Reviews

An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma

neliaekeji's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

getinkshedtears's review against another edition

3.0

I have mixed feelings about this book. As an exploration of Igbo cosmology, it gets 5 stars: I learned more new terms and concepts from it than anything I've read for a long time. As a narrative, I hated it and had to basically flog myself into finishing. I enjoyed The Fishermen and was hoping for more out of this one. Obioma would be well-served by a new editor.

jcgrenn_reads's review against another edition

4.0

I’m about 25 percent embarrassed to say that every few pages of this book I kept thinking “oh my word. Good book, I think, but this is taking FOREVER.” Kevin from the office with his “why say lot word when few word do trick” would be completely stunned by this lengthy, chunky, thoughtful book that sometimes seems enamored by its own thoughts and spirals and rabbit trails. Why can’t I get any closer to the back cover??!! How many pages are in this again??

Then it hit me. What is time to an eternal spirit giving testimony on behalf of his human host. What is 450 pages and a few months of setting down a book and picking it back up to struggle through another beautiful chapter, even if it feels like the right handed chunk of pages left keeps going and going and going, compared to a spirit testifying to a creator on behalf of his human. The reflections on humanity noticed by the chi (and by the author) are of a depth you will be hardpressed to dig up anywhere else than in Obioma’s writing.

Read this book. Take your time. Set it down and come back if you need to. Read another in the middle. Read a few, but then come back to this one. It’s worth it.

hannah_miles23's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.75

rosibook's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

kathrynnnnnn's review against another edition

4.0

Well timed reminder to let things go, forgive and be grateful. Vengeance just brings different pain.

julieverive's review against another edition

4.0

4.5.

ady_soundslike80's review against another edition

Soft DNF. Im just too stressed to read something this emotionally complex

amibaby's review against another edition

I didn’t finish the book cos it was too slow but I skim read the last 200 or so pages and I concluded that it’s a horrible story. I wish I never picked up the book - justice for all the good characters in this book, especially Ndali. HATE her ending, the stupidest thing I’ve read.

krobart's review against another edition

2.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/07/19/review-1693-an-orchestra-of-minorities/