Hello dear Readers,
Below, my book review of And After Many Days: A Novel by Jowhor Ile.
Title: And After Many Days: A Novel
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publication Date: February 16, 2016
Genre: Women's Fiction
Author: Jowhor Ile
Author: Jowhor Ile
Publisher: Tim Duggan Books
Language: English
Hardcover: 256 pages
Book Description
An unforgettable debut novel about a boy who goes missing, a family that is torn apart, and a nation on the brink.
During the rainy season of 1995, in the bustling town of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, one family's life is disrupted by the sudden disappearance of seventeen-year-old Paul Utu, beloved brother and son. As they grapple with the sudden loss of their darling boy, they embark on a painful and moving journey of immense power which changes their lives forever and shatters the fragile ecosystem of their once ordered family. Ajie, the youngest sibling, is burdened with the guilt of having seen Paul last and convinced that his vanished brother was betrayed long ago. But his search for the truth uncovers hidden family secrets and reawakens old, long forgotten ghosts as rumours of police brutality, oil shortages, and frenzied student protests serve as a backdrop to his pursuit.
In a tale that moves seamlessly back and forth through time, Ajie relives a trip to the family's ancestral village where, together, he and his family listen to the myths of how their people settled there, while the villagers argue over the mysterious Company, who found oil on their land and will do anything to guarantee support. As the story builds towards its stunning conclusion, it becomes clear that only once past and present come to a crossroads will Ajie and his family finally find the answers they have been searching for.
And After Many Days introduces Ile's spellbinding ability to tightly weave together personal and political loss until, inevitably, the two threads become nearly indistinguishable. It is a masterful story of childhood, of the delicate, complex balance between the powerful and the powerless, and a searing portrait of a community as the old order gives way to the new.
My Thoughts
It was very painful to read this book but dont get me wrong, painful yes but what an extraordinary debut novel. Paul Utu, one of these characters that will be really hard to forget. All that happens from the moment he goes missing, how his disappearance embarks his family in a journey to seek the truth and how this event unravels many other things not only in his family but all the people in town.
A beautifully written story, fast paced for me, with a lot to learn from the characters and a wonderful way of storytelling. Totally recommend this book.
Thank you Blogging for Books for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wendy
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