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tildafin16 's review for:
An Orchestra of Minorities
by Chigozie Obioma
This is the second book I have read this year which is narrated by spirits or in this case , specifically a ‘chi’, from Igbo culture. The first was Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi, which I also really enjoyed. It’s also the second book I have got to from this years Man Booker longlist.
I won’t reiterate the story in this review as the basic premise is well described in the info. I enjoyed the writing style, the forays into Nigerian speech patterns and language and the insights into Igbo belief systems and how they might interact with today’s world, though I found the voice of the chi a bit too repetitive at times as others have noticed. The writing style was easy to power through and I did get involved in Chinonso’s (v depressing) downwards trajectory. I have read reviews by other women who feel from a feminist perspective that this book is poor, not fleshing out the main female character or indeed, any, but I’m not sure I see this in quite the same way. The story is very much about Chinonso’s perspective and his limited ability to work with what he has in terms of emotional maturity, support, general ‘street’ intelligence and money, to move forward. It also highlights what I believe from reading interviews with the author, is a real problem that his friend experienced with scam artists in Nigeria targeting those desperate to get out and get an education elsewhere.
I didn’t think any of the other characters were particularly detailed, male or female, but I kind of thought this also maybe reflected the limited way in which Chinonso saw the world and related to others. I didn’t read it as an apology for toxic masculinity , is what I’m trying to say, but maybe a description of it and an attempt to explore it in this man. Was hoping to see the author at Edinburgh Book Fest this year what he thought about the gender issues, but sadly didn’t manage ;(
Anyway - interesting and enjoyable if not cheery! If it had been a bit less repetitive I’d have given it 5.
I won’t reiterate the story in this review as the basic premise is well described in the info. I enjoyed the writing style, the forays into Nigerian speech patterns and language and the insights into Igbo belief systems and how they might interact with today’s world, though I found the voice of the chi a bit too repetitive at times as others have noticed. The writing style was easy to power through and I did get involved in Chinonso’s (v depressing) downwards trajectory. I have read reviews by other women who feel from a feminist perspective that this book is poor, not fleshing out the main female character or indeed, any, but I’m not sure I see this in quite the same way. The story is very much about Chinonso’s perspective and his limited ability to work with what he has in terms of emotional maturity, support, general ‘street’ intelligence and money, to move forward. It also highlights what I believe from reading interviews with the author, is a real problem that his friend experienced with scam artists in Nigeria targeting those desperate to get out and get an education elsewhere.
I didn’t think any of the other characters were particularly detailed, male or female, but I kind of thought this also maybe reflected the limited way in which Chinonso saw the world and related to others. I didn’t read it as an apology for toxic masculinity , is what I’m trying to say, but maybe a description of it and an attempt to explore it in this man. Was hoping to see the author at Edinburgh Book Fest this year what he thought about the gender issues, but sadly didn’t manage ;(
Anyway - interesting and enjoyable if not cheery! If it had been a bit less repetitive I’d have given it 5.