Category: book by an author from Asia, Africa or Oceania

This book is darkly funny, twisted, and opens up with some thoughts on wearing masks, so I would argue it is pretty appropriate for reading in the middle of 2020. Set in Nigeria, and melding together satire with murder, serial killers, and sisters this book is fast and engrossing. It is a debut novel from Nigerian author Oyinkan Braithwaite.

The book follows Korede whose sister that is everything an annoying ‘perfect’ sister can be. Ayoola is the family favorite and the prettiest daughter. Plus, she has sociopathic tendencies and murders her boyfriends, relying on Korede to clean up her messes time and time again. Korede feels a little bitter about this situation, but drudges on. However, when her long time crush gets thrown into the path of her too perfect and too evil sister, a reckoning begins.

Many people have responded to the deadpan humor that Braithwaite has injected throughout the entire book, you can watch an interview with her here. This tone is intoxicating and it juxtaposes with the rather horrifying and somewhat scary actions the characters are taking. Additionally, the structure of the book is interesting in its set up. Each chapter is designed to be a short story in itself, pushing the book forward in a tightly controlled manner that is consuming for the reader in the best way. Here, the author’s talent for poetry and concentrated moments truly shines through. Caught up within the dark humor, and specific chapters, it is easy to fall into the trap that Korede finds herself in…can family always come first?

Find it on Live-brary: e-book or audiobook.

Contributed by: Noel