Obi Ifeanyi's life is moving at a fast pace. He is now a husband and father. So while President Obama is contending with a tough reelection campaign, Obi Ifeanyi is dealing with the day to day pressures of married life and raising a son. When his former love interest, Sade Olufemi, comes back into his life and decides to run her political campaign with the help of his wife, Nkechi, Obi's problems are compounded because Sade is a secret Nkechi is better not knowing about. While he struggles with the torment of Sade's return, the upcoming wedding of his best friend from law school, will lead to the unveiling of a secret that will change the dynamics of the Ifeanyi family forever.
Achebe’s language is straightforward and matter-of-fact and his characters varied, distinct and interesting as they navigate American life and the complexities of the novel’s political moment. (“They are giving Obama all these problems because he is black,” Auntie Nkiru opines, in a spirited discussion of why so many Americans resist the administration’s plan to make health insurance more accessible.) Nkechi and Ijeoma, strong women in their own ways, especially stand out. The author delineates the aspirations and problems faced by African Americans along the path to career success. The novel also dramatizes the clash in value systems between the more traditional and patriarchal Nigerian culture of first generation immigrants and the ideas of people born and raised in America.
Scenes are alive with talk of the characters’ experiences and opinion, though their voices sound similar, and the dialogue often lacks the verve and spontaneity of the spoken word. Still, the novel succeeds both as an arresting slice-of-life story and as an engaging portrait of the culture clashes and everyday challenges faced by the Nigerian American community.
Takeaway: An engaging slice-of-life of a Nigerian American family and community during the Obama years.
Great for fans of: Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband, Akwaeke Emezi’s You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A