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A review by flowahh_
Swallow by Sefi Atta
3.0
A vivid tale of Lagosian life.
Set in the 1980s in Lagos, when the government’s “War Against Indiscipline” was in full swing. Sefi Atta tells the story of Tolani, a bank secretary, and her roommate Rose and how they navigate life in Lagos.I was immediately taken by the author’s vivid description of Lagos as it felt like I was constantly walking beside Tolani as she experienced life and the city. While doing an incredible job at evoking the sounds and smells of Lagos, Sefi Atta highlights the issues faced by the African women - the pressures of getting married, vulnerability to sexual harassment, and the terrible nature of poverty. But that’s not all, it also does a great job of showing the racial, class, and religious tensions found in Lagos. I think I should mention that at times the novel felt choppy, but it was something that I was able to easily overlook. It can be considered an easy read, and is definitely worth the read.
Set in the 1980s in Lagos, when the government’s “War Against Indiscipline” was in full swing. Sefi Atta tells the story of Tolani, a bank secretary, and her roommate Rose and how they navigate life in Lagos.I was immediately taken by the author’s vivid description of Lagos as it felt like I was constantly walking beside Tolani as she experienced life and the city. While doing an incredible job at evoking the sounds and smells of Lagos, Sefi Atta highlights the issues faced by the African women - the pressures of getting married, vulnerability to sexual harassment, and the terrible nature of poverty. But that’s not all, it also does a great job of showing the racial, class, and religious tensions found in Lagos. I think I should mention that at times the novel felt choppy, but it was something that I was able to easily overlook. It can be considered an easy read, and is definitely worth the read.