A Spell of Good Things
Ratings5
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings5
Average rating3.6
LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2023: the Observer, Guardian, Financial Times, Stylist, the Express and Oprah Daily
Ayòbámi Adébáyò, the Women's Prize-shortlisted author of Stay With Me, unveils a dazzling story of modern Nigeria and two families caught in the riptides of wealth, power, romantic obsession and political corruption. Eniola is tall for his age, a boy who looks like a man. His father has lost his job, so Eniola spends his days running errands for the local tailor, collecting newspapers and begging, dreaming of a big future. Wuraola is a golden girl, the perfect child of a wealthy family. Now an exhausted young doctor in her first year of practice, she is beloved by Kunle, the volatile son of family friends. When a local politician takes an interest in Eniola and sudden violence shatters a family party, Wuraola and Eniola's lives become intertwined. In this breathtaking novel, Ayòbámi Adébáyò shines her light on Nigeria, on the gaping divide between the haves and the have-nots, and the shared humanity that lives in between.
Reviews with the most likes.
While the story touches on important stuff the writing style was so dry and flat and there were so many characters that all more or less sounded the exact same that I just never really got into the proverbial swing of it.
Neutral 2.5 rounded up.
I think I put a hold on this based on a positive pre-release review, and when it came in I was like “wait what's this?” I hadn't read Adebayo's apparently highly-acclaimed debut novel but I guess I was interested in a contemporary Nigerian coming of age novel. I think ultimately it's an accomplished novel that just maybe didn't quite hit for me. I see other reviews calling it “Dickensian” and I'm like, that's probably apt and I'm not the biggest Dickens enthusiast? Like the social commentary is very blunt, at least to my white American POV. A thought-provoking read but not necessarily one I'm going to call a must-read. CW for domestic violence, violence violence, death of a child.
