Member Reviews

Wow what a fabulous book entertaining witty and heartbreakingly sad at the same time
The author has a unique voice with sharply poetic language making the novel a literary gem whilst at the same time being an immersive entertaining read .
I immediately felt invested in the life of Amy Africa and will never forget him and his family and friends The book is populated by a cast of real totally believable people who’s characters are described so well I could imagine them all easily .Their relationships and friendships develop as the novel progresses and give the story depth and complexity .The author does not flinch from portraying difficult subjects such as racism and incest .These subjects are covered carefully and with subtly.The difficulty of life in Nigeria and what makes young Africans want to try escaping across the Sahara to a rosier future is the heart of this book There are however plenty of lighthearted episodes which give the novel balance
The strong sense of place and of African identity is clear from the very start
It is rare to read a first novel with such promise ,I can see this on the Booker long list I for one will be watching its progress with interest it has been one of my favourite reads this year
I read an early copy on NetGalley Uk the book is published in the Uk 13th April 2023 by Bloomsbury publishing plc

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Funny, moving, very sharp and deeply engaging. Andrew Aziza ('Andy Africa') narrates the story of his life experiences as he transitions from adolescence to adulthood in Nigeria. Andy struggles with whether to follow his head or his heart in love, whilst simultaneously dealing with his turbulent family history and the violent hardships of every day life in Nigeria. The portrait of Nigeria is unbelievably vivid and immersive. The sheer chaos coursing through Andy's life contrasts sharply with his inner love of structured equations, mathematical logic and predictable outcomes. I found the novel multi-layered, complex and highly intelligent yet also completely compelling. Highly recommended. With a special thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc and NetGalley for a no obligation advance review copy.

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