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Oreo 😋📚👩🏽‍🏫🍪

@oreo.reads

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Welcome to my bookstagram ☺️. Happy scrolling!
p.s. - I try to leave out spoilers in my reviews x
goodreads: Oreo.reads

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Amen to versatility!

#bookstagram #thewidowwhodiedwithflowersinhermouth #booklover #ogadinma #thewifebetweenus #booknerd by @oreo.reads

40

8

3 years ago

This is what I spent my “lunch break” doing 😅

#bookstagrammer #bookswilltakeyoueverywhere #lovebooks by @oreo.reads

63

4

3 years ago

Not to be dramatic, but you haven’t fully experienced excellent literature until you’ve read this novel 😅.

We are started off in a place called Asiama, a relatively small village with a rich history located in the Niger Delta. Upon the discovery of oil within its territories and the oil boom in the 80’s, the trajectory of the lives of Asiama indigenes undergoes a significant shift; thereby leaving the region worse off. The story centres on the lives of 4 friends - Amaibi, Doye, Kaniye and Tubo - and there is insight given pertaining to the foundation of their friendship and how their distinct character traits impact the progression of their lives. In the end, their loyalties are tested as they grapple with feelings of betrayal, indebtedness and regret. Ultimately, despite growing apart over the years, their lives remain intertwined as they are faced with the consequences of their actions and somewhat radical beliefs.

I like to describe this novel as one that transcends time, because no matter how many times I’ve read it, I remain in awe of the brilliant literary skills demonstrated by the author. Also, the fact that my masters dissertation was loosely inspired by certain themes in this book is a further testament of how much I loved it 😅. Tomorrow Died Yesterday is an extremely fast paced story that starts off from the very first sentence. In putting the plot in perspective, I liked that the narrative alternated amongst 5 protagonists, as I think it gave the story more depth in a manner that was not overwhelming.

I would be doing this book a great disservice by even attempting to put it in a box. Basically, it is a politically charged story that dissects intricate themes such as friendship, greed, desperation and love. The characters are quite complex yet influentual, and the extent of their relatability is so palpable that it lingers even after you’re done reading. The legal elements particularly had me hooked because of my professional background (it almost inspired me to take my life more seriously 🤣)

…(Cont’d in comment section).

#booklover #tommorowdiedyesterday #chimekagarricks #africanliterature #bookstagram #bookreview #explore by @oreo.reads

70

15

2 years ago

TW: Suicide/Self-harm/Death/Grief

Eve: “You people just want me to be happy again”
Nate: “And you don’t?”
Eve: “Someday, Maybe”

This is Eve’s response to her brother’s genuine question of whether she would like to move on from the sadness that has come with losing her husband, Quinn. There is no assuredness in her response. No pretence. There’s just the simple truth that happiness could be a possibility for her someday. Not one that she is necessarily sure of or keen on in the moment. In Eve’s mind, happiness felt like a betrayal and in the moment, she just wanted the simplicity of wallowing.

This interaction illuminated the undecidedness the bereaved often struggle with when posed with the option of moving forward.

Which brings us to the plot of the book:
It is New Years Eve, and while the rest of the world prepares for the dawn of a new era, Eve’s world has come to gloom halt as she finds her husband’s bloody lifeless body on the floor - a consequence of his own doing. This is very event sets the tone for the remainder of the book. The aftermath of her husband’s death heralded a series of reluctant self-reflection and nervous breakdowns for Eve.

Regardless, I found that in remembering him, Eve saw Quinn for all that he was (flaws, quirks and strengths). As the author beautifully put, they loved each other imperfectly, as all humans love. Yet, that did not make it less of a brutal reality. She struggled with the fact that the love of her life took all that he was and was not away from her the moment he decided he no longer wanted he continuity of existing. To be honest, I believe that what made things harder on Eve was that there were no overt signs of Quinn’s sadness.

Also, one of the cruelest things about suicide is that the circumstances of your beloved’s passing is a constant reminder that your devoutness to them was not enough to convince them to power through. For Eve, she suffered from an insecurity which manifested in her feeling undeserving of Quinn’s love. And so, because of his kindness of loving her, she felt like it was her responsibility to keep him afloat (one that I disagree with.)

(Continued in the comment section…) by @oreo.reads

34

10

8 months ago

This was a sad but necessary story 😪.

Purple hibiscus is a Nigerian classic that explores themes such as religious fanaticism, domestic abuse and political unrest.

From an outsider’s perspective, Kambili and Jaja Achike have it all. They reside in a beautiful home, attend a renowned school where they’re the top of their respective classes, and live a relatively stable life devoid of financial lack. However, things are hardly as they seem🧍🏾‍♀️. Their father, Eugene Achike, is a revered philanthropist, political activist, and an old fashioned catholic. However, he is also the bane of his family’s existence who are forced to endure his degradation and domestic abuse behind closed doors. As a result, Kambili and Jaja are regarded as a strange pair, who are often overly anxious and lacking in basic social skills.

When Jaja becomes a rebel after a brief period of living with his cousins and aunt Ifeoma during the holidays, the Achike household becomes tense as he begins to resist his father’s dogmatism. On the other hand, Kambili is stuck between a rock and a hard place as she tries to reconcile navigating her new experiences with upholding her father’s preferred stoic practices 🥴.

I enjoyed Kambili’s story because it brought fond feelings of nostalgia. I particularly liked how the author was able to perfectly capture the innocence & naivety that comes with silly teenage crushes. I almost forgot what that felt like 😅. On that note, I’m still giving a massive side eye to Aunty Ifeoma for enabling the somewhat inappropriate dynamic that was developing between Kambili and Father Amadi, a Catholic Priest who was likely almost half her age - if not over! 😕

Cont..d in the comment section

#purplehibiscus #fiction #chimamandangoziadiche #booksbooksbooks by @oreo.reads

42

7

a year ago

A classic tale of keep your friends close, and your enemies closer 😶.

In recent years, the Christmas holidays have become a wary time for the students of Afobiri Secondary School. After 4 mysterious deaths which always occurred during the festive period, who can fault them? The most recent victim’s death, Janet Uzor, was as unexpected as it was brutal.

With the help of 2 other classmates, Ebere and Pamela are determined to find out what happened to their best friend, and uncover the suspected serial killer before another tragedy occurs. As they embark on this tedious exercise, they soon realise that the killer might be closer to them than they think…😬.

What Happened to Janet Uzor is a Nigerian murder mystery that spans over 12 days. Admittedly, it was refreshing to read this rare genre of African literature, and I applaud the author for being innovative 👏🏽.

However, I think its a book better suited for a younger me 🧍🏾‍♀️. I’m definitely at a point where I’ve outgrown high school tropes, so I found it difficult to properly get into the story 🫠. Also, although some of the twists were interesting, they were often anti-climatic. This was because they ended rather abruptly, which left the storyline feeling quite underdeveloped.

Nevertheless, its a decent book that I’d recommend if you’re looking for a gentle read (save for the mysterious teenage deaths 😅)

I rate it a 5/10. ⭐️

Pocket damage 💸- N7,800.

#whathappenedtojanetuzor #murdermystery #fiction #africanliterature #bookrecommendations📚❣️ #bookstagram by @oreo.reads

31

4

a year ago

This novel definitely surpassed my expectations and left me pleasantly surprised! 🙂‍↕️

Dantala is a very bright boy. At least that’s what Mallam Junaidu seems to think based on his performance in Islamiyya 🤷🏽‍♀️. So its a shame that he ended up mixing with the boys who sleep under the kuka tree in Bayan Layi, who spend their days smoking “wee-wee” and acting as thugs for unscrupulous politicians. But can you blame him? Originally from Dogon Icee, Dantala hails from a very poor family. With his father recently deceased, his brothers have long left home to become Shiites, and the proceeds his mother makes from selling millet gruel by the market can barely sustain one person. As such, remaining in Bayan Layi appears to be his best chance at survival 🤕.

However, when a riot caused by dissatisfaction with election results in Bayan Layi goes wrong, Dantala is forced to flee to Sokoto. There, he joins a local mosque and is renamed Ahmad under the tutelage of Sheikh Jamal and Mallam Abdul-Nur. As he struggles with the insecurities of adolescence and grief, he manages to distinguish himself amongst his peers, and rises in the ranks. In letting his convictions drive his actions, Dantala’s story is one of fate, loyalty and determination 😬.

The best word I can use to describe this book is - “Captivating!” 🤩. Although I initially did not know what I was getting into when I picked it up, its synopsis gave me the sense that I was stepping into an entirely new terrain of Nigerian literature 😅. However, Elnathan John did not disappoint one bit! Primarily set in Northern Nigeria, It was clear that the author had done extensive research, as this book was as detailed as it was brilliant. He also made sure not to shy away from different perspectives and controversial conversations. Particularly, this story highlights the dangers associated with religious extremism (most of which I found to be extremely jarring 🥴).

(Continued in the comment section)

#elnathanjohn #bornonatuesday #africannovels #fiction #bookstagrammerinnigeria #northernnigeria by @oreo.reads

37

3

a year ago

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! 😋

Warning - contains spoilers on Dream Count

It only took me a little under an hour to finish this short story, but I was so locked in that I felt twinge of betrayal when I read the last sentence and realised that the story had come to an end 😅.

Zikora is a story about a woman who gets the shorter end of the stick when her seemingly loving boyfriend ghosts her, and she realises that he is not the perfect man she thought him to be. As she grapples with her fear of motherhood and her difficult relationship with her mother while in labour, she can’t help but wonder where things went so wrong.

I absolutely loved this piece guys! I found myself thinking that if I were Zikora’s friend, I would give her a pep talk about how she’ll be fine before telling her “girl, stand up now!” 🤣. On a serious note though, I felt so much pity for her & wished she was surrounded by a lot more emotional support 🙁. Also, this story made me realise that I know little to nothing about childbirth. Did you guys know that babies could be born with poop in their mouths. Trust me when I say I was utterly flabbergasted when I read that 🤣.

Anyway, CNA is so good at perfectly describing emotions, and I always remain in awe of her writing. Interestingly, the protagonist in this short story is a character in her newest novel, Dream Count. It makes me even more excited to get into it! 🤭.

It was a brilliant piece and I was certainly engrossed all through!

#chimamanda #zikora #bookstagram #shortstory #review #africanfiction by @oreo.reads

36

2

a year ago

I held off on writing this review for so long because I wasn’t sure of what to say🧍🏾‍♀️ .

Set in Lagos Nigeria, Vagabonds is an an anthology(?) that explores the intersectionality of African theology, the complexities of queer relationships, and a sub-sect of spiritual realism that centres on the perceived glitz and glamor that is Lagos living. The primary narrator of this book, Tatafo, is introduced as a monitoring spirit who is the biggest gossip (a.k.a aproko, a.k.a amebo 😅).

Tatafo, just like various other monitoring spirits, answers to no one else but Èkó, the city-spirit of Lagos. Èkó controls the entirety of Lagos. Tatafo, being the gossip that he is, makes us privy to Èkó’s modes of operation, and dissects the irony of poverty and wealth that equally compete to overtake Lagos; two extreme ends that are defined by desperation.

I’m going to keep my feelings very brief because this story did not have head or tail 😩. It really had me in the first half though, as it started off very promising. However, things took a weird turn real quick. The best way to describe my reservations about this book is that it was too alte for me 😬. After a while, I lost the plot, and the plot lost me 😭.

Notice how I cast aspersions on describing this book as an anthology in the beginning of this review? That’s because I’m not sure if it is 😂. It has quite a disjointed narrative structure, that I got confused too many times 🥴.

Also, I won’t recommend reading this if you don’t have mind 😅. Essentially, it took me so long to finish this book because I kept having nightmares. Guys, I truly wish I was joking 😂 . It got to a point where I had to take a break just to calm my nerves.

Anyway, the overall gist of this review is that I was scared 🤣. In bringing my review to an end, my finals words to future readers of this piece are ensure you thread carefully and most importantly, good-luck! 😅

I rate it a 4/10.

I certainly was not the author’s target audience 🫠

#vagabonds #africanfiction #realism #explorepage #bookstagram #bookreview by @oreo.reads

52

17

a year ago

A book that was both heart shattering and humorous in equal accords? Best believe I was sat! 😋

A Broken People’s Playlist is a collection of short stories that perfectly depicts the messiness and uncertainty of life. Its major themes border on the heterogeneity of love and grief, with twists that were downright tearjerking.

One of my personal favourite stories, River, had me fully engrossed from the very first sentence. I was proper bawling by the end of it (there are a limited number of books that have had that effect on me 😅).

Also, I believe I particularly had a pleasant time with this novel because I utilised the prompts by listening to the music that inspired each story while reading. This was in order to fully appreciate the spirit in which they were borne. It was almost a spiritual experience & definitely solidified this novel as a 10/10 read for me! 😄

In essence, although it may sound counterintuitive, these stories provoked innermost feelings that simultaneously broke and healed my heart :)

Bonus points for the references from the Tomorrow Died Yesterday, Garricks’ debut novel, that were featured (its not to be misconstrued as a sequel though, as they’re both standalone pieces)

Again, a 10/10 book 🌟. Not a single note.

Pocket damage 💸 - N6,500

#abrokenpeoplesplaylist #chimekagarricks #africanfiction #collectionofshortstories #bookstagrammerinnigeria by @oreo.reads

39

5

2 years ago

I didn’t think a story could be simultaneously light-hearted and heartbreaking until I read this book 😅

Ove is a textbook Boomer. He hates shortcuts, he is sceptical of the internet, he doesn’t think automatic cars are proper, and believes there is no greater skill than being able to build things with your own hands! 😁

This is the story of a fastidious man called Ove who has led a hard life. Despite the challenges life has thrown at him, he manages to remain devout and principled in all he did (a character trait he regularly criticised people for not possessing). Although he could be quite grumpy and often justified his rigidity as being “a matter of principle”, he was indeed a sweet soul.

Ove was fortunate enough to have experienced true love during his lifetime. He had a sad yet beautiful love story with his wife, Sonja. They loved each other dearly, and I believe their relationship is a perfect embodiment of what it means to truly yearn for someone.

I enjoyed reading this book so much! It was refreshingly witty and brilliant. At a point, it felt like I was reading the script of a very well written sitcom.

Its exactly what I needed to bring me out of my reading slump & I 100% recommend it!

P.s. - the book is better than the movie 😉

I rate it a 7.5/10.

TW - attempted suicide.

#amancalledove #fredrickbackman #fiction #bookstagram #novel by @oreo.reads

44

12

2 years ago

You know the feeling of nostalgia you get remembering moments in school? Those moments when all your friends gathered around to recount all their exciting and chaotic experiences during the holidays? Thats exactly what this anthology gave! (but make it PG rated 😉)

A Man and a Woman is a book of short stories that is centred on the romantic Detty December escapades experienced by young Nigerians and Ghanians. Its stories encompass themes such as navigating heartbreaks, rekindling old flames, and the uncertainties of a new love.

I particularly enjoyed the non-homogeneity of the stories that were included, as I think it gave the book a lot more depth.

For instance, The Prodigal Daughter by Gina Okenyi did a good job of highlighting the recklessness that love inspires. Similarly, the ending of A Man and a Woman by Zoe Kanu was so satisfying that I was basically giggling & kicking my feet in the air by the end 🤭. It also read like an ode to real yearners 😅.

My personal favourite, Them No Dey Love for Lagos by Irenosen Akharele, was refreshingly funny! Although the protagonist ended up being bamboozled by the end, I’m convinced she would do it all again for the plot 😅

Tbh, I’m usually not a fan of short stories because I always feel like the stories are incomplete. However, I had a completely different experience with this one. Each story was reminiscent of the typical Detty December tale - risky yet fun!

That in itself made me fall in love with this anthology.

I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something short yet engaging, or if you’re trying to get into reading and need something fast paced.

Thank you to @noisy.streetss for sending over a copy! ☺️ You can get a copy by sending them a dm, clicking on the link in their bio, or grabbing a copy at your closest Roving Heights store 😉.

#fiction #dettydecember #amanandawoman #africanliterature #bookstagram by @oreo.reads

63

11

2 years ago