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edward_eb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The description and writing is very well crafted but sometimes a bit too overdone for me. It’s hard to describe but this book is SO Nigerian and, as someone with Nigerian heritage, this provided both humour and comfort but also deep frustration and annoyance at times. I particularly found the attitudes towards gender/masculinity and childhood challenging. Although, I appreciate that this might be a commentary and is also realistic for the time and setting of the book. The character of Abulu was effective. I was very disturbed by him but as a reader - much like the narrator, Ben - I also felt some empathy towards him. I thought the book also touched well on some of the political and socio-economic issues that Nigeria has suffered with in the past and to an extent still does today without it being the main focus of the book.
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Blood, Car accident, and Alcohol
maviemerveilleuse's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Incest and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Rape and War
bibliophilekiera's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Blood and Abandonment
gear3232's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was a bit slow at times but I did enjoy it, I think that it shows a perspective that I don’t often see. However, you should not start reading this book because you are hoping for something cheerful or uplifting. this book brought up a lot of conflicting emotions, the parents for example. In so many ways I dislike them, mainly the Father, for failing their children. But I also know how much they cared for their children and how hard they tried to provide a good life for them. I was somewhat confused by the ending. Was his brother actually there or was it some sort of hallucination? But I do think the book is well written and is a good example of how in some books there cannot be a happy ending. It would be far less meaningful if it ended any other way.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Incest, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
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