Bitter Leaf is set in Mannobe a small regressive village located somewhere in Africa. We meet Jericho as she returns to Mannobe under the cover of darkness. She has lived in the city for a long time and is finally pulled back home to Mannobe by the guilt induced by her mother's letter. Babylon is a gifted musician and local sex object who's more interested in bedding numerous village women than furthering his career. He's smitten by Jericho but her heart belongs to her boyfriend back in the city. While Babylon courts Jericho's affection, Magdalene, a dutiful village girl who has never felt anything close to the consuming love she has for Babylon, tries desperately to keep his attention. This is an engaging tale of love, pain and lust with lots of interesting characters.The book title paired with the author's Igbo name made me expect a Nigerian tale but Bitter Leaf isn't Nigerian. It comes across as a story set in some other African country when you take in the way the characters talk and the snippets of a local language I can't identify. I found Okereke's descriptions of lust and the convoluted feelings of sexual attraction humorous and very enjoyable. I'm impressed by her narrative style and attention to detail in the 409 pages of this novel. I assume I'm late to the party considering that this novel was published in 2010 but the more I read Bitter Leaf, the more I wondered why I haven't seen Chioma Okereke's name floated around more often on the various lists of contemporary Nigerian authors. We need to applaud the verve and skill that Chioma Okereke greatly displays in this beautiful debut. Kudos to Chioma Okereke.
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Sounds interesting, I cannot visualize the plot though. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteHey Mary! I understand what you mean by not being able to visualize the plot. I think I was worried about giving away too much that I might have given away too little. Jericho has returned to Mannobe but she has a love interest back in the city. Babylon has had his way with a lot of women but hasn't fallen for any of them the way he has fallen for Jericho. Jericho doesn't care for Babylon even as he tries hard to woo her. While he works hard at winning Jericho over, Magdalena tries desperately to keep his attention. It's a big circle of this person wants that person who doesn't care because they want some other person. I might edit the post to show more of the plot. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteNice review! I've heard of this book some time back... sadly, it doesn't seem very popular. Hmm, a lot of writers aren't as hyped as others. Chioma Okereke seems to be under the radar. Thanks for bringing her book back to my attention :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's a long book sha. Yeah, she seems to be under the radar. I tried hard to find out how old she was but I couldn't even find it on her personal site. Do you have any idea?
DeleteHahaa, no idea. I just looked through her Twitter and saw some images of her on Google. I think she's our age oh (LOL, I'm assuming you are my age. I'm 26). If anything she's def under 30. Her pictures are so lovely! I wonder if she's writing anything new...
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DeleteYeah I think she's our age. And you're almost right with your guess. I was born in 1988 so I'm 27 now. March '88 :). Hopefully she's writing something new.
DeleteA question--can you share examples of what is "very Nigerian" to help clarify what is missing? Better, can you compare the novel to one that is by way of mentioning the title. This will help me get to a good start of reading within this genre.
ReplyDeleteA question--can you share examples of what is "very Nigerian" to help clarify what is missing? Better, can you compare the novel to one that is by way of mentioning the title. This will help me get to a good start of reading within this genre.
ReplyDeleteHello FringeMama! "Very Nigerian" was something that intended to edit out of my final review but eventually missed. I intended to say that Bitter Leaf isn't Nigerian. The mannerisms of its characters aren't Nigerian, the bits of traditional language slipped into conversations between characters every now and then weren't identifiably Nigerian, the settings weren't Nigerian... Nigerian in a way that is easily identifiable. Just like any other novel by a Nigerian author where you see bits of yoruba or igbo in conversations, where meals, objects and character mannerisms are familiar to you because of your Nigerian background. There are a lot of novels like that. I apologize for not being very clear in this review. I might have to edit it later on. Thanks a lot for stopping by and also commenting.
DeleteNice post, things explained in details. Thank You.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteIt was very useful for me. Keep sharing such ideas in the future as well. This was actually what I was looking for, and I am glad to came here! Thanks for sharing the such information with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Please share the posts you find interesting on your social media :)
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