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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
Den är intressant och realistisk på ett sätt som gör att läsandet av den känns som en erfarenhet.
Is this what a heart attack feels like? This book crushed me. Full review coming soon on bornhooligan.wordpress.com
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
If you’re thinking about reading this, please do yourself a favour and do. it. Yes – it is that good. I will admit, however, that, initially, I struggled a bit to get into it. The first 50 pages or so, where all of our characters are introduced and the plot is still setting can be a bit daunting, or (quite frankly) a bit dry – at least for me. But then, the plot picks up, the characters and the relationships that are forming between them begin to develop, and we can sit back and watch it all unravel. And boy, does it unravel.
I personally found Ahmed’s chapters and journey to be the most compelling to me, mostly because he was drifting in and out of the group, present enough to be important to the story, and yet absent enough to leave me wanting more (seriously, I wouldn’t complain if Onuzo ever decided to publish a book just on him).
My one complaint in terms of character development would be the treatment of women in the novel. We rarely, if ever, get to see things from their own perspective and point of view, usually seeing them, their actions, and reactions through the lenses of the men that accompany them. Even Oma’s feelings towards marriage, infidelity, and beginning a new life are explained to the readers through the assumptions of Chike. This could, no doubt, be an intentional choice on behalf of the author, to perhaps reflect, through her very writing, the silencing these women have experienced throughout their lives (Oma especially). Still, I think I would have enjoyed the book a bit more, had I known these women a bit better.
I’ve seen quite a few reviews of people struggling with or disliking the ending of the novel. I was the exact opposite, as I found the ending to be particularly strong and one of my favourite parts of the book. I was at the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what would happen next, who would be redeemed in the end, and where the author would take her story. It was a bold novel from beginning to end, but I believe it is its ending that renders it especially remarkable.
Extremely readable tale of a “family” of travelers trying to survive in Lagos and finding themselves embroiled in political intrigue. I loved the moral complexity at every level. No one was uncorrupt, but the most corrupt were still full, relatable characters.
The book has left me smiling.
The book has left me smiling.
This was slow-going for me because I had a hard time connecting with the characters. But the further I got into it, the more I enjoyed and appreciated it.
As, apparently, prayers solve all the problems in Nigeria, I was praying for this book to end. 350 pages of a boring slog. Artificial plots coming from nowhere and not going anywhere. Wooden characters. The only attention is seemingly paid do diacritical marks in Yoruba and Igbo words and names and in this book where all is superficial, this only adds to pretentiousness. Lagos deserves better.
A group of strangers, going through adverse circumstances, band together to overcome their struggles. Different backgrounds don’t stop them from moving forward. I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed it.
I have mixed feelings about this book (why do I seem to start off every review I do with a similar statement?). On one hand, the setting is brilliantly done. I always felt immersed in the lush world and culture of Nigeria, even though I have never been to Lagos. I could hear the sounds, smell the smells, taste the food. I could imagine the filth and poverty, the danger and hurt. If I was judging this book merely for the setting, I could easily give this book five stars. However, a book is not just its setting. Some of the characters, especially Chike and the journalist Bakare, were interesting, but many of the characters fell into simple boxes. The plot was slow-moving, and I expected more action or plot progression to accompany watching the characters as they live their daily lives. But I never felt that interested in what was happening in the story.
Full review on my blog: https://madamewriterblog.com/2019/09/25/book-review-welcome-to-lagos-by-chibundu-onuzo/
Full review on my blog: https://madamewriterblog.com/2019/09/25/book-review-welcome-to-lagos-by-chibundu-onuzo/