lydiahephzibah's review
1.0
The premise of this story was really interesting - a first-contact alien sci-fi set in Nigeria - but I found it so utterly boring that I just couldn't finish it. There were too many characters, some of whom spoke in a dialect that made no sense without translation (and there was no translation). I kept putting off finishing it, and eventually gave up trying.
megsasser's review
5.0
I love weird books! This was such a pleasure to read. The sci-fi plotline was fast-paced and descriptively stunning. But I also loved reading about the setting in Lagos, Nigeria. Read my full book review on my blog! https://themoreyougo.com/lagoon-by-nnedi-okorafor-aliens-in-lagos/
reanimatedreader's review
4.0
Portsmouth library loan.
This was an enjoyable rollercoaster of science fiction, aliens and the ocean set in Lagos. Not your typical aliens though, that’s what made this book different from the traditional alien tropes out there.
There’s a road that eats people called the Bone Collector and that was a pretty epic god to read about.
I must admit I struggled with the small parts in pidgin English and didn’t realise until the end there was a glossary just before the end of the book. This might read better on a Kindle where you can look the words up as you read.
This was an enjoyable rollercoaster of science fiction, aliens and the ocean set in Lagos. Not your typical aliens though, that’s what made this book different from the traditional alien tropes out there.
There’s a road that eats people called the Bone Collector and that was a pretty epic god to read about.
I must admit I struggled with the small parts in pidgin English and didn’t realise until the end there was a glossary just before the end of the book. This might read better on a Kindle where you can look the words up as you read.
teanahk's review
5.0
An amazing amount of plot and character is squeezed into these 300 pages.
How can you not love an alien first contact story that doesn't start on the whitehouse lawn?
How can you not love an alien first contact story that doesn't start on the whitehouse lawn?
kalindamage's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
rexpostfacto's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Ableism, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Gun violence, and Injury/injury detail
ericgaryanderson's review
5.0
Great—beautifully written science-fiction novel set in Lagos, with fabulous characterizations and a really lovely mix of SF alien invasion and traditional Nigerian myths/stories. Liked this one a lot.
orangesloth1's review against another edition
5.0
A refreshing dive into Nigerian culture mixed with science fiction. I loved it!!
girlfriday4's review
3.0
SPOILERS.
There is so much to like about this book. I love the central premise of super-powered, benevolent aliens turning up in Lagos, Nigeria, rather than a white dominated western country as is always the case in Hollywood movies. This means that for a change it's an *African* President who gets to say 'take me to your leader'. Very cool.
It's very refreshing to read a fantasy novel that draws on African culture and traditions rather than western ones. Having been to Ghana, which has similar cultures to Nigeria, I enjoyed reading about characters and places that felt very familiar, although I'm sure to a majority of non-African readers this could be refreshing precisely because of it's *not* familiar. Although the stretches of Pidgin dialogue may be a stumbling block (flick to the back, there's a glossary).
I loved how the arrival of the aliens triggers the re-emergence of some of the old gods/ancestral beings and also challenged what's become quite corrupt christianity. It's an interesting twist that the arrival of the aliens does trigger a war, of sorts, but it's among the people of Lagos, not really against the aliens.
The central characters are engaging and their quest to get the President to the aliens is interspersed with intriguing mini-stories about other characters' experiences of what happens when the aliens arrive (including animals whose bodies and abilities are transformed). There are also observations on events from Udide Okwanka, the giant spider story teller who lives underneath the city.
But I was also very disappointed in the book. I felt it could have been much better. It seemed a bit like too many bright ideas and images and styles strung together without a really strong and convincing central plot. It wasn't clear to me why Lagos had to erupt into chaos before it could embrace the positive changes that the aliens brought. I thought perhaps it was like a cleansing, or a creative chaos, but that didn't adequately explain the violent deaths of some characters who in my opinion were not problems that needed to be removed.
For e.g. I got quite excited when Okorafor introduced a group of lesbian/gay/cross-dressing characters as it seemed a very progressive move and in step with the sex-positive themes in one of her earlier books, 'Who Fears Death' - but their little sub-plot came to an abrupt and violent end. What's that about? I don't think Okorafor is homophobic, but it didn't make any kind of sense to me. Nor did the death of a disabled boy ... unless they were all just collateral damage, and it was the subsequent deaths of their killers that was actually the necessary 'cleansing' of Lagos.
These are first impressions, and perhaps I'm being a bit harsh. I enjoyed Lagoon, but not as much as I wanted to, and not as much as I enjoyed 'Who Fears Death', which felt much more coherent and focussed (and better written). I do feel I'd like to know what happens next, tho.
There is so much to like about this book. I love the central premise of super-powered, benevolent aliens turning up in Lagos, Nigeria, rather than a white dominated western country as is always the case in Hollywood movies. This means that for a change it's an *African* President who gets to say 'take me to your leader'. Very cool.
It's very refreshing to read a fantasy novel that draws on African culture and traditions rather than western ones. Having been to Ghana, which has similar cultures to Nigeria, I enjoyed reading about characters and places that felt very familiar, although I'm sure to a majority of non-African readers this could be refreshing precisely because of it's *not* familiar. Although the stretches of Pidgin dialogue may be a stumbling block (flick to the back, there's a glossary).
I loved how the arrival of the aliens triggers the re-emergence of some of the old gods/ancestral beings and also challenged what's become quite corrupt christianity. It's an interesting twist that the arrival of the aliens does trigger a war, of sorts, but it's among the people of Lagos, not really against the aliens.
The central characters are engaging and their quest to get the President to the aliens is interspersed with intriguing mini-stories about other characters' experiences of what happens when the aliens arrive (including animals whose bodies and abilities are transformed). There are also observations on events from Udide Okwanka, the giant spider story teller who lives underneath the city.
But I was also very disappointed in the book. I felt it could have been much better. It seemed a bit like too many bright ideas and images and styles strung together without a really strong and convincing central plot. It wasn't clear to me why Lagos had to erupt into chaos before it could embrace the positive changes that the aliens brought. I thought perhaps it was like a cleansing, or a creative chaos, but that didn't adequately explain the violent deaths of some characters who in my opinion were not problems that needed to be removed.
For e.g. I got quite excited when Okorafor introduced a group of lesbian/gay/cross-dressing characters as it seemed a very progressive move and in step with the sex-positive themes in one of her earlier books, 'Who Fears Death' - but their little sub-plot came to an abrupt and violent end. What's that about? I don't think Okorafor is homophobic, but it didn't make any kind of sense to me. Nor did the death of a disabled boy ... unless they were all just collateral damage, and it was the subsequent deaths of their killers that was actually the necessary 'cleansing' of Lagos.
These are first impressions, and perhaps I'm being a bit harsh. I enjoyed Lagoon, but not as much as I wanted to, and not as much as I enjoyed 'Who Fears Death', which felt much more coherent and focussed (and better written). I do feel I'd like to know what happens next, tho.
lachelnreadingbookss's review
3.0
I got lost while reading this book
____________________________
The beginning of this book caught me. Actually it was the book cover that attracted me.
The story follows Adaora, a marine biologist who finds an alien after a massive tsunami event that happened at the Lagos bar beach
I really tried to follow up on the plot of the story but I felt lost. From trying to discover where the alien-Ayodele- came from. And how she could take the form of anyone she decided to take.
This review is not making a lot of sense because that was how reading this book felt.
I think the book spoke about the religious parts of false pastors that tried extorting their members, it also brought light to the realities of LGBTQ community in Lagos as well as the corruption of the government and marital issues.
As usual Nnedi Okorafor's writing is beautiful and soothing. I think that's why I kept going to see the end- which sort of disappointed me.
____________________________
The beginning of this book caught me. Actually it was the book cover that attracted me.
The story follows Adaora, a marine biologist who finds an alien after a massive tsunami event that happened at the Lagos bar beach
I really tried to follow up on the plot of the story but I felt lost. From trying to discover where the alien-Ayodele- came from. And how she could take the form of anyone she decided to take.
This review is not making a lot of sense because that was how reading this book felt.
I think the book spoke about the religious parts of false pastors that tried extorting their members, it also brought light to the realities of LGBTQ community in Lagos as well as the corruption of the government and marital issues.
As usual Nnedi Okorafor's writing is beautiful and soothing. I think that's why I kept going to see the end- which sort of disappointed me.