Black Sunday – Book Review
Overview: Twin sisters Bibike and Ariyike are enjoying a relatively comfortable life in Lagos in 1996. Then their mother loses her job due to political strife, and the family, facing poverty, becomes drawn into the New Church, an institution led by a charismatic pastor who is not shy about worshipping earthly wealth.
Soon Bibike and Ariyike’s father wagers the family home on a “sure bet” that evaporates like smoke. As their parents’ marriage collapses in the aftermath of this gamble, the twin sisters and their two younger siblings, Andrew and Peter, are thrust into the reluctant care of their traditional Yoruba grandmother. Inseparable while they had their parents to care for them, the twins’ paths diverge once the household shatters. Each girl is left to locate, guard, and hone her own fragile source of power.
Pages: 277 Pages
Writer: Tola Rotimi Abraham
Recommendations:
This book chronicles the tumultuous journey of four siblings who go from living the good life with their parents to facing the harsh realities of unemployment and financial struggles. As their family falls apart, the kids are left to navigate their own paths and discover their identities while trying to break free from the shadows of their past.
Told from the unique perspectives of each sibling, the story unfolds through a series of snippets that offer glimpses into their individual journeys. While the tales may not always be interconnected, they provide a mosaic of the siblings’ lives at different points in time.
I was expecting all these narratives to converge into a grand finale, but alas, the story takes a different route. It meanders along, offering insights into the siblings’ lives without a clear resolution in sight. It’s like going on a road trip with no destination in mind – a bit frustrating, to say the least.
Overall, the book feels like a patchwork of stories stitched together using the same characters. While there are some standout moments, the lack of a cohesive narrative makes it a bit of a slog to get through.