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africanbookaddict's review against another edition
4.0
http://africanbookaddict.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/every-day-is-for-the-thief-by-teju-cole/
Every Day is For The Thief is a good book. The protagonist of this novella or travelogue is a Nigerian born, now naturalized American resident medical officer in New York with a calm demeanor, giving the book a progressive, logical flow. I actually read the book thinking the protagonist was Teju Cole himself… just because readers don’t get much detail on the protagonist- like his name, stature etc.
A lot of what Cole writes about seems common to Ghana but not as severe! The corruption heavily practiced by the police, the hustle and bustle of the city full of old vehicles and zooming okadas (motorcycles) on pot-holed roads, the regular power outages, the wide social and economic disparities in the nation of Nigeria and increased armed robbery cases in the suffering economy are all prevalent in Ghana as well.
Certain parts of the book wowed me. The widespread of internet frauds conducted in Internet cafes by ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ boys, the burning of a child thief in a car tire, the gangs that roam the streets of Lagos readily demanding thousands of naira or ever-ready to maim citizens was pretty wild. Such incidents may seem exaggerated and fictitious, but I believe these things actually occur in Lagos, since I’ve heard similar stories from some Nigerian friends. After reading this novella, foreigners may think twice before visiting Lagos because it seems as if Nigerians are always living on the edge of danger!
I loved how the protagonist was a ‘returnee’ from being away in the US for 15 years. He sort of returned to Lagos as a stranger with his absorbed Western ways of democracy. This allowed him to share his shock of the craziness and delight being back home with a wide array of readers- both foreign and fellow Africans. I think this helped foreign readers take in Lagos from an insider, yet outsiders’ lens.
This is a good book for anyone who would love to learn about the rambunctious nation of Nigeria. Teju Cole expertly discusses and simplifies some of the complex issues the country faces such as corruption, governmental issues, the oil sector, the health sector etc. Some may be even more apprehensive about visiting the nation after reading jaw-dropping descriptions, but I’m still keen on visiting Nigeria- Abuja to be precise!
Every Day is For The Thief is a good book. The protagonist of this novella or travelogue is a Nigerian born, now naturalized American resident medical officer in New York with a calm demeanor, giving the book a progressive, logical flow. I actually read the book thinking the protagonist was Teju Cole himself… just because readers don’t get much detail on the protagonist- like his name, stature etc.
A lot of what Cole writes about seems common to Ghana but not as severe! The corruption heavily practiced by the police, the hustle and bustle of the city full of old vehicles and zooming okadas (motorcycles) on pot-holed roads, the regular power outages, the wide social and economic disparities in the nation of Nigeria and increased armed robbery cases in the suffering economy are all prevalent in Ghana as well.
Certain parts of the book wowed me. The widespread of internet frauds conducted in Internet cafes by ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ boys, the burning of a child thief in a car tire, the gangs that roam the streets of Lagos readily demanding thousands of naira or ever-ready to maim citizens was pretty wild. Such incidents may seem exaggerated and fictitious, but I believe these things actually occur in Lagos, since I’ve heard similar stories from some Nigerian friends. After reading this novella, foreigners may think twice before visiting Lagos because it seems as if Nigerians are always living on the edge of danger!
I loved how the protagonist was a ‘returnee’ from being away in the US for 15 years. He sort of returned to Lagos as a stranger with his absorbed Western ways of democracy. This allowed him to share his shock of the craziness and delight being back home with a wide array of readers- both foreign and fellow Africans. I think this helped foreign readers take in Lagos from an insider, yet outsiders’ lens.
This is a good book for anyone who would love to learn about the rambunctious nation of Nigeria. Teju Cole expertly discusses and simplifies some of the complex issues the country faces such as corruption, governmental issues, the oil sector, the health sector etc. Some may be even more apprehensive about visiting the nation after reading jaw-dropping descriptions, but I’m still keen on visiting Nigeria- Abuja to be precise!
waynediane's review
5.0
Love his writing. A true perspective of Nigeria and Lagos- he clarifies all those scam emails from Nigeria for money solicitation etc. Quick read. Very enjoyable
abbiecondie's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
3.5
razalamb1's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A interestingly structured book that has a lot to say about culture and society. I recommend it, but it's not a super satisfying read.
yikesbmg's review
4.0
Really liked how the book was written -- easy read, reflective, emotional distance between narrator & what was witnessed but still a personal connection between the two. A lot of it reminded me of the chaos of the DR -- how things "work" but just barely so, how there's no way that I won't be seen as an American there, the faith in mysterious, religion, and magic when that's just not how the world works. Confused by the ending.
laila4343's review
4.0
Man, I really enjoyed this. It's slim, like a novella, but it reads more like essays/travel memoir. I think it's fairly autobiographical but I don't want to assume that. I was fascinated by contemporary Lagos, and by the Nigerian-born unnamed narrator's culture shock after living in the U.S. for fifteen years. I can't wait to read Cole's other novel, Open City, soon.
amshmobr's review
4.0
In this book, Teju Cole creates such rich and vivid scenes with words that are simple and few. The insider-outsider dichotomy for the main character adds an extra layer to what first appears to be a straightforward account of time spent in Nigeria.
jopopipo's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
sdill118's review
4.0
Well, for one thing, I no longer desire traveling to Nigeria or specifically Lagos. I am surprised that this book is listed as fiction as it had more of a memoir vibe to it but overall, the book was engaging and provided an intimate insight into the inner workings of Lagos. Cole shares multiple aspects of Lagos culture- from the arts, music, literacy to corruption within the government, police, and oil companies, Cole describes Lagos in a way in which the reader can truly visualize the city, the people, and day to day life. I wish Cole had expanded on his family life- specifically his relationship with his father and his relationship with his mother. Overall, this book was a solid read and not once was bored. Cole's poetic and descriptive way of writing really kept me engaged.
lizzypunch's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0