2023 Booker longlist - A Spell of Good Things

[Hugh, Active moderator]

A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ (Canongate Books)

[Tracy]

Just started this one. Hoping for good things- I loved Stay With Me.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I found this very different.

[Gwendolyn]

I’m a third of the way into this one and really enjoying it so far.

One thing that’s standing out for me is that this book seems to be clearly directed at a non-Nigerian audience. There’s a bit of over-explanation about the cultural norms, particularly around how respect is shown to elders/guests. I think this could be handled more subtly with more trust that the readers will understand the cultural context, but I expect this does make the book more accessible for a general (commercial) audience.

[Gwendolyn]

I just finished this one, and I ended up liking it a lot. The story moves slowly in the first half, but I was so interested in the details of daily life in Nigeria, both in wealthy and poor families, that I didn’t mind. I actually really enjoyed the slow journey.

As the book continued, I started appreciating the parallel stories of Wuraola and Eniola. They both (view spoiler)[ are chasing after things that aren’t good for them, in large part because they want to please their families. Eniola is trying to feed himself and his family as well as progress his education, so he is drawn to shady politicians, and Dr Wuraola is trying to please her family by marrying a ‘suitable’ man. In the end, their desire to please ends up hurting their families more than helping. The ending was certainly dramatic if a bit abrupt. What happened with Wuraola and Kunle, for example? (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I liked this one and can see it making the shortlist. Although the story is quite particular to its setting, the larger themes (income disparity, family vs. self) will resonate globally.

[Robert]

https://youtu.be/2qPD8sYHVe4

[Tracy]

Nicely done, Robert! I agree. I think this is very much a contender.

[Gwendolyn]

Is anyone else reading this one? I’m surprised by the lack of discussion here since I think this is a strong contender, especially as I read more and more of the longlisted titles. Maybe this book was already discussed on the contender thread and I missed it?

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I read it a long time back so was waiting for when I re-read it.

It’s getting a lot of discussion in an Instagram booker group I am in. A common view - which was mine also - is the book drifts quite a lot before the explosive ending.

I enjoyed it and from the first read it’s vying for the last place on my shortlist. I think it’s a lot more mature as a novel than her debut.

The other very common view is that the male narrator on the audiobook is awful. Perhaps ironical given one of the judges was the narrator on the author’s previous book.

Also as an aside one of two UEA Creative Writing alumni on the list - the other Paul Murray.

[Gwendolyn]

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "I read it a long time back so was waiting for when I re-read it.

It’s getting a lot of discussion in an Instagram booker group I am in. A common view - which was mine also - is the book drifts qu..."

I agree the book drifts a lot—this is a book about domestic abuse, no wait, it’s a political thriller, no it’s really about class warfare. Usually, I’ve very little patience for that lack of focus, but I was so curious about the day-to-day details of Nigerian life (particularly the family and social norms and the school system) that I enjoyed the drifting. On the whole, the novel felt less composed and deliberate than some of the other contenders, but my reading experience was still very positive.

[Hugh, Active moderator]

I have started reading it but haven't got far enough in to know how I'll feel about it.

[Joy D]

I read it but somehow missed what others seem to appreciate about it. To me it is another "misery book."

[Tracy]

I appreciated this quite a bit.
I can’t say I enjoyed it, due to some of the content. It’s not a fuzzy bunny story by any means.
But there is a lot in this book, and I think it has a good chance of shortlisting, and maybe even winning.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I still have this book on my personal shortlist but it’s the sixth of the books I have no re-read (after Old God’s Time, In Ascension, House of Doors, Thus Other Eden, Study for Obedience) and it’s the one where I felt I gained the least on a second read … maybe my first reading was very careful, or my second superficial but my impression second time is that stripped of the untranslated language/terms and cultural/political references it’s a relatively straightforward book

[David]

I started this last night and I'm about halfway through. Gwendolyn, I agree with your comment above (message 4) that this is clearly written for a non-Nigerian audience, with an over-explanation of cultural norms and, I think, just an overall feel of explaining Nigerian culture to outsiders. I don't imagine Nigerian readers would need a crash course in Nigerian politics or social mores, which this often seems to be.

It makes for an interesting contrast with Glory from last year's list, a book that seemed intended primarily for a Zimbabwean audience. Last year, there were a bevy comments from non-African readers (myself included) that were along the lines of "this just wasn't for me."

If nothing else, it illustrates the challenge of being a Nigerian or Zimbabwean writer and how their work is received by a UK or US audience.

[Robert]

Last week I was running a book stall at a lit festival and we had a spell of good things on it. It was bought by a born and bred Nigerian woman who was performing this literature festival who told me that she loved Adebayo because she knows how to convey complexities in a human way

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Although I would also say that it contains a whole host of untranslated Yorùbá which for me made it less accessible.

Glory I found not difficult to follow at all with some quick Googling of events and politicians.

And the author of this one has said she is intending this to be read by lots of Nigerians.

[David]

That's fair. I'm probably not best positioned to assess whether a book is written for Nigerian readers.

With Glory, I think it was more the humor that felt Zimbabwean rather than the characters and plot. Also the need to use animals as characters, which seemed to resonate more with African readers.

[David]

From comments here and elsewhere, I was expecting A Spell of Good Things to be a bit messier than it is. Sure, it could use a tighter edit, but I feel that way about most books in the 300-350 page range. (I might feel differently once I've finished.)

I wouldn't be surprised to see this on the shortlist. But I would be surprised if this won.

[Lascosas]

I read this three weeks ago but have been waiting for it to settle in my mind. Why? Because this was just too close to real life for me to easily judge it objectively.

For a long time my spouse and I have divided our life between California and Central Mexico. Half time in each. In Mexico we live in a village with lots of gringos, but predominantly local families that have lived here for generations, and do not have much money. We also have family and spend time in Mexico City among fairly wealthy Mexicans. And one thing Nigeria and Mexico have in common with most countries in the world is that you can not rely on anyone but family. In Mexico a shockingly large percentage of the country is controlled by cartels, which are interconnected to politicians at all levels. In Nigeria the organized criminal activity is less prevalent, but the politics less democratic. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

But the bottom line is the same: you depend on family, for better or worse. After years you may be invited into the outer layer of one or more families. That provides both benefits and obligations. But it is a fairly clear dividing line as to where the outlines of family start and stop. And when you need something done, whether you are a poor family in my village, or a wealthy urbanite, it is to this tightly defined group of family that you turn. It is too dangerous and unpredictable to do anything else, and you never turn to the government. It is one of the first things you learn.

I thought the book handled this well, calling out both the downsides of those insular family circles, and their strengths. Where I thought the book slightly fell down was in orchestrating the balance between the two family units.

[Gwendolyn]

Lascosas wrote: "I read this three weeks ago but have been waiting for it to settle in my mind. Why? Because this was just too close to real life for me to easily judge it objectively.

For a long time my spouse an..."

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate your unique perspective on how these families were portrayed. I did get a strong sense of the deep importance of paying respect to family members, particularly the older ones, even by grown children. I have to think this isn’t just an outward show of respect but, rather, an external manifestation of a deep internal feeling of respect. I can see how that level of respect would also be tied to a sense of trust and knowing who you can turn to for help when needed. That is something that doesn’t exist in a lot of (most?) American families, at least the ones I’m familiar with. I’m not saying that’s bad necessarily (though it might be). I’m just noting how very different family life can be from country to country and culture to culture.

[Nicholas]

Just started this on audio and had to immediately come here to see if others had noted how difficult it is to understand the male narrator. Glad to see it is being discussed on Instagram anyway.

I think it is less about his voice or accent and more about the way it was recorded. There is a stark difference in audio quality between his parts and the female narrator. Between the lack of clarity and his deep, resonant voice, I end up missing many words. I’m going to try to return this on Audible (first time ever!) and get a physical copy or ebook instead.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

There is a huge irony to the terrible audio book - which seems a universal complaint about this one - given a judge narrated her previous novel. Maybe they liked the book as it made their own effort so good by contrast.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

This scrapes on to my shortlist although some way behind the top 5

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxQP9yYIx...