Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by booksonadventures
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa by Stephen Buoro
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
💫Gist: This “tragicomic” coming-of-age follows one Nigerian boy and his obsession with blondes as he navigates the turbulence of family, religion, and politics.
Andy Africa offers a lot of the qualities I look for in a literary award nominee… complex symbolism, a strong sense of place, and a unique look into interfaith & intertribal conflict in Nigeria. I believe it’s likely a shortlist contender for the Aspen Words Prize due to the quality writing and the many issues it encompasses.
HOWEVER. Andy Africa is ultimately “not for me.” Outside of readers with a specific interest in this region, topics, or prize list… I would probably not recommend. 👀
For one, I personally struggled with the narrative POV of a teenage boy… like, do they all think this much about the sagginess of their mother’s breasts? (Don’t answer that.) I also found the exploration of contemporary issues somewhat lackluster. I wanted more in-depth criticism of Andy’s relationship with Eileen, while this novel seems to hold them at arms length.
When specifically considering the unique power dynamics of their relationship, I found myself thinking about “If An Egyptian Does Not Speak English,” which approaches a similar topic in a more impactful—though confrontational—way.
Andy Africa offers a lot of the qualities I look for in a literary award nominee… complex symbolism, a strong sense of place, and a unique look into interfaith & intertribal conflict in Nigeria. I believe it’s likely a shortlist contender for the Aspen Words Prize due to the quality writing and the many issues it encompasses.
HOWEVER. Andy Africa is ultimately “not for me.” Outside of readers with a specific interest in this region, topics, or prize list… I would probably not recommend. 👀
For one, I personally struggled with the narrative POV of a teenage boy… like, do they all think this much about the sagginess of their mother’s breasts? (Don’t answer that.) I also found the exploration of contemporary issues somewhat lackluster. I wanted more in-depth criticism of Andy’s relationship with Eileen, while this novel seems to hold them at arms length.
When specifically considering the unique power dynamics of their relationship, I found myself thinking about “If An Egyptian Does Not Speak English,” which approaches a similar topic in a more impactful—though confrontational—way.