Foreign Gods, Inc. in Around the World in 80 Books

Jun 24, 2013 Beverly rated it really liked it

Shelves: africa, cross-cultural, 2014-new-to-you-authors, nigeria, library-book, paranormal, where-in-the-world, beverly-where-in-the-world, new-to-you

This was a 3.5 read for me that I have rounded up to a 4 because of the freshness of the immigrant storyline and the cleverly crafted protagonist.

When playing by the rules does not pan out for Ike, he becomes more and more despondent over not being successful despite having the proper credentials from a recognized university. After thirteen years of driving a cab, divorced, broke and with a gambling habit, an article sent by a friend spurs Ike on madcap misadventure where ill-fated outcomes seem ...more

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Apr 19, 2014 Tony rated it liked it

Shelves: novels

The foreign-born cab driver with a PhD is a bit of a cliche here in the US, and while the main character of this Nigerian novel isn't quite that extreme, he does feel more like a type than a fully-formed character. Ike ("ee-kay") is an Amherst grad who is bright and ambitious, but his thick accent has proven to be a barrier to his accessing the American dream. Having run afoul of prejudiced hiring managers, predatory women, the lure of gambling, and the expectations of his family back home, he's The foreign-born cab driver with a PhD is a bit of a cliche here in the US, and while the main character of this Nigerian novel isn't quite that extreme, he does feel more like a type than a fully-formed character. Ike ("ee-kay") is an Amherst grad who is bright and ambitious, but his thick accent has proven to be a barrier to his accessing the American dream. Having run afoul of prejudiced hiring managers, predatory women, the lure of gambling, and the expectations of his family back home, he's broke, and another long shift behind the wheel of the taxi isn't going to help.

In an odd way, this story would work perfectly as a '40s or '50s noir film. Like many noir protagonists, Ike is a victim of both society and his own poor decisions, trapped in a situation he can't escape. He hatches a desperate scheme to travel back to his home village in Nigeria to steal the wooden idol of his tribe's war god and smuggle it back to New York where he can sell it for six figures to a Manhattan art gallery.

This trip home (which comprises the middle of the book) is a harrowing one, bookended by tense encounters with corrupt customs officers. At his home village, he has to deal with his delusional mother and sister, who have fallen under the influence of a corrupt Christian evangelist who has convinced them that his uncle is evil. He also has to confront his past, from an ex-girlfriend fallen upon hard times, to a former buddy now living large as a corrupt big man. Once back in New York, his scheme crumbles as inevitably as in any noir film, as Ike has naively failed to consider one of the most basic elements of his scheme.

Although the heist plotline at the heart of the book would seem to suggest a fast-paced read, the prose tends to lie a little flat on the page. This may be because few, if any, of the characters are well-developed. Instead, they come across more as types than people -- they're all kind of one-note. Which is not to say there aren't some compelling portions. The scenes of Ike at the airport in Lagos are particularly good, especially when he's leaving and has to bargain with/bribe a customs official.

On the whole, I'd be hard-pressed to recommend the book to anyone not already interested in Nigerian fiction. But if you're interested in the Nigerian-American experience, and have already read the much-acclaimed Americanah, or E. C. Osondu's short story collection Voice of America, this is worth checking out. ...more

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