroko is so spectacularly enjoyable when I finished the book I was also planning an appropriate time to re-read it.
The subject-matter is, of course, challenging at times (making me want to hold of re-reading for at least a little while). But the spirit of novel is why I find it remarkable. It is a novel of gumption. Of cheek. A swaggering and smooth epic in a crumbling Lagos cityscape. Genius and a modern classic.
The subject-matter is, of course, challenging at times (making me want to hold of re-reading for at least a little while). But the spirit of novel is why I find it remarkable. It is a novel of gumption. Of cheek. A swaggering and smooth epic in a crumbling Lagos cityscape. Genius and a modern classic.
alisonjfields's review
4.0
7.0/10
Strictly speaking, I'd like to give this book a 3.5, but Goodreads won't let me do that, so I'm rounding up here. There's a lot going on in this book, which is generally something I enjoy, but it jumped from strain to strain so quickly that I missed being able to go back and pick up on details (the question of Elvis' sexuality. his fetish for make-up, the witchy grandmother, the missing Efua). Sections of this are written beautifully (eg: the physical descriptions of the slums, especially the slums by night floating across the lagoon from the monied parts of Lagos were gorgeous) and I really liked some of the characters, even if they tended to go a bit outside of themselves at moments (the King of Beggars' speech about the IMF and the World Bank, for example, feels like it's coming directly from the author and the King of Beggars is otherwise too rich and complex a character to be used as an avatar). All that said: I sincerely look forward to reading some of Abani's newer books to see where he's gone (fictionally-speaking) and the likely remarkable journeys he's taken to get there
Strictly speaking, I'd like to give this book a 3.5, but Goodreads won't let me do that, so I'm rounding up here. There's a lot going on in this book, which is generally something I enjoy, but it jumped from strain to strain so quickly that I missed being able to go back and pick up on details (the question of Elvis' sexuality. his fetish for make-up, the witchy grandmother, the missing Efua). Sections of this are written beautifully (eg: the physical descriptions of the slums, especially the slums by night floating across the lagoon from the monied parts of Lagos were gorgeous) and I really liked some of the characters, even if they tended to go a bit outside of themselves at moments (the King of Beggars' speech about the IMF and the World Bank, for example, feels like it's coming directly from the author and the King of Beggars is otherwise too rich and complex a character to be used as an avatar). All that said: I sincerely look forward to reading some of Abani's newer books to see where he's gone (fictionally-speaking) and the likely remarkable journeys he's taken to get there
emmamgregory's review
5.0
Elvis lives in Nigeria, he is a boy growing up in relative poverty and he loves to dance. But this book is so much more than a coming of age novel. Abani delves into what happens when governments rule without democracy, when armies are in charge. When rape, torture and violence is commonplace. However there's not all doom and gloom in this book there are often comical places as Elvis makes it through life with his motley assortment of friends and fellow slum dwellers. Grace Land is beautifully and hauntingly written and will stay with me for a long time.
amakaazie's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book. A tragic but engaging story about Elvis, a young man who dreamed of becoming a dancer. However, his move to Lagos with his family was followed by a series of horrific experiences that buried that dream. I particularly enjoyed the dialogue in this novel. Realistic and hilarious.
I didn’t understand the need for all the POV switches and interruptions to write food recipes. In my opinion, it dampened the flow of this great story that deserves 5 stars.
I recommend this book.
I didn’t understand the need for all the POV switches and interruptions to write food recipes. In my opinion, it dampened the flow of this great story that deserves 5 stars.
I recommend this book.
gretaalice's review
dark
funny
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0