What do you think?
Rate this book
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions: A Novel in Interlocking Stories
6 hrs. 10 min.
Nigerian author Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi makes her American debut with this dazzling novel which explores her homeland's past, present, and possible future through the interconnected stories of four fearless globe-trotting women.
Moving between Nigeria and America, Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is a window into the world of accomplished Nigerian women, illuminating the challenges they face and the risks they take to control their destinies.
Students at an all-girls boarding school, Nonso, Remi, Aisha, and Solape forge an unbreakable sisterhood that is tempered during a school rebellion, an uprising with repercussions that will forever reverberate through their lives. The children of well-to-do families, these young women have been raised with a thirst for independence, believing a university education is their right--a legacy of ambition and hope inherited from their foremothers.
Leaving school and adolescence behind, the women grapple with the unexpected possibilities--and limitations--of adulthood and the uncertainties of the world within and outside of Nigeria. A trip to Ghana opens Nonso's eyes to the lasting impact of the transatlantic slave trade, she falls in love with an African American, and makes a new home in the United States. Remi meets Segun, a dynamic man of Nigerian descent from Yonkers whose own traumatic struggles and support gives her the strength to confront painful family wounds. Aisha's overwhelming sense of guilt haunts her, influencing career and relationship decisions until she sees a chance to save her son's life and, through her sacrifice, redefine her own.
Revolving around loss, belonging, family, friendship, alienation, and silence, Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is a moving, multifaceted portrait of lives shaped by hope and sorrow--of women who must contend with the ever-present and unsettling notion that moving forward in time isn't necessarily progress.
Nigerian author Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi makes her American debut with this dazzling novel which explores her homeland's past, present, and possible future through the interconnected stories of four fearless globe-trotting women.
Moving between Nigeria and America, Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is a window into the world of accomplished Nigerian women, illuminating the challenges they face and the risks they take to control their destinies.
Students at an all-girls boarding school, Nonso, Remi, Aisha, and Solape forge an unbreakable sisterhood that is tempered during a school rebellion, an uprising with repercussions that will forever reverberate through their lives. The children of well-to-do families, these young women have been raised with a thirst for independence, believing a university education is their right--a legacy of ambition and hope inherited from their foremothers.
Leaving school and adolescence behind, the women grapple with the unexpected possibilities--and limitations--of adulthood and the uncertainties of the world within and outside of Nigeria. A trip to Ghana opens Nonso's eyes to the lasting impact of the transatlantic slave trade, she falls in love with an African American, and makes a new home in the United States. Remi meets Segun, a dynamic man of Nigerian descent from Yonkers whose own traumatic struggles and support gives her the strength to confront painful family wounds. Aisha's overwhelming sense of guilt haunts her, influencing career and relationship decisions until she sees a chance to save her son's life and, through her sacrifice, redefine her own.
Revolving around loss, belonging, family, friendship, alienation, and silence, Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is a moving, multifaceted portrait of lives shaped by hope and sorrow--of women who must contend with the ever-present and unsettling notion that moving forward in time isn't necessarily progress.
238 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2022
About the author
Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi
1 book138 followersOmolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. A finalist for the 2009 PEN/Studzinski Award, her stories have been published in New Writing from Africa 2009, Ploughshares, and mentioned in The Best American Short Stories 2018. Her poetry has appeared in the Massachusetts Review, the Indiana Review and Wasafiri. She graduated from Barnard and UPenn with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in computer science. Omolola is a Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles, where she teaches and conducts research on using biomedical informatics to reduce health disparities.
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is her first book. It was selected as a New York Times Editors Choice, made The New Yorker's list of "Best Books of 2022 So Far," was a Los Angeles Public Library pick for "Best of 2022: Fiction," and was the October 2022 selection for Roxane Gay's Audacious Book Club with Literati.
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is her first book. It was selected as a New York Times Editors Choice, made The New Yorker's list of "Best Books of 2022 So Far," was a Los Angeles Public Library pick for "Best of 2022: Fiction," and was the October 2022 selection for Roxane Gay's Audacious Book Club with Literati.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews
January 6, 2023
I appreciate everyone who has read or is considering reading Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions. Of course I love this book; it’s my baby. This couldn’t possibly be an unbiased review.
I grew up in a middle class family headed by a single mom in Ibadan, Nigeria at a time when the Naira was one-to-one with the US dollar, and my family traveled a lot within and outside Africa for vacations. I also attended boarding school in Nigeria (I begged my mother to let me attend - she didn’t want me to) and loved the independence and lifelong friendships but hated being hazed. When my mom got a job as a college professor in the US, moving to Massachusetts in the middle of winter as a teenager was a huge shock, but life in the States has been an amazing adventure.
My maternal and paternal grandmothers were brilliant women who spoke no English and had limited exposure to a Western education. They were both widowed early and proto-feminists each in her own way. I’ve often wondered what they would think of their descendants’ lives if they were still around. That was one of the biggest motivations for writing this book. I wanted it to reflect some of the changes in Nigerian women’s lives across the generations as well as grapple with what it means to be an immigrant in the US at this point in time.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I grew up in a middle class family headed by a single mom in Ibadan, Nigeria at a time when the Naira was one-to-one with the US dollar, and my family traveled a lot within and outside Africa for vacations. I also attended boarding school in Nigeria (I begged my mother to let me attend - she didn’t want me to) and loved the independence and lifelong friendships but hated being hazed. When my mom got a job as a college professor in the US, moving to Massachusetts in the middle of winter as a teenager was a huge shock, but life in the States has been an amazing adventure.
My maternal and paternal grandmothers were brilliant women who spoke no English and had limited exposure to a Western education. They were both widowed early and proto-feminists each in her own way. I’ve often wondered what they would think of their descendants’ lives if they were still around. That was one of the biggest motivations for writing this book. I wanted it to reflect some of the changes in Nigerian women’s lives across the generations as well as grapple with what it means to be an immigrant in the US at this point in time.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
October 14, 2023
Varied, diverse stories about Nigerian women navigating their personal and professional lives. I liked the way Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi portrayed themes of family and friendship, especially the influence of socioeconomic status. Unfortunately I felt that the voices of her protagonists blended together a bit too much and that more differentiation among her characters would have helped the stories flow more. There’s also a story where a man with a substance use disorder is described as a “junkie” in a way I found stigmatizing. Overall, glad others have resonated with this collection even if I found it just okay.
December 30, 2023
I love me a great collection of stories, especially when it is interconnected.
September 11, 2022
In essence, Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is an insightful celebration and exposition of Nigerian culture via a series of interconnected short stories over several decades. At its heart, the collection focuses on the adventures of four Nigerian girls who met at boarding school. Early on, a hazing event and acts of kindness spawn a lifelong friendship amongst the girls. It is also the place where the first of several pivotal “revolutions” occur – a reference to the title of the collection. Each revolution impacts the main characters in various ways and each has life-altering consequences.
The stories offer glimpses into the girls’ adult lives at various points as they travel abroad, experience love, loss, successes, and failures. Some are their reflections on their childhood through adult eyes which reveal historical aspects of the region and complicated relationships with their parents, siblings, spouses, and children. Others feature adjacent character viewpoints with a “six degrees of separation” connection to the main characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey with the girls because the author each gave distinct personalities, voices, passions, and flaws. The stories are timely and relevant – young Black males police encounters; microaggressions, discrimination, racism in the workplace; American xenophobia and controversial Immigration policies; and in the last story, the imagined state of evolved US health care policies gives the reader a lot to ponder.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
The stories offer glimpses into the girls’ adult lives at various points as they travel abroad, experience love, loss, successes, and failures. Some are their reflections on their childhood through adult eyes which reveal historical aspects of the region and complicated relationships with their parents, siblings, spouses, and children. Others feature adjacent character viewpoints with a “six degrees of separation” connection to the main characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey with the girls because the author each gave distinct personalities, voices, passions, and flaws. The stories are timely and relevant – young Black males police encounters; microaggressions, discrimination, racism in the workplace; American xenophobia and controversial Immigration policies; and in the last story, the imagined state of evolved US health care policies gives the reader a lot to ponder.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
September 19, 2022
Nuanced, cohesive and emotionally gutting. Loved it.
April 10, 2023
This is the story of four young women who initially meet as students at a Nigerian girls boarding school. As the book progresses, the reader gets glimpses of their later years and the last chapter goes actually in to parts unknown and the near future when the women are in their old age.
Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me either as a novel or as short story collection. I couldn’t distinguish one girl/woman from the other in terms of voice or characterization. And their stories weren’t particularly interesting to me with the exception of the first two. I also don’t think that the individual chapters could hold their own as short stories outside of the first chapter.
Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me either as a novel or as short story collection. I couldn’t distinguish one girl/woman from the other in terms of voice or characterization. And their stories weren’t particularly interesting to me with the exception of the first two. I also don’t think that the individual chapters could hold their own as short stories outside of the first chapter.
April 11, 2023
These interlocking short stories revolve around four Nigerian girls who meet at boarding school and their adventures then continue into adulthood. The culture, food and especially the friendships were a joy to read. However, because the first couple of stories were so powerful, it meant that the remaining stories didn't match that same level and thus my enjoyment dropped as I read.
As with short stories, you might prefer different ones than I did so do give it a shot.
3⭐
As with short stories, you might prefer different ones than I did so do give it a shot.
3⭐
August 4, 2022
Jollof rice is the stuff my dreams are made of. The whiff of tomato, chili, white-, and black pepper, piquant and nose-tickling, the aroma of ginger and garlic and onion. Jollof is West African, but the recipe and desire for it is universal. In my case my dreaming mind classifies jollof rice as nasi goreng, Malaysian style with Maggi's cili sos, a sweet and spicy ketchup. Chunks of browned chicken thighs, that crust of flesh and crispy skin, dotted with red grains of rice.
Coming from a rice-eating culture I like to think of myself as a specialist in the business of rice-eating and rice dishes. As a historian and reader of postcolonial literature and archival text, I like to think myself an expert in those domains too. But, I remain amazed by what I do not know; there is always a new rice dish, a new recipe, a new flavor to make my tongue and memories alight. There is always a new perspective, a newly discovered history, another layer of human experience to see, enjoy, and revel in.
Ogunyemi's Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is that new rice dish, that new revelation. You see, the stories in Ogunyemi's novel are like jollof rice, grains tossed together, held together in harmony by a dry sauce. Sweet and salty and spicy, a mouthful of emotions that are sometimes in conflict, sometimes piquant, but always in balance.
The novel is familiar and comforting in its focus on men and women of color, their lives indelibly part of the muss and tumble of Nigerian marketplaces, cities, and villages, so similar to those in Southeast Asia, where chickens are still sold live, butchered and feathered at the time of purchase. A place where fish and seafood lie on slabs of ice that are slowly sweating like the people haggling with each other over their prices. There is the aroma of overly sweet fruit in the air: jack fruit, bananas, some kind of incense. There is smoke and pungent exhaust from a motorbike put-put-putting away. A glot of languages rumbles in the background, ever-present as there is no reprieve for the ears in places like these: dialects, pidgins, mix-n-matches of accents and lilts. On occasion there is a puncture of British English (always British it seems), and a few heads turn to see the foreigner. (It is usually me.) Like a Nigerian market place, Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is dominated by women and their stories; men are present, they form part of the fabric of the novel, but it is the women and their experiences who thread the pattern and the connections between motifs in its cloth.
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is a collection of Nigerian and transnational Nigerian, historical and contemporary experiences, spanning from a time under the British and under British influence (for Britishness and Western-centrism continued even after decolonization) to the present -- and here is where it gets really interesting -- the future. Ogunyemi's novel recalls to mind another like it, Yaa Gyasi's Home Going (2016), but it differs on this particular point: Ogunyemi reaches into the future and lets the reader dwell on our current states through poignant examinations of the present.
Jollof Rice ranges across multiple generations, includes the lives of members of different and intertwined families. The reader is given a glimpse into the past when precolonial gender relations were more fluid. The reader accompanies characters in their education under the British, travels with them as they become transnational cosmopolitans, and will find themselves in the uncomfortably familiar place of racialized, racist America. The reader will find themselves in a near future moment, built on the present and past as we know it.
Sometimes, alongside the odor of modernity and vehicle exhaust, there is a faint scent of history and the supernatural, that which exists beyond the usual plane of our understanding. This is like biting down on a pepper seed in your rice, getting that jolt of zing on the tongue. You can't be sure if it was a seed or a pepper or a tiny grit of sand. You hope it was the former and not the latter, but then the moment is gone, the thing is swallowed and you continue on with your meal, with your life. The next story is waiting on your spoon. I deeply appreciated how Ogunyemi wove these elements into the novel; what the West deems supernatural is not so in many parts of the "formerly" colonized world. Spirits, ghosts, and memory were part of our cultures before and remain so.
Ogunyemi's characters and their experiences are what give the novel its unique quality. The characters connect to each other through their shared experiences in schools, in migration, in marriage and love, in childhood and navigating adulthood, in how they reconcile their colonial pasts with their "post"colonial presents and futures. Ogunyemi brings the Nigeria of the past into the present and future through their transnational and transcultural journeys. The characters are related by bonds which are sometimes considered casual; in Jollof Rice unbreakable relationships are broken, death is a cause for life, and disappointment is a gateway to revival. In this way, Ogunyemi delivers to the reader the nuances of human love and its endurance across time and space, makes a case for their eternal universality.
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions makes me want to grab a friend and say, "You must try this! It's new!" And how special must it be, that it has taken the old topic of history and identity and made an original spin on it?
Coming from a rice-eating culture I like to think of myself as a specialist in the business of rice-eating and rice dishes. As a historian and reader of postcolonial literature and archival text, I like to think myself an expert in those domains too. But, I remain amazed by what I do not know; there is always a new rice dish, a new recipe, a new flavor to make my tongue and memories alight. There is always a new perspective, a newly discovered history, another layer of human experience to see, enjoy, and revel in.
Ogunyemi's Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is that new rice dish, that new revelation. You see, the stories in Ogunyemi's novel are like jollof rice, grains tossed together, held together in harmony by a dry sauce. Sweet and salty and spicy, a mouthful of emotions that are sometimes in conflict, sometimes piquant, but always in balance.
The novel is familiar and comforting in its focus on men and women of color, their lives indelibly part of the muss and tumble of Nigerian marketplaces, cities, and villages, so similar to those in Southeast Asia, where chickens are still sold live, butchered and feathered at the time of purchase. A place where fish and seafood lie on slabs of ice that are slowly sweating like the people haggling with each other over their prices. There is the aroma of overly sweet fruit in the air: jack fruit, bananas, some kind of incense. There is smoke and pungent exhaust from a motorbike put-put-putting away. A glot of languages rumbles in the background, ever-present as there is no reprieve for the ears in places like these: dialects, pidgins, mix-n-matches of accents and lilts. On occasion there is a puncture of British English (always British it seems), and a few heads turn to see the foreigner. (It is usually me.) Like a Nigerian market place, Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is dominated by women and their stories; men are present, they form part of the fabric of the novel, but it is the women and their experiences who thread the pattern and the connections between motifs in its cloth.
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is a collection of Nigerian and transnational Nigerian, historical and contemporary experiences, spanning from a time under the British and under British influence (for Britishness and Western-centrism continued even after decolonization) to the present -- and here is where it gets really interesting -- the future. Ogunyemi's novel recalls to mind another like it, Yaa Gyasi's Home Going (2016), but it differs on this particular point: Ogunyemi reaches into the future and lets the reader dwell on our current states through poignant examinations of the present.
Jollof Rice ranges across multiple generations, includes the lives of members of different and intertwined families. The reader is given a glimpse into the past when precolonial gender relations were more fluid. The reader accompanies characters in their education under the British, travels with them as they become transnational cosmopolitans, and will find themselves in the uncomfortably familiar place of racialized, racist America. The reader will find themselves in a near future moment, built on the present and past as we know it.
Sometimes, alongside the odor of modernity and vehicle exhaust, there is a faint scent of history and the supernatural, that which exists beyond the usual plane of our understanding. This is like biting down on a pepper seed in your rice, getting that jolt of zing on the tongue. You can't be sure if it was a seed or a pepper or a tiny grit of sand. You hope it was the former and not the latter, but then the moment is gone, the thing is swallowed and you continue on with your meal, with your life. The next story is waiting on your spoon. I deeply appreciated how Ogunyemi wove these elements into the novel; what the West deems supernatural is not so in many parts of the "formerly" colonized world. Spirits, ghosts, and memory were part of our cultures before and remain so.
Ogunyemi's characters and their experiences are what give the novel its unique quality. The characters connect to each other through their shared experiences in schools, in migration, in marriage and love, in childhood and navigating adulthood, in how they reconcile their colonial pasts with their "post"colonial presents and futures. Ogunyemi brings the Nigeria of the past into the present and future through their transnational and transcultural journeys. The characters are related by bonds which are sometimes considered casual; in Jollof Rice unbreakable relationships are broken, death is a cause for life, and disappointment is a gateway to revival. In this way, Ogunyemi delivers to the reader the nuances of human love and its endurance across time and space, makes a case for their eternal universality.
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions makes me want to grab a friend and say, "You must try this! It's new!" And how special must it be, that it has taken the old topic of history and identity and made an original spin on it?
July 1, 2022
I don't think I've ever read a collection of interlocking stories that work together so well to create such an epic tale — one that reflects, reveals, and projects the experiences of a few generations of Nigerian women, with a core group of friends at the heart. I had no idea where each story was going, no idea where the whole would end up, and was completely fascinated by the entire journey. Highly recommended for fans of short stories, creative narrative structures, family epics, world lit, diverse voices, literary fiction, vibrant women's fiction, or evocative writing with a strong sense of place. The audiobook is also excellent, bringing the characters to life and establishing an even stronger sense of continuity and connection to the whole experience.
June 11, 2022
4.5 stars. Interlocking stories of Nigerian family and friends. A lovely and interesting read.
February 14, 2023
I was plesantly surprised by my enjoyment of this novel. After a rough start, I wasn't sure I would continue, but I'm so glad I did. My only complaint is that Adaoma and Uchenna's story was out of place and underdeveloped. I wanted to know what happened, and how that affected Uchenna! This was gorgeous, and I alternated between laughing and crying. I wanted to know more about these characters, and it breaks my heart that I have to leave them between the pages of this book.
November 4, 2022
I enjoyed this set of interrelated short stories set primarily in Nigeria starting out 1897 and taking us into the future. The stories are also standalones with a distinct end but each is related to or about one of the four women characters: Nonso, Remi, Aisha, and Solape. There’s a great sense of place - Nigeria, it’s culture, and food. It’s imbued with the universal themes of friendship, love, loss, and living - experienced in the Nigerian way. I enjoyed every single story. When I have a hard time choosing a favorite out of the ten stories, but list the following six as favorites, you know I really enjoyed this book! My six favorites are: Food’s Better Half; Jollof Rice and Revolutions; Czekolada, Last Stop, Jibowu; Area Boy Rescue, messengerRNA. I thought the last story was a nice wrap up to the book. This was a great read and I’m looking forward to what the author has in store for us with her next book. By the way, loved the cover!
December 30, 2022
no one can say I didn't try with this book. I finished it cause it's not exactly bad, but I didn't find it great either. the story itself wasn't super compelling for me unfortunately. I feel like much of the appeal is in the "exotic" so I can see why non-nigerians would like it, but to me it felt like the grandiose and imo unnecessary (cause they didn't add to the story) descriptions of traditional ceremonies and the whole chapter written in pidgin were meant to appeal to people unfamiliar. the pidgin chapter felt very gimmicky and it didn't add anything to the story.
aside from that, this book is based off an event that was meant to significantly change the course of four women's lives, it didn't feel that way, the book wasn't able to communicate the significance of that moment effectively, so none of the "interlocking" stories felt very "interlocked" to me
aside from that, this book is based off an event that was meant to significantly change the course of four women's lives, it didn't feel that way, the book wasn't able to communicate the significance of that moment effectively, so none of the "interlocking" stories felt very "interlocked" to me
August 31, 2022
This was unlike anything I've read yet. I need to read more Nigerian writers. As a member of the diaspora/descendent, the question of the return was fascinating; hearing about American history and society from the perspective of someone from the other side of the Atlantic was at times mind-blowing for me. The whole book is dripping with family, community, grief, hope, and love.
March 23, 2023
Probably my new favorite short story collection. Love how interwoven all of it is. Hate how sadness is also woven deeply into it. Loved the stories in Nigeria.
January 9, 2023
This is my absolute favorite genre and Ogunyemi made me love it even more. Couldn’t put it down. 4.9 stars because the last short story really threw me off but otherwise such a gem of a book
July 24, 2022
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this little read. I requested this book to review because of it's description of interconnected stories rather than short stories, which don't usually appeal to me. I wasn't disappointed. I loved reading the connections between these characters throughout generations, including a glimpse into the future. These women carry around their experiences and history as a part of their growth into adulthood. It is interesting to see all the similar and different ways they are all shaped by it. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for more diverse reads with a focus on women and sisterhood.
October 15, 2022
TITLE: JOLLOF RICE AND OTHER REVOLUTIONS
AUTHOR: Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi
PUB DATE: 09.13.2022 Now Available
Nigerian author Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi makes her American debut with this dazzling novel which explores her homeland’s past, present, and possible future through the interconnected stories of four fearless globe-trotting women.
MY THOUGHTS:
I loved how this short story collection linked characters and stories, which made it so hard to put down. It’s a story that incorporates themes important to me like friendships and families, as well as, belonging and loss. The story is a sweeping narrative that takes place in different parts of the world, and as lives are explored, these intricate, beautiful, poignant and unique stories will find your heart and never let go. Read this slow and let it immerse you. I loved it!
AUTHOR: Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi
PUB DATE: 09.13.2022 Now Available
Nigerian author Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi makes her American debut with this dazzling novel which explores her homeland’s past, present, and possible future through the interconnected stories of four fearless globe-trotting women.
MY THOUGHTS:
I loved how this short story collection linked characters and stories, which made it so hard to put down. It’s a story that incorporates themes important to me like friendships and families, as well as, belonging and loss. The story is a sweeping narrative that takes place in different parts of the world, and as lives are explored, these intricate, beautiful, poignant and unique stories will find your heart and never let go. Read this slow and let it immerse you. I loved it!
June 2, 2022
The way these stories come together create a warm, moving, and deeply intelligent novel about a group of women whose bonds from childhood are absolutely unbreakable across the whole of their lives. In these stories, we see who they become as they grow older and the world changes but we also see how they remain connected, how they remain loyal to one another, how they never forget the one among them they lost far too soon. I couldn't put this book down and I loved spending time in the lives of each of Nonso, Remi, Aisha, and Solape. Truly, this book will grab hold of your heart and mind and everything in between.
September 14, 2023
“Nigeria is hard on the body, America is hard on the mind.”
“But the guns make it impossible, bullets and fear equal death every time because my face will never evoke his son, his brothers, his father, his uncles, his teenage self…”
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is a collection of short stories following three friends that met in an all-girls boarding school much similar to the one I attended when I was much younger.
I really enjoyed reading the stories and found a couple of them nostalgic.
We read from each of the girls point of view as children and as adults. Each story is different but we see the girls making appearances in each other’s stories.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if it was not advertised as a novel In interlocking stories. I kept waiting for the stories to come together as a novel but they never did.
As with most short story collections, I liked some stories and didn’t really care for some.
Themes covered include friendship, grief, love, marriage and family. Racism, police brutality, abuse and class.
“But the guns make it impossible, bullets and fear equal death every time because my face will never evoke his son, his brothers, his father, his uncles, his teenage self…”
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is a collection of short stories following three friends that met in an all-girls boarding school much similar to the one I attended when I was much younger.
I really enjoyed reading the stories and found a couple of them nostalgic.
We read from each of the girls point of view as children and as adults. Each story is different but we see the girls making appearances in each other’s stories.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if it was not advertised as a novel In interlocking stories. I kept waiting for the stories to come together as a novel but they never did.
As with most short story collections, I liked some stories and didn’t really care for some.
Themes covered include friendship, grief, love, marriage and family. Racism, police brutality, abuse and class.
February 20, 2023
This whole novel is very poignant, but the first and last chapters really pack an emotional punch. I appreciated the reading experience, learning more about Nigerian culture, and also the way the author showed how trauma can echo throughout a person's life, and the through-lines from one moment of upheaval to another. The discussion of identity was incisive, particularly between Black Americans and Black Africans, as well as how each are seen by others and in majority-white countries. The final chapter is definitely the strongest point, made more so by the fact that it feels all too plausible given the batshit state of the GOP.
I did wish that there was a bit more connective tissue between the riot at the girls' school and the other events in their later lives. Also, I kind of expected that riot to be a bit more dramatic, and while there is one very tragic aspect of it, it was otherwise a bit less momentous than I expected from the synopsis. But I did very much like this and look forward to more from this author.
I did wish that there was a bit more connective tissue between the riot at the girls' school and the other events in their later lives. Also, I kind of expected that riot to be a bit more dramatic, and while there is one very tragic aspect of it, it was otherwise a bit less momentous than I expected from the synopsis. But I did very much like this and look forward to more from this author.
October 5, 2024
I enjoyed this collection of inter-related short stories. Each story was very distinct and portrayed a different aspect of Nigerian culture (or the experiences of the Nigerian diaspora in the US) -- certainly of a certain wealthier class. Having read several books by Nigerian authors, I found this book to be refreshing and inviting.
I appreciated that each story didn't end with the "standard" zinger (or what feels like a zinger, an abrupt and overly dramatic resolution).
My favorite stories were "Goody Goody," "Reflections from the Hood of the Car," and "Last Stop, Jibowu." (I read this story a year ago in June 2023 and only am writing this review now in October 2024. The last story "mRNA" is set in the dystopian future, including in 2024, which has an unusual feeling to it.)
I'd keep an eye on this author's future work. And I hope it's a full-length novel.
I appreciated that each story didn't end with the "standard" zinger (or what feels like a zinger, an abrupt and overly dramatic resolution).
My favorite stories were "Goody Goody," "Reflections from the Hood of the Car," and "Last Stop, Jibowu." (I read this story a year ago in June 2023 and only am writing this review now in October 2024. The last story "mRNA" is set in the dystopian future, including in 2024, which has an unusual feeling to it.)
I'd keep an eye on this author's future work. And I hope it's a full-length novel.
February 29, 2024
I always enjoy multigenerational/interlocking stories and this one revolves around a group of childhood friends living their lives in both Nigeria and America. I appreciate that many of the chapters are from the perspective of secondary characters which added interesting layers to the stories. I especially loved the chapter that is written in pidgin because I felt like I could hear the intonations of the character which made it more vivid and amusing.
As much as I liked the rest of the book, I didn’t enjoy the final chapter that discussed the future. Since there were so many new elements being introduced and explained, the actual story felt secondary to the world building which made for an odd and confusing end to an otherwise good book.
As much as I liked the rest of the book, I didn’t enjoy the final chapter that discussed the future. Since there were so many new elements being introduced and explained, the actual story felt secondary to the world building which made for an odd and confusing end to an otherwise good book.
September 3, 2022
Three young girls bond during their time at school. As they grow up and move on, their lives move in their own directions. While this is more a compilation of short stories, it tells the lives of the women they have become and how their lives interconnect and weave through the years.
I have recommended this book to everyone I know that is a reader and I still can’t sing it’s praises enough. You MUST read this one!
I have recommended this book to everyone I know that is a reader and I still can’t sing it’s praises enough. You MUST read this one!
September 24, 2022
Absolutely beautifully written stories that are woven together in a unique way that made me unable to put down the book. A stunning read that brings forth many voices and sounds centered in Nigeria and expanding outward, with themes that resonate with many cultures. Read this book!
February 5, 2023
Wow. I loved all the stories. They took me on a journey I will not forget. I listened to this on audio and would highly recommend that but now I feel like I need to go get the actual book so I can relive and trace the specific journeys again. Thank you for a beautiful gift of a story.
March 12, 2023
I loved the opening story and the complicated choices that set the rest if the story in motion. The last two stories were very unexpected and added an interesting layer to the collection.
May 13, 2023
4.5. I understand some criticism that certain short stories felt under-developed. And I personally felt that the last story felt tonally a bit different than the others (though perhaps that's from the intrinsic expository burden of being set in the future). But the work as a whole created such a vivid and palpable sense of place and people that I'm sure it'll stick with me for quite some time.
I'd also like to mention that the audiobook is incredibly well performed and readily recommend that form of this book.
I'd also like to mention that the audiobook is incredibly well performed and readily recommend that form of this book.
January 30, 2023
3.75 stars. A strong collection of interwoven short stories that explores life through a Nigerian lens. This was really pleasant to read. Some stories really stick out more than others so it wasn’t always the most consistent body of work but I did quite enjoy this. Thanks to the publisher for my proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2022
A collection of short stories that weave through, past, and within one another with many strong, resonant voices that echo through to the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews