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nouriee's review against another edition
5.0
absolutely stunning. the imagery, the story, the message and the history that runs through it, the breathtaking writing, the problems explored both so ancient and yet still so apparent in our world. beautiful and painful all at once.
half_book_and_co's review against another edition
4.0
Inua Ellams is a renowned poet and playwright (The Barber Shop Chronicles). I have seen him read/ perform twice and hence was very excited when his novella in verse, The Half-God of Rainfall, was announced. Thankfully, I received a review copy from the publisher.
The Half-God of Rainfall packs into roughly 80 pages a tale spanning several years, more than a handful of gods, and multiple continents. This is the story of Demi - born to a Nigerian mortal after she was raped by the Greek god Zeus - who rises to fame as a basketball player. But it is also the story of his mother Modupe who finds herself at the whim of the gods one time too many. This is about a conflict between Yorùbá and Greek deities, between mortals and gods, between women and men.
Ellams verses, his beautiful, precise language, fit the story he is telling and gives it the epic feel it needs. Focussing in on a few choice scenes, he manages to get across the motives of his characters, their entanglements, and their emotions. It all falls into place. There are just a few instances where the developments felt rushed to me and a few more pages could have been spent. Also quite early on, Ellams writes about Modupe and how she was protected from mortal men. The way he writes about rape there is a bit simplistic and actually contradictory to his tale. But all in all, this is a good book and one lending itself to rereads.
The Half-God of Rainfall packs into roughly 80 pages a tale spanning several years, more than a handful of gods, and multiple continents. This is the story of Demi - born to a Nigerian mortal after she was raped by the Greek god Zeus - who rises to fame as a basketball player. But it is also the story of his mother Modupe who finds herself at the whim of the gods one time too many. This is about a conflict between Yorùbá and Greek deities, between mortals and gods, between women and men.
Ellams verses, his beautiful, precise language, fit the story he is telling and gives it the epic feel it needs. Focussing in on a few choice scenes, he manages to get across the motives of his characters, their entanglements, and their emotions. It all falls into place. There are just a few instances where the developments felt rushed to me and a few more pages could have been spent. Also quite early on, Ellams writes about Modupe and how she was protected from mortal men. The way he writes about rape there is a bit simplistic and actually contradictory to his tale. But all in all, this is a good book and one lending itself to rereads.
mkay___'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
stellaar's review against another edition
4.0
Bloody Zeus, aye? I haven't met a woman who didn't want to punch him!
ana610615's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
brew_and_books's review against another edition
3.0
The Half-God of Rainfall is a lyrical and powerful narrative of pride, dignity, and vengeance from a woman’s standpoint. There is something extraordinary about this kid who serves as the central character of this free verse poetry novella. Mists obscure right at the point when he is irate, waterways flood all across and through the river banks right when he is just about to cry, like just there, on the verge. Demi, a half-Nigerian human and half-Grecian God, is the ‘Half-God of Rainfall,’ a demigod.
The very first words in the dedication of this novel are, ‘"In solidarity with women who have spoken against or stood up to male abuses of power in all its forms.” And so it goes, this story is much more about Demi’s mother, Modupe, than him. A woman revered for her beauty and famed for her charm, Modupe was propelled to be at the receiving end of heinous abuse at the hands of the infamous Greek god Zeus. The bastard child of Zeus, sheltered by Modupe in the mortal world of humans, seeks his rightful place in society and rises to be a Basketball star. So much so that when Demi is up for a match, gods from heaven covet for a courtside seat to be the spectator of his exemplary god-like basketball skills.
The novella deals with quite hard-hitting subjects of female abuse and sexual exploitation very well. Nonetheless, it places the strength and resilience of a woman on a higher pedestal which outshines the antagonistic nature of enslavement and oppression. The way a child is frustrated at the in-acknowledgment of his father, or the extent a mother can protect her child, even from revered deities, and the way one deals with sexual trauma, are just some of the things that got to me. I wasn’t signed up for a powerful, hard-hitting narrative like this one when I started it, but it, in the end, helped me widen my horizon of understanding of feminine strength.
It took me a while to get used to the writing style, but once I got in, I knew it is a work of brilliance. I am not a massive fan of Yoruba and Greek Mythology, nor am I some greek mythos-geek, which is the central theme of this narrative, so I have my reservation concerning just this point. But since I was moved by the story and the message per se, it was an enjoyable read. Recommended if you are looking for a short, crisp read with a feminine perspective and a powerful message.
The very first words in the dedication of this novel are, ‘"In solidarity with women who have spoken against or stood up to male abuses of power in all its forms.” And so it goes, this story is much more about Demi’s mother, Modupe, than him. A woman revered for her beauty and famed for her charm, Modupe was propelled to be at the receiving end of heinous abuse at the hands of the infamous Greek god Zeus. The bastard child of Zeus, sheltered by Modupe in the mortal world of humans, seeks his rightful place in society and rises to be a Basketball star. So much so that when Demi is up for a match, gods from heaven covet for a courtside seat to be the spectator of his exemplary god-like basketball skills.
The novella deals with quite hard-hitting subjects of female abuse and sexual exploitation very well. Nonetheless, it places the strength and resilience of a woman on a higher pedestal which outshines the antagonistic nature of enslavement and oppression. The way a child is frustrated at the in-acknowledgment of his father, or the extent a mother can protect her child, even from revered deities, and the way one deals with sexual trauma, are just some of the things that got to me. I wasn’t signed up for a powerful, hard-hitting narrative like this one when I started it, but it, in the end, helped me widen my horizon of understanding of feminine strength.
It took me a while to get used to the writing style, but once I got in, I knew it is a work of brilliance. I am not a massive fan of Yoruba and Greek Mythology, nor am I some greek mythos-geek, which is the central theme of this narrative, so I have my reservation concerning just this point. But since I was moved by the story and the message per se, it was an enjoyable read. Recommended if you are looking for a short, crisp read with a feminine perspective and a powerful message.
_punksnail_'s review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence