This was an intense but good read, Shakespearean/ mythical in its portrayal of sibling conflict and prophecy in an Igbo family.
We’re in Akure in the 1990s and Ikenna, the eldest of the brothers, leads the band of brothers into some illicit fishing. Their father is away working and their mother is trying to keep the family together even as she works and takes care of a baby and an infant. The river is out of bounds, but the boys love being fishermen for a bit…
Until a chance prophecy sours the mind of Ikenna, and the home becomes a place of violence and conflict. Narrated by sensitive little brother Benjamin, this book looks at a family disintegration with unflinching clarity and love.
Beautifully written, this one stays with you. Lots of symbolism and universal themes mixed up with a family narrative that’s paced around a few key events. Love the supporting cast of characters and the ways in which moments leap off the page.
Tortured brotherhood and revenge cycles make this a compelling and powerful narrative you just want to keep going with.
One word: haunting.
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