William Godwin once said, “He that loves reading has everything within his reach”. True, there is a small comfort which comes from knowing that knowledge isn’t far-fetched but can be found within the pages of a good book.
The following titles are great suggestions for this month.
The New
Carnivorous City by Toni Kan (2016): Like many books that have been written by many Nigerian authors, Toni made use of his vast experience as a writer. As a Lagosian, he drew parallels between the Lagos mainland and Island with a clear and direct sense of truth. Those who know Lagos well will love this book as he made no attempt to coat the city in a false manner of description.
The semi-New
Born on a Tuesday by Elnathan John (2016): This author, who is known for his outstanding wit on social media, expresses no less of it in this book. Born on a Tuesday depicts resilience against the prevailing elements. This books may act as a reminder of sorts for many Nigerians who find themselves faced with religious and ethnic challenges, that they are not alone.
The Old
Fine Boys by Eghosa Imasuen (2012): This book has to be one of my favorite Nigerian titles of all time. The story revolves around cultists (fine boys) in tertiary institutions, who were driven to the act through boredom borne out of constant strikes in their schools around the 90’s. Imasuen developed this story with an on-the-ground perspective that is both amazing and riveting.
The Bonus
Swallow by Sefi Atta (2008): The story is also partly about Lagos life but mainly revolves around two lady friends – who adopted different lifestyles with very different outcomes. The author manages to give a concrete presentation of the close relationship between both characters, while still drawing the readers’ attention to the contrasting choices they had to make for their sanity’s sake.
