A review by edward_eb
The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma

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. 
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