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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-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:
No
Behold the rollercoaster, one of the marvels of modern engineering. Engineers go through great pains to design a supremely precise machine to frighten you and entice you at the same time, to thrillingly jettison you outside your physical comfort zone while promising absolute safety. Even though to you, the passenger, the ride and its attendant physical sensations are utterly unpredictable — click click climb climb climb stop WHOOOSH aaaaieeeeee — the turns, drops and loops of a rollercoaster are designed with millimeter precision along steel tracks, never deviating from one ride to another. You can revel in uncertainty because the engineers know with great certainty where they want to get you and how to get you there.
This is also an apt description for Welcome to Lagos, the second novel by Chibundu Onuzo, the young English-educated Nigerian writer. Onuzo's narrator can be all-knowing because Onuzo knows her stuff. She knows the different languages of Nigeria — Igbo, Yoruba, English, pidgin — along with the socioeconomic class each accent and dialect denotes. She knows how the Muslim, Christian and animist minds work, and how that informs their behavior. She knows Nigerian politics and its corruption, the military and its war crimes. She knows the slums, the gated estates, the squat shacks, and bridge dwellers. And she knows all the hustles, scams and outright theft people are perpetrating to get by.
The result is this rich tapestry of Nigerian life, centered in Lagos. Onuzo lets the strings of fate draw three disparate (and desperate) parties together in the capital for a plot that starts small but comes to grow far beyond the borders of Lagos and even Nigeria. Without giving away too much of the plot, the three parties are: a ragtag group of 5 young malcontents escaping violence in the countryside; a privileged, English-educated young publisher of an anti-corruption newspaper; and a thieving middle-aged education minister on the run. The magic trick by which she brings them all together I leave for the reader to discover.
What struck me most about the novel was the sympathy with which Onuzo depicted the characters. Each starts out as a grey cloud indistinguishable from the other 200 million struggling Nigerians. But as the novel progresses, we recognize the hidden gifts each possesses. How much raw talent must be remaining dormant in places like Nigeria for lack of resources? What would the plucky and ingenious Nigerians be able to accomplish if the spoils of its natural resources were more fairly distributed instead of being concentrated amongst a kleptocratic elite? These are questions worth considering not just for Nigeria, but also for the human race at large.
With a fast-moving plot, deft characterizations, and a keen eye for subtlety, Onuzo has crafted an enjoyable and instructive novel that I read in two sittings. A masterful blend of humor, satire and sharp social observation, it’s one of those books that can take a reader with zero knowledge of a country (e.g. yours truly) to someone with a much deepened appreciation of a complex, rich nation. May you delight as much as I did this in this ride of climbs, turns, drops, and thrills that Onuzo has craftily engineered for you.
-- Ali Binazir, M.D., M.Phil., Happiness Engineer and author of [b: The Tao of Dating: The Smart Woman's Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible|33977456|The Tao of Dating The Smart Woman's Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible|Ali Binazir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485248157l/33977456._SY75_.jpg|13580088], the highest-rated dating book on Amazon, and [b: Should I Go to Medical School?: An Irreverent Guide to the Pros and Cons of a Career in Medicine|34099644|Should I Go to Medical School An Irreverent Guide to the Pros and Cons of a Career in Medicine|Ali Binazir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486004834l/34099644._SY75_.jpg|55119946]
This is also an apt description for Welcome to Lagos, the second novel by Chibundu Onuzo, the young English-educated Nigerian writer. Onuzo's narrator can be all-knowing because Onuzo knows her stuff. She knows the different languages of Nigeria — Igbo, Yoruba, English, pidgin — along with the socioeconomic class each accent and dialect denotes. She knows how the Muslim, Christian and animist minds work, and how that informs their behavior. She knows Nigerian politics and its corruption, the military and its war crimes. She knows the slums, the gated estates, the squat shacks, and bridge dwellers. And she knows all the hustles, scams and outright theft people are perpetrating to get by.
The result is this rich tapestry of Nigerian life, centered in Lagos. Onuzo lets the strings of fate draw three disparate (and desperate) parties together in the capital for a plot that starts small but comes to grow far beyond the borders of Lagos and even Nigeria. Without giving away too much of the plot, the three parties are: a ragtag group of 5 young malcontents escaping violence in the countryside; a privileged, English-educated young publisher of an anti-corruption newspaper; and a thieving middle-aged education minister on the run. The magic trick by which she brings them all together I leave for the reader to discover.
What struck me most about the novel was the sympathy with which Onuzo depicted the characters. Each starts out as a grey cloud indistinguishable from the other 200 million struggling Nigerians. But as the novel progresses, we recognize the hidden gifts each possesses. How much raw talent must be remaining dormant in places like Nigeria for lack of resources? What would the plucky and ingenious Nigerians be able to accomplish if the spoils of its natural resources were more fairly distributed instead of being concentrated amongst a kleptocratic elite? These are questions worth considering not just for Nigeria, but also for the human race at large.
With a fast-moving plot, deft characterizations, and a keen eye for subtlety, Onuzo has crafted an enjoyable and instructive novel that I read in two sittings. A masterful blend of humor, satire and sharp social observation, it’s one of those books that can take a reader with zero knowledge of a country (e.g. yours truly) to someone with a much deepened appreciation of a complex, rich nation. May you delight as much as I did this in this ride of climbs, turns, drops, and thrills that Onuzo has craftily engineered for you.
-- Ali Binazir, M.D., M.Phil., Happiness Engineer and author of [b: The Tao of Dating: The Smart Woman's Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible|33977456|The Tao of Dating The Smart Woman's Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible|Ali Binazir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485248157l/33977456._SY75_.jpg|13580088], the highest-rated dating book on Amazon, and [b: Should I Go to Medical School?: An Irreverent Guide to the Pros and Cons of a Career in Medicine|34099644|Should I Go to Medical School An Irreverent Guide to the Pros and Cons of a Career in Medicine|Ali Binazir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486004834l/34099644._SY75_.jpg|55119946]
Three Words That Describe This Book: Engaging, Multiple Points of View, Strong Sense of Place
This is the best debut novel I read all year. I didn't want it to end. And unlike a lot of debuts, it held its own from the first page until the very end. And the ending, wow, it was perfect.
The plot summary here on Goodreads gives you the overall gist. But here is why I loved it.
First the characters. Each represents a different part of Nigeria today. The reluctant soldier, the uneducated, the aspiring modern young person, women who want to be treated equally, the ex-pat who comes home to try to fix everything, and the government official. Each is engaging, complex, fascinating, and unique.
Their backstories and then how the plot bring them together and has them interact, is why you read this.
Onuzo is also able to use the characters to tell a throughly modern story of what Nigeria is like right now-- especially Lagos. We see the good and the bad. We get a sense of how things work with seriousness, satire, humor, and fun. There is a little nit of everything here, but not in a way that makes the story feel fragmented. Quite the opposite-- it is a great fun read and thought provoking, and educational-- all wrapped up in one fast paced package.
While things get a little crazy in the middle, caper-esque, how Onuzo gets the characters to that situation makes perfect sense. It simply satirizes the outrageousness of Nigerian society but in a affectionate way [the ending is a beautiful testament to that].
I absolutely loved this book and know I can easily hand it off to many readers for a long time to come.
Readalikes: This book is both serious and fun. It gave me a great sense of the place, its beauty but also the dark sides. Why the characters love Lagos, get frustrated by it, and want to fix it. Other books that have portrayed this same complex sense of a place I didn't know with many voices merging together to create a full picture are:
-- THERE THERE by Tommy Orange: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2509344470?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
--PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2423857735
--A CONSTELLATION OF VITAL PHENOMENA by Anthony Marra: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2014/12/what-im-reading-constellation-of-vital.html
--THE WHITE TIGER by Aravind Adiga [although in this case there is only 1 voice]: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2009/07/what-im-reading-white-tiger.html
But all of these have a little less humor that this novel, which is mostly serious but also playful at times. Throw in a dash of the attitude in THE WANGS VS THE WORLD by Jade Chang to all of these and that hits at the appeal of WELCOME TO LAGOS
This is the best debut novel I read all year. I didn't want it to end. And unlike a lot of debuts, it held its own from the first page until the very end. And the ending, wow, it was perfect.
The plot summary here on Goodreads gives you the overall gist. But here is why I loved it.
First the characters. Each represents a different part of Nigeria today. The reluctant soldier, the uneducated, the aspiring modern young person, women who want to be treated equally, the ex-pat who comes home to try to fix everything, and the government official. Each is engaging, complex, fascinating, and unique.
Their backstories and then how the plot bring them together and has them interact, is why you read this.
Onuzo is also able to use the characters to tell a throughly modern story of what Nigeria is like right now-- especially Lagos. We see the good and the bad. We get a sense of how things work with seriousness, satire, humor, and fun. There is a little nit of everything here, but not in a way that makes the story feel fragmented. Quite the opposite-- it is a great fun read and thought provoking, and educational-- all wrapped up in one fast paced package.
While things get a little crazy in the middle, caper-esque, how Onuzo gets the characters to that situation makes perfect sense. It simply satirizes the outrageousness of Nigerian society but in a affectionate way [the ending is a beautiful testament to that].
I absolutely loved this book and know I can easily hand it off to many readers for a long time to come.
Readalikes: This book is both serious and fun. It gave me a great sense of the place, its beauty but also the dark sides. Why the characters love Lagos, get frustrated by it, and want to fix it. Other books that have portrayed this same complex sense of a place I didn't know with many voices merging together to create a full picture are:
-- THERE THERE by Tommy Orange: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2509344470?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
--PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2423857735
--A CONSTELLATION OF VITAL PHENOMENA by Anthony Marra: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2014/12/what-im-reading-constellation-of-vital.html
--THE WHITE TIGER by Aravind Adiga [although in this case there is only 1 voice]: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2009/07/what-im-reading-white-tiger.html
But all of these have a little less humor that this novel, which is mostly serious but also playful at times. Throw in a dash of the attitude in THE WANGS VS THE WORLD by Jade Chang to all of these and that hits at the appeal of WELCOME TO LAGOS
After reading (and loving) Chibundo Onuzo's book Sankofa last September, I immediately added her previous novel Welcome to Lagos to my reading list! This book tells the story of Chike Ameobi, an army officer who deserts his post after being ordered to kill innocent civilians. He escapes to Lagos with his junior officer, and along the way, they pick up a disparate group of runaways who are all dreaming of a different life. Once they reach Lagos, their lives takes many unexpected turns.
I really enjoyed this book. It gives a snapshot of life in Nigeria, while also weaving together the different challenges facing each character as they work together to form a new sort of family. The book addresses a number of difficult issues, but the story is told with humor and feels optimistic. And I'd be remiss not to mention the gorgeous, colorful cover!
I really enjoyed this book. It gives a snapshot of life in Nigeria, while also weaving together the different challenges facing each character as they work together to form a new sort of family. The book addresses a number of difficult issues, but the story is told with humor and feels optimistic. And I'd be remiss not to mention the gorgeous, colorful cover!
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
sad
medium-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
Interesting characters but somehow I couldn't get into it. There was a lot of skimming.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
tense
medium-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
This was such an enjoyable read , which highlighted the turmoil in Nigeria socially and politically whilst creating an engaging cast of characters and filling its narrative with emotion and humour.
The story centres around five people who meet and form a small group together as they travel to Lagos . The book opens with soldier Chike and his colleague Yemu, so upset by their commanding officers orders to massacre villagers in a Niger delta village they desert their company, on their walk they meet Isoken a teenage girl who appears to have been raped and the apparent perpetrator Fineboy (a rebel fighter), they all board a ramshackle bus to lagos and meet Oma a wife fleeing her rich husbands domestic violence. In Lagos they cannot separate and find themselves sleeping in a group under a bridge. We meet at the same time Chief Sandayo the minister of education who flees prosecution with a bag full of money and Ahmed bakare a young radical journalist hoping to make his papers name by exposing corruption.
The story then develops as their paths cross and the group seek to put the money to the use it was originally intended despite reservations from many of them and the machinations of the chief and the ideals of the press.
The writing is excellent as the author crafts a page turning story which through comedy and pathos has the reader on a roller coaster ride desperately hoping for the right outcome for the brilliantly drawn characters. She weaves the story around their different relationships with great skill and she also created a vision of Lagos which was colourful and a character in itself. I loved this book and was sad to finish it, Id highly recommend it as a good read.
The story centres around five people who meet and form a small group together as they travel to Lagos . The book opens with soldier Chike and his colleague Yemu, so upset by their commanding officers orders to massacre villagers in a Niger delta village they desert their company, on their walk they meet Isoken a teenage girl who appears to have been raped and the apparent perpetrator Fineboy (a rebel fighter), they all board a ramshackle bus to lagos and meet Oma a wife fleeing her rich husbands domestic violence. In Lagos they cannot separate and find themselves sleeping in a group under a bridge. We meet at the same time Chief Sandayo the minister of education who flees prosecution with a bag full of money and Ahmed bakare a young radical journalist hoping to make his papers name by exposing corruption.
The story then develops as their paths cross and the group seek to put the money to the use it was originally intended despite reservations from many of them and the machinations of the chief and the ideals of the press.
The writing is excellent as the author crafts a page turning story which through comedy and pathos has the reader on a roller coaster ride desperately hoping for the right outcome for the brilliantly drawn characters. She weaves the story around their different relationships with great skill and she also created a vision of Lagos which was colourful and a character in itself. I loved this book and was sad to finish it, Id highly recommend it as a good read.