A review by rwebster6
An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma

5.0

This book is beautifully written and the plot has given me a lot to think about. Based on the Odyssey, and told through the voice of his inner spirit, Chimonso finds himself in Cyprus away from the woman he loves. Like the classical Odysseus he is determined to get her back, however his extended absence means that her heart has moved on. This leads to an unspeakable act that our main character’s spirit has to justify. This is not a spoiler as it’s mentioned In the first couple of chapters which builds the tension until the climax of the book.

The message I feel from this book is not that it is a traditional love and romance story, but one of a conflict between spirit and body. The Igbo cosmology that’s used during this book explains the nature of the spirit and body relationship, and throughout the book the spirit acts as a guardian whilst the body and mind of the character acts impulsively and with free-will.

Obiama is bound to win a Booker Prize during his career.