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ambershelf 's review for:
The Road to the Country
by Chigozie Obioma
eARC and ALC gifted by the publisher.
How do we navigate life amidst the shadows of death? This is the profound question at the heart of ROAD, a powerful narrative following Kunle, a Nigerian university student, on an impossible mission to rescue his younger brother as his country breaks into a civil war (the Biafra War).
This sweeping historical fiction has all the hallmarks of a classic in the making. Obioma's writing is not just extraordinary; it's a revelation. It's a reminder that there's writing (my silly little book reviews), and then there's WRITING—rich, immersive, and transformative. ROAD's thesis on finding humanity among violence is incredibly timely and handled with a sensitivity that avoids exploiting the trauma of others, reminiscent of PROPHET SONG (Paul Lynch). The hint of magical realism adds a layer of enchantment to the narrative, bringing to mind THE SEVEN MOONS OF MAALI ALMEIDA (Shehan Karunatilaka).
Obioma's unflinching portrayal of the brutalities of war is both harrowing and compelling. Reading it felt like a visceral gut punch, yet I could not look away. His prose, akin to art, strikes the perfect balance between raw emotion and lyrical beauty, keeping me engaged even as my heart shattered into a million pieces. This emotional rollercoaster is sure to keep you captivated.
Amidst the darkness, however, there is beauty. Kunle finds camaraderie among his fellow fighters and even discovers love. Obioma excels at vividly portraying a main character we can all see ourselves in—an ordinary person facing the extraordinary pressures of war and death. ROAD explores how, without superpowers, we find the courage to live under such crushing weight.
The ending is a poignant culmination of the narrative, where themes of death and rebirth converge, and everything comes full circle. Without giving too much away, it's a testament to the theme that where there is death, there is also rebirth. I burst into tears reading the final scenes, and they will definitely stay in my mind for a long time.
I split my time evenly between reading on my Kindle and listening to the audiobook. While both formats offer a great experience, I highly recommend reading a physical copy to fully appreciate Obioma's phenomenal writing style and reference previous chapters. ROAD is my first Obioma, and I can't wait to read his backlists and immerse myself in his gorgeous writing.
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notes and ramblings
4.75/5
A sweeping historical fiction. The author doesn’t shy away from the brutality of war. This has everything that makes a Booker Winner — out of the world writing, a very timely topic (reminds me of PROPHET SONG but doesn’t feel exploitative of others’ trauma), and a splash of magical realism (reminiscent of THE SEVEN MOONS OF MAALI ALMEIDA).
My only nit-picky part is the seer chapters. I would’ve loved to see the magical realism parts developed more!
How do we navigate life amidst the shadows of death? This is the profound question at the heart of ROAD, a powerful narrative following Kunle, a Nigerian university student, on an impossible mission to rescue his younger brother as his country breaks into a civil war (the Biafra War).
This sweeping historical fiction has all the hallmarks of a classic in the making. Obioma's writing is not just extraordinary; it's a revelation. It's a reminder that there's writing (my silly little book reviews), and then there's WRITING—rich, immersive, and transformative. ROAD's thesis on finding humanity among violence is incredibly timely and handled with a sensitivity that avoids exploiting the trauma of others, reminiscent of PROPHET SONG (Paul Lynch). The hint of magical realism adds a layer of enchantment to the narrative, bringing to mind THE SEVEN MOONS OF MAALI ALMEIDA (Shehan Karunatilaka).
Obioma's unflinching portrayal of the brutalities of war is both harrowing and compelling. Reading it felt like a visceral gut punch, yet I could not look away. His prose, akin to art, strikes the perfect balance between raw emotion and lyrical beauty, keeping me engaged even as my heart shattered into a million pieces. This emotional rollercoaster is sure to keep you captivated.
Amidst the darkness, however, there is beauty. Kunle finds camaraderie among his fellow fighters and even discovers love. Obioma excels at vividly portraying a main character we can all see ourselves in—an ordinary person facing the extraordinary pressures of war and death. ROAD explores how, without superpowers, we find the courage to live under such crushing weight.
The ending is a poignant culmination of the narrative, where themes of death and rebirth converge, and everything comes full circle. Without giving too much away, it's a testament to the theme that where there is death, there is also rebirth. I burst into tears reading the final scenes, and they will definitely stay in my mind for a long time.
I split my time evenly between reading on my Kindle and listening to the audiobook. While both formats offer a great experience, I highly recommend reading a physical copy to fully appreciate Obioma's phenomenal writing style and reference previous chapters. ROAD is my first Obioma, and I can't wait to read his backlists and immerse myself in his gorgeous writing.
---
notes and ramblings
4.75/5
A sweeping historical fiction. The author doesn’t shy away from the brutality of war. This has everything that makes a Booker Winner — out of the world writing, a very timely topic (reminds me of PROPHET SONG but doesn’t feel exploitative of others’ trauma), and a splash of magical realism (reminiscent of THE SEVEN MOONS OF MAALI ALMEIDA).
My only nit-picky part is the seer chapters. I would’ve loved to see the magical realism parts developed more!