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A review by zarlynsnook
And Then He Sang a Lullaby by Ani Kayode Somtochukwu
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
5.0
This debut novel is a gem waiting to be discovered. When I requested the ARC in Netgalley, I did it on a whim because I was so intrigued by the blurb. I also haven't read a book set in Nigeria so I thought it would be nice to visit it through this book.
Honestly, once I started reading the book, I had an inkling that it would feel like reading Khaled Hosseini's books all over again. I'll never forget how I felt when I read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns for the first time. It felt like opening my eyes to a wider, much cruel world I was oblivious to. And boy, this book did that again to me, and more.
The book is about August and Segun and their story of living as a young adult queer in Nigeria. They came from different upbringings but met and fell in love. Both have much to go through and have their own adversaries but share one thing - they are gay and living in a homophobic county. August was conflicted because of the pressure from his family being the only son and his mother dying after giving birth to him. Meanwhile, Segun grew up being politically aware due to his mother being an activist. The book explored August and Segun’s journey of growing up facing their personal dilemma and their romantic relationship until the societal pressure of their country’s homophobic culture caught up with them.
One thing that I can describe in this book is that it is raw. It right down told me how cruel the world is, with no sugar-coating, no introduction, and no flowery or poetic prose. Just straight-up facts and emotions and the book gets deeper and heart-breaking. When I finished reading the book, I needed a moment to process my emotions. The last few chapters are heavy; it felt like bombs are dropping continuously without stopping. While writing this review, I know August and Segun’s story will stay with me for a long.
Thank you to the author for being courageous in writing this story and putting it out in the world. Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for giving me access to the Arc.
Honestly, once I started reading the book, I had an inkling that it would feel like reading Khaled Hosseini's books all over again. I'll never forget how I felt when I read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns for the first time. It felt like opening my eyes to a wider, much cruel world I was oblivious to. And boy, this book did that again to me, and more.
The book is about August and Segun and their story of living as a young adult queer in Nigeria. They came from different upbringings but met and fell in love. Both have much to go through and have their own adversaries but share one thing - they are gay and living in a homophobic county. August was conflicted because of the pressure from his family being the only son and his mother dying after giving birth to him. Meanwhile, Segun grew up being politically aware due to his mother being an activist. The book explored August and Segun’s journey of growing up facing their personal dilemma and their romantic relationship until the societal pressure of their country’s homophobic culture caught up with them.
One thing that I can describe in this book is that it is raw. It right down told me how cruel the world is, with no sugar-coating, no introduction, and no flowery or poetic prose. Just straight-up facts and emotions and the book gets deeper and heart-breaking. When I finished reading the book, I needed a moment to process my emotions. The last few chapters are heavy; it felt like bombs are dropping continuously without stopping. While writing this review, I know August and Segun’s story will stay with me for a long.
Thank you to the author for being courageous in writing this story and putting it out in the world. Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for giving me access to the Arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Outing, Death of parent, Suicide, and Homophobia