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A review by ojtheviking
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
4.25
While I was close to being halfway through another book, but finding myself also close to ending up in a reading slump, I did something I haven't done. I started a second book, while still planning to finish the one I was already reading. The idea was that maybe a shorter book would not only help me avoid the aforementioned slump, but also provide a bit of variety in terms of story and flavor. And I'm glad I did this, and that My Sister, The Serial Killer is the book I decided to go for.
This book is a fairly light and quick read. The story is very compact; it sticks to the plot and never really lets itself be carried away when it comes to digression and descriptions. But in a good way. The subtle storytelling seems very intentional, and despite the serial killer element of this novel, it takes much more of an emotional approach to the narrative rather than going for action or suspense. It relies much more on internal observation, and it never submits the reader to the actual violence. It's a unique approach to what could easily have been a psychological thriller if the observation went outwards instead.
It's a story stating that blood is thicker than... well, blood. Meaning, the bond between the sisters is stronger than any circumstance, for better and for worse, and that is the core of this novel, with the crime element almost functioning as a mere metaphor to show how some sisters stand together through thick and thin.
It also shows a recognizable dynamic between an older and a younger sibling, again portrayed through an extraordinary scenario. Korede is the big sister who would do anything to protect her little sister, while we also see the "big sister syndrome" deeply rooted in her. She is the responsible one, the one who always tries to fix things and guide her sister, while at the same time often feeling cast aside both by her own family and men looking for a future wife. There is a loneliness within Korede, and despite how she would do anything to keep her sister safe, there is also quite often some jealousy there.
But there is also some humor, with the book being in some ways a social satire regarding social media, men only thinking with their "brains down below," and so on. Additionally, Korede sometimes has a dejected type of sarcasm, especially regarding the fact that her sister doesn't appear to have the emotional wiring to fully understand the gravity of the situations they end up in. Ayoola is likely to cluelessly go about her day, having an online persona due to all the typical social media platforms, even if it's just mere days after something occurred that shook the entire society for a bit.
In that respect, very much is said without actually being directly mentioned. Braithwaite's writing is clever enough that you can put two and two together from very little information, such as understanding the psychological profile of Ayoola. And even though it's written in first person from Korede's point of view, Korede doesn't always specify her feelings, but you get a very clear indication of what she feels from one moment to the next nevertheless.
So make no mistake; it may be a short and light read, but it still shows that Oyinkan Braithwaite has major writing chops. From one chapter to the next, we sort of touch upon these small moments in Korede's life, some of them flashbacks, but they all put together a solid storyline with a smooth flow.
This book is a fairly light and quick read. The story is very compact; it sticks to the plot and never really lets itself be carried away when it comes to digression and descriptions. But in a good way. The subtle storytelling seems very intentional, and despite the serial killer element of this novel, it takes much more of an emotional approach to the narrative rather than going for action or suspense. It relies much more on internal observation, and it never submits the reader to the actual violence. It's a unique approach to what could easily have been a psychological thriller if the observation went outwards instead.
It's a story stating that blood is thicker than... well, blood. Meaning, the bond between the sisters is stronger than any circumstance, for better and for worse, and that is the core of this novel, with the crime element almost functioning as a mere metaphor to show how some sisters stand together through thick and thin.
It also shows a recognizable dynamic between an older and a younger sibling, again portrayed through an extraordinary scenario. Korede is the big sister who would do anything to protect her little sister, while we also see the "big sister syndrome" deeply rooted in her. She is the responsible one, the one who always tries to fix things and guide her sister, while at the same time often feeling cast aside both by her own family and men looking for a future wife. There is a loneliness within Korede, and despite how she would do anything to keep her sister safe, there is also quite often some jealousy there.
But there is also some humor, with the book being in some ways a social satire regarding social media, men only thinking with their "brains down below," and so on. Additionally, Korede sometimes has a dejected type of sarcasm, especially regarding the fact that her sister doesn't appear to have the emotional wiring to fully understand the gravity of the situations they end up in. Ayoola is likely to cluelessly go about her day, having an online persona due to all the typical social media platforms, even if it's just mere days after something occurred that shook the entire society for a bit.
In that respect, very much is said without actually being directly mentioned. Braithwaite's writing is clever enough that you can put two and two together from very little information, such as understanding the psychological profile of Ayoola. And even though it's written in first person from Korede's point of view, Korede doesn't always specify her feelings, but you get a very clear indication of what she feels from one moment to the next nevertheless.
So make no mistake; it may be a short and light read, but it still shows that Oyinkan Braithwaite has major writing chops. From one chapter to the next, we sort of touch upon these small moments in Korede's life, some of them flashbacks, but they all put together a solid storyline with a smooth flow.