Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi

Borrowed this on a whim based on the title alone. Unfamiliar with the author, but was curious about this being a story of interlocking stories. I do not particularly care for the short-story format (even if the stories are connected) but all the same I was curious--it's about 4 Nigerian girls and one event that impacts their lives.

While some of the individual stories are interesting, overall I was not really into it. It could be the short story formula, the time shifting (which in itself is not a big deal but here I'm not sure it helped for me), and I just got tired with the shifting perspectives, although I acknowledge for this book and what the author was trying to do, it was probably the best way to tell this story.

And be warned, there's a ton of difficult topics, ranging from racism to xenophobia to childbirth (and death that can accompany the act), drug abuse. It is not an easy read at times.

I'd read something else by the author but this one wasn't for me. Would recommend this as a library borrow or bargain buy.… (mer)