The Son of the House | 
pickAn ambitious debut! Set in Nigeria it explores social class, cultural tradition, family dynamics, motherhood and strong women. I was enraptured by this book! What a compelling opening! As the story moves along and these womens interconnectedness is revealed I marvelled at Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia‘s storytelling. Her exploration of class and gender in Nigeria and societal expectations of women and bearing children was so well done! #canlit
@Lindy what is this book about? Why is it on the Giller list? I‘m struggling this year. What is the Giller striving for lately? Quality literature or a spotlight on new authors? Sigh. I don‘t find this literary or weighty. 40% of the way through.
Life was hard, but if you took it in little chunks, you could find some chunks that were good.
pickNigerian Canadian lawyer & academic Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia has already garnered awards for this, her debut novel, which was first published in 2019. It‘s a moving family saga told from the viewpoints of two women who, in the opening chapter, have been kidnapped in Enugu. While waiting for their loved ones to raise ransom money, they tell each other their life stories. Feminist, heartfelt & dramatic. Giller longlist #shadowgiller2021
Putting one‘s hands in various businesses would tell poverty that we were really serious about not making friends.
When I stepped out, the sun was still trying to make up its mind whether it had to work yet another day. The car sputtered a little, also trying to decide whether its ten years on earth—that is, if you believed Innocent, the mechanic who sold it to me—did not yet qualify it for retirement.
I made myself Milo, scooping large spoons of Peak milk into my mug. I took a sip of my tea—as we call every drink made from hot water around here—put some slices of bread on a plate, and picked up my book.
“Julie, I wish I had died in battle like Chima,” Afam had once confided in me.
“No, don‘t say that,” I had protested immediately. Because that was what was required: when people wished for suicide, you told them no. When they had nightmares like he did every night, you waved their fears away & told them that all was well. I should have let Afam speak.
(Internet photo of Nigeria, 1968)
