misspalah's review against another edition
4.0
Because I said I loved her. I did, at that instant, coming in her. But love does not mean marriage, a baby, forever. Love means you make me happy until you don't.
- A Nairobi story of comings and goings (Love is power or something like that by A. Igoni Barret)
.
.
Despite ‘Love is power, or something like that’ were use as a title, the story did not grab me at all. Is it blind devotion of a wife towards her husband? Is it corruption among police officers in Nigeria? What is the focus here because i went back and forth trying to figure that out. I have to be honest that I was impatient to finish it and wanted to move on to another story. Like everyone, it is safe to assume the first story featured in the short stories can make or break the collection. If its great, it will hook you right away and the rest is history. If its bad, you may not give a second stories a chance. I am glad that i LOVE the first story titled “the worst thing that happened”. An unlikely friendship that finally formed with 2 old women after years of distrust and misguided assumption they have for each other. Life sometimes do take a strange turn is what i felt when i finished this story. However, i do need to point out that this is uncomfortable read. It reeks sexual explicit content in certain stories - there’s a borderline incest scene , Imbalance power dynamic that directly led to sexual exploitation (teacher and student, House owner and renter) and just simply animalistic love making between lovers (Maybe i am a prude
- A Nairobi story of comings and goings (Love is power or something like that by A. Igoni Barret)
.
.
Despite ‘Love is power, or something like that’ were use as a title, the story did not grab me at all. Is it blind devotion of a wife towards her husband? Is it corruption among police officers in Nigeria? What is the focus here because i went back and forth trying to figure that out. I have to be honest that I was impatient to finish it and wanted to move on to another story. Like everyone, it is safe to assume the first story featured in the short stories can make or break the collection. If its great, it will hook you right away and the rest is history. If its bad, you may not give a second stories a chance. I am glad that i LOVE the first story titled “the worst thing that happened”. An unlikely friendship that finally formed with 2 old women after years of distrust and misguided assumption they have for each other. Life sometimes do take a strange turn is what i felt when i finished this story. However, i do need to point out that this is uncomfortable read. It reeks sexual explicit content in certain stories - there’s a borderline incest scene , Imbalance power dynamic that directly led to sexual exploitation (teacher and student, House owner and renter) and just simply animalistic love making between lovers (Maybe i am a prude
aloiyeva's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
waniojeniyi's review against another edition
5.0
Many of the stories had me cackling. I would recommend this for people who prefer short and meaningful stories.
toluolowo's review against another edition
2.0
I read Blackass(the author's 2nd book) first and it did not impress me at all,so I bought it because far be it from me to judge an author by a single book. I might be biased by my dislike of short story collections,but this was only marginally better than Blackass. I don't think any story called to me,and most seemed more concerned with showing how brilliant the author seemingly is.
chelseamartinez's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite stories were
My Smelling Mouth Problem
Godspeed and Perpetua
Trophy
Love is Power, or Something Like That
The Worst Thing That Happened
Dream Chaser
My Smelling Mouth Problem
Godspeed and Perpetua
Trophy
Love is Power, or Something Like That
The Worst Thing That Happened
Dream Chaser
shanaetheflyest's review against another edition
3.0
I expected a lot from Love Is Power, or Something LIke That: Stories, but for some strange reason it just didn't hold my attention. The writing is brilliant and Barrett is an excellent storyteller. However, Barrett has a writing style that focuses so much on detail in an effort to put you right in the heart of Nigeria that I often felt like the story itself was lost.
samsam123's review against another edition
1.0
This was not the short story collection for me. There was really only one story I really liked and they was the first one called The Worst Thong That Happened. It’s a story with a lot of heart. I had hoped the rest would be similar, but it was just sadness and turmoil packed on top of each other over and over. These stories are what’s commonly coined trauma plots. Very difficult to read, especially when the characters are not even likeable. Definitely a disappointment.
bent's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book as part of a book club. I didn't know anything about the book or the author before, but I can say that I really enjoyed the stories. I know nothing about Nigeria or life there, but Barrett makes the characters universal enough that you can empathize with them and feel really involved in their situation. This book was a real find.
jesujuwonlo's review
adventurous
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0