How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 384 pages
Published: March 2021

Told over several decades beginning in 1980, How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue, is a heart-wrenching literary novel about a U.S.-based oil company that takes over the land of a fictional African village. To make economic gains, the company does so at the cost of the environment and the people who live in the small village of Kosawa. Thula, the book's main character, is a young girl when the oil company took over her community's land and throughout the novel she emerges as the central figure in the community's struggles. Her personality is different from other girls in the village in that she seeks an education for herself and is an independent and critical thinker. As a result of her dreams, she travels to the United States where she get a post-secondary education and learns about systematically resisting inappropriately assumed authority. She ultimately becomes a driving force in the efforts to regain control of her land. 

This book is an average sized book, just shy of 400 pages, but the content is so much more. Mbue's lyrical prose, haunting descriptions and vivid detail stay with the reader long after the book is over. The story is one most have heard before - profits over people; economy over environment. However, because this book was told over several years with vacillating perspectives it provided depth and understanding of how corporate greed can cause so much physical and psychological damage. 

As I read the book and learned more about Thula, mainly through her letters and narratives of others in her family and village, I likened her to Fred Hampton of the Black Panther Party. So much oppression and devastation, as well as the desire for justice for her village, pushed her into a corner. Sometimes we want a happy ending in a book, but there never could be one with this plot. After so many years of marginalization, distrust and violence, how could there be? 

I can tell that the author took great care to craft a well-rounded story. Her writing is spot on, and her creativity evokes emotion. My only critique is that I wish she had included more details about Thula's father and his role in seeking justice. However, it sometimes makes sense to leave some plot elements open and up to the reader's imagination. 

Recommendation: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it when you have time to truly savor the writing. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 248 pages
Published: August 2020

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi was the pre-selected read for my in-person book club in July. This book was also a Book of the Month selection last year. However, I did not choose it then. But because book club does what it does best - motivates me to read something I normally wouldn't read on my own, I got an electronic copy from my local library and started the journey in advance of our monthly meeting. And I am glad I did. 

This is a book that begins with the end. The audience knows what is going to happen by the book's title. The story, of course, begins and is centered around its titular character - Vivek Oji - who has died a mysterious death. The remainder of the relatively short book flashes back, and the author crafts a beautifully written tale that circles back to where the book begins. I read this book in a couple of days, and I found that the author has a talent for writing. They* uses effective turns of phrase to illustrate not only the plot but also the emotions of the characters. My major issue with this book was some of the vastly undeveloped points within the overall plot. Emezi also introduced some characters and ideas that were not fully expounded upon (e.g., Vivek's aunt and the relationship with the church). 

The pain was still too personal, the information too new. Juju wanted to hold it, cup it in her hands a while longer before she uncurled her fingers to expose it to others.

I think this book had a good premise, it wasn't fully thought out. Just shy of 250 pages, Emezi certainly had more space to flesh out some of the concepts. Because this book is about identity and being given the space to be who you are, you would think they would have done the same in crafting the story. 

Recommendation: This may not be popular opinion, but I think, sometimes, creators can fixate on an issue that is prevalent in current culture thinking it will automatically be a success by the very nature of the topic. However, as an avid reader and part-time writer, the craft still has to be solid to merit success. I am lukewarm about this book. I wouldn't say I don't recommend this book, but I wouldn't necessarily highly recommend it either. However, I would read another book by this author.  

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful. 

*Akwaeke Emezi uses the pronouns they/them/theirs.

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Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 304 pages
Published: March 2021

So, I do not like science fiction or dystopian fiction. I think I might have mentioned that a time or two on this blog. But alas, my book club chose Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, and I powered through it. At the time I'm writing this review, I realized that it was the only book I actually completed in June. It is not a terribly long book, but it took me a long time to get through it. I would begin reading and find any excuse to stop. This was my first read by Ishiguro. 

I think the story had lots of potential to focus on themes of love and forgiveness, but it got kind of weird and then fell flat at the end for me. Having said that, the author does have a beautiful writing style. I think I would be open to reading another selection; however, this one just didn't do it for me. The synopsis and the content of the book is very vague leaving a lot up to the reader's imagination. This could probably be enjoyable for some, but I like a little more concrete plot. For example, the reader is never even told where the story takes place. 

‘Yes. Until recently, I didn’t think that humans could choose loneliness. That there were sometimes forces more powerful than the wish to avoid loneliness.’

‘The heart you speak of,’ I said. ‘It might indeed be the hardest part of Josie to learn. It might be like a house with many rooms. Even so, a devoted AF, given time, could walk through each of those rooms, studying them carefully in turn, until they became like her own home.’

‘Perhaps all humans are lonely. At least potentially.’

There was something very special, but it wasn’t inside Josie. It was inside those who loved her.

Basically, the book is about an artificial intelligence companion that is purchase for a sickly preteen? (again, not sure about the age because ... vagueness) and follows their relationship as well as the people in her circle. There are some deep elements to ponder while reading like how we treat people and things once they are of no use to us, how people believe in the powers of a higher being, socioeconomic status and how that can affect close relationships. I don't know if any of this is what the author was going for, but it did make for an engaging book club discussion. So, there's that. 

Recommendation: If you're more of a free spirit reader, this book may work for you. Most of the books I read are based in logic and things that could possible happen, so this book was not a favorite of mine. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More