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A review by purplelorikeet
Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth: A Novel by Wole Soyinka
4.0
"Chronicle from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth" is a scathing satire of a fictionalised modern Nigeria. There is a plot to this lengthy work but it takes quite a while before we have any understanding of it. The writer takes us on a journey into scenes from a variety of characters, from Papa Davina, a modern-day charlatan of a religious leader, to Sir Goddie, a prime minister whose main objective is to make sure he's elected for another term, to Dr. Menka and Duyole Pitan-Payne, two members of a gang of four from their youth who seem to be about the only ones with a moral compass in this story.
I will admit this was a difficult read, especially for the first half of the book. In the second half, we finally are into the real plot and it feels like things are happening. Before that, it kind of meanders back and forth between characters, giving the reader a background to support the story. There were times I didn't think I would be able to finish but I'm glad I stuck with it because there is a good story buried in there. I just think it perhaps could have been reduced in terms of the expansive background that was created.
One thing that did come of all the words is a real sense of the corruption that exists in the world, no matter whether it be first-world or not. There's a tedium to the process of effecting positive changes much of the time and one can never be assured of things right to the end. Someone is always plotting behind the scenes and second-guessing is part of the way things work.
For the most part, I did like this book in the end. I just thought it could have been better than it was. I'm also not certain how I feel about the ending. In a way, it does suit the style of the story but it also left a lot of questions in my mind. Overall I'm rating this 3.5 stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Pantheon for providing freely an advanced reader copy. This review is written voluntarily.
I will admit this was a difficult read, especially for the first half of the book. In the second half, we finally are into the real plot and it feels like things are happening. Before that, it kind of meanders back and forth between characters, giving the reader a background to support the story. There were times I didn't think I would be able to finish but I'm glad I stuck with it because there is a good story buried in there. I just think it perhaps could have been reduced in terms of the expansive background that was created.
One thing that did come of all the words is a real sense of the corruption that exists in the world, no matter whether it be first-world or not. There's a tedium to the process of effecting positive changes much of the time and one can never be assured of things right to the end. Someone is always plotting behind the scenes and second-guessing is part of the way things work.
For the most part, I did like this book in the end. I just thought it could have been better than it was. I'm also not certain how I feel about the ending. In a way, it does suit the style of the story but it also left a lot of questions in my mind. Overall I'm rating this 3.5 stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Pantheon for providing freely an advanced reader copy. This review is written voluntarily.