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A review by thelazyyscribe
Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku
3.5
I guess it's safe to say the author is free from the “one-hit-wonder curse.” I enjoyed this one. Maybe even too much. I found myself laughing a lot, especially as one who’s Nigerian.
It follows the story of Temi, a 20-year-old graduate who, after years of experiencing body-shaming, decides to “renovate her bum bum”. It'll help her find true love and eventually settle down. She reveals this during a family gathering that has in attendance: Her mum, sister, and two aunties. Like most Nigerian families, surgically enhancing one’s bum is frowned upon and almost related to one suffering from a mental illness and that's putting it mildly.
*What worked for me*
-I appreciate that Temi’s character is written from a second-person point of view. It's rare but very much needed. Readers are almost forced to wear Temi’s shoes and I couldn't love the decision more.
-I don't know how, but the title just works. Lol.
*What didn't work for me*
-Following two characters' POVs can be a lot, let alone four different characters. At some point, I started to mix characters and had to reread some chapters. The story becomes easily unmemorable.
-The story touches on heavy topics such as abuse, colourism, and so on, but the humour in the book made it kind of easy to gloss over. I guess it's just the Nigerian way of making light of every situation. A.k.a therapy. As a Nigerian, I'm honestly not mad at it lol, but then again, as a group, we all need actual therapy. So…
In summary, it was such an easy read. I couldn't put it down from the moment I started reading. Precisely how I like my books. Just as Damilare said, “For the ones like me who stare at a mirror all day hoping to fix it all with their eyes. I have broken my mirror, please break yours.”
Thanks to Simon & Schuster via Net Galley for the ARC.
P.S. The author’s note is simply adorable.
It follows the story of Temi, a 20-year-old graduate who, after years of experiencing body-shaming, decides to “renovate her bum bum”. It'll help her find true love and eventually settle down. She reveals this during a family gathering that has in attendance: Her mum, sister, and two aunties. Like most Nigerian families, surgically enhancing one’s bum is frowned upon and almost related to one suffering from a mental illness and that's putting it mildly.
*What worked for me*
-I appreciate that Temi’s character is written from a second-person point of view. It's rare but very much needed. Readers are almost forced to wear Temi’s shoes and I couldn't love the decision more.
-I don't know how, but the title just works. Lol.
*What didn't work for me*
-Following two characters' POVs can be a lot, let alone four different characters. At some point, I started to mix characters and had to reread some chapters. The story becomes easily unmemorable.
-The story touches on heavy topics such as abuse, colourism, and so on, but the humour in the book made it kind of easy to gloss over. I guess it's just the Nigerian way of making light of every situation. A.k.a therapy. As a Nigerian, I'm honestly not mad at it lol, but then again, as a group, we all need actual therapy. So…
In summary, it was such an easy read. I couldn't put it down from the moment I started reading. Precisely how I like my books. Just as Damilare said, “For the ones like me who stare at a mirror all day hoping to fix it all with their eyes. I have broken my mirror, please break yours.”
Thanks to Simon & Schuster via Net Galley for the ARC.
P.S. The author’s note is simply adorable.