Reviews

A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀

mmccombs's review against another edition

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After trying probably longer than I should have, I’m putting this one down. I just can’t for the life of me stay interested, and the audio narration is not working for me (the male narrator’s voice is so low and sometimes mumbled/grumbly, I had a hard time following). The writing is fine enough, but I keep losing track of the characters because the writing style is the same for all of them. Sad this isn’t working for me, but I don’t want to keep wasting my time by half paying attention to this.

minnietimperley's review

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

eskimonika's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ktha's review against another edition

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dark sad tense slow-paced

3.75

emilyjarman's review

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dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

litgirlliv's review

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3.5

Overall, I enjoyed the text, but certainly prefer the authorship of her first novel, Stay With Me. This text strikes me as Ousmane Sembene - Nollywood mash up. That is, it is ripe with social commentary, but also lacking in innovation and delivery.  It carries a lot of cliches. The ending did not come together for me. And one of the principal characters Wuraola seemed a bit thrown together. 

laura_reads_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jeanclaire's review

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

emziesreads's review

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book aspired to be some big multi-generational story of Nigerian society but didn't quite achieve that. Not much happens for a very long time and it felt like after spending so long developing the characters that the author suddenly realised that her characters should do something. 

barnitka's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5