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A review by esther_na
Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala
3.0
A good read. I particularly enjoyed the first section of the book. The details in the description. I was travelling with the character, sharing in his feelings and experiences. Perhaps his experiences were closer to home than I had anticipated, but I could sympathise and relate to other characters in the book too. It was refreshing to read about those subtle experiences of coming to know oneself, while fighting urges as dictated by religion and those around you.
I wish Niru was more patient. He was about to escape and find a life with more freedom. I wish he didn’t feel so suffocated and needing to breathe so much. I wish he was more hopeful for the way he was going to get out. He would disappear into his own life like his brother OJ. He could have. I guess this speaks to the freedom that queer people always have to be in pursuit of, always seeking independence as a way to live their truth. Always needing to find an escape.
The second part of the book felt a miss. Detached. The characters were different. In their behaviour, in their mannerism. Perhaps frustrated for so long and there was some form of unraveling taking place. I guess it speaks to the silent battles that each of us fight on our own, and people only see our reactions, never understanding what led to them.
It seems that the author wanted to touch on critical issues. And one can see some events that led up to that point, but it still felt more orchestrated than an organic flow. However, the humanisation of black boys who fall victim to police brutality is a critical perspective needed in literature. His efforts to do this is appreciated, sincerely.
Overall, I couldn’t put it down til I completed it, but the second part didn’t quite settle in well. Perhaps the issue is my projection of how I would’ve wanted the story to progress.
A good read nonetheless, thank you.
I wish Niru was more patient. He was about to escape and find a life with more freedom. I wish he didn’t feel so suffocated and needing to breathe so much. I wish he was more hopeful for the way he was going to get out. He would disappear into his own life like his brother OJ. He could have. I guess this speaks to the freedom that queer people always have to be in pursuit of, always seeking independence as a way to live their truth. Always needing to find an escape.
The second part of the book felt a miss. Detached. The characters were different. In their behaviour, in their mannerism. Perhaps frustrated for so long and there was some form of unraveling taking place. I guess it speaks to the silent battles that each of us fight on our own, and people only see our reactions, never understanding what led to them.
It seems that the author wanted to touch on critical issues. And one can see some events that led up to that point, but it still felt more orchestrated than an organic flow. However, the humanisation of black boys who fall victim to police brutality is a critical perspective needed in literature. His efforts to do this is appreciated, sincerely.
Overall, I couldn’t put it down til I completed it, but the second part didn’t quite settle in well. Perhaps the issue is my projection of how I would’ve wanted the story to progress.
A good read nonetheless, thank you.