Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth: 'Soyinka's greatest novel' Paperback – 1 Sept. 2022

Very readable and amusing

This is a biting political satire set in an imaginary Nigeria plagued by abuse and greed, much like the grim realities of the real Nigeria, from Nobel Prize winning writer and activist Wole Soyinka, a writer that rarely uses the format of the novel. I am not going to lie, I found this both an engaging and extremely challenging read, and there were times I thought I would never finish what felt like far too long a book, so it was a mixed bag overall. Framing the background of the narrative is its colonial history, slavery, and the oil industry, a source of misery and devastation that many readers will be aware of, all factors which have blighted and shaped the country into what it is. Those who oppose the corrupt and ruthless powers, like Dr Menka Kighare and Diyole Pitan-Payne, comprising the government with its practice of co-opting the opposition, the media and religion, can expect a dangerous and powerful pushback.This is a complex, complicated, and often compulsive read, with a wide cast of characters, with a narrative that wanders, with themes that are close to Soyinka's heart, but it requires perseverance and patience from the reader. On the basis of my experience of this, I don't think that it is that much of a controversial opinion to say the ability to utilise the form of the novel is not the author's greatest strength. Nevertheless, I do want to recommend it for those interested in Africa, specifically the state of Nigeria and its people and for fans of Wole Soyinka. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

We read this for our book club and we all agreed that the first part of the book is not an easy read but that it really pays off to persist with it. Half way through the book I struggled to understand how all the characters related to each other and how it all added up but this made it all the more impressive when everything was all tied together so satisfactorily at the end. If I'm honest, I probably wouldn't have stuck with it after reading the first 100 pages but as it was for my book club I had to and I'm so glad I did. Haven't read anything quite like this before and I hope this review inspires you to keep with it.

An astonishing masterpiece of wit, imagination, and humour from the maestro. The celebrated writer is known for his intricate and sophisticated works often impenetrable due to his style of delivery, basically not in plain English therefore having it narrated in Audible by a competent narrator helps a great deal. Great story, terrific imagination.My only gripe with the Audible rendition is that the narrator could not correctly pronounce the Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa names, places, and phrases in the book. Considering that it is a work of African literature and another opportunity to enlighten about the cultures of peoples from that place, surely it is as important to pronounce those words as it is to pronounce the English. I think this really did take away from the enjoyment of the product and hope that a later edition will remedy this blunder

Immense fun from the first sentence with lots of laugh out loud moments. It's a very bitter satire in loose baggy monster form that reminded me a lot of late Victorian satirical fiction, exuberant, confident and energetic. In the end though it's tragic in its merciless denunciation of corruption and selfishness at every level.

Brilliantly written, great book

This clever satire is initially satisfying but its attraction soon wanes. The style can be clear and engaging but is often pompous and self-indulgent. Occasionally, the writing becomes obtuse and holds the reader back. The story line is actually quite straightforward but the writer takes many pages to tell his story and the novel should be half the length it is. The writer’s exposure of political corruption is probably the main interest in the longer term.

'You see, if you inhabit a dung heap, you can still ensure that you are sitting on top of it'. That is the other perspective. It is what separates those who are called from the common herd. It sits at the heart of human desire'.A sprawling narrative, part satirical part detective story on Nigeria, its roots and colonial past, tribalism, power, corruption, greed and the evils that plague politics and society in modern Nigeria. Soyinka is chronicler like no other with his brilliant, irony-filled voice. Definitely a demanding tour de force due to the different threads in the narration but also extremely rewarding in the end. Brilliant characters. Recommended for the persevering, attentive reader.My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC on exchange for an honest review.

It was a great book and I gave it away and someone has already taken the book ,Alvin Armstrong

This book is not just a novel but a masterpiece in literature. I struggled with it to begin with, but as the plot develops you are drawn in and can read between the lines that the author has not written a simple novel rather he is talking of the corruption that happens in Nigeria and many other countries. The reality is not far from the novel. The names have been changed and a story wrapped around it... I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in literature and politics.

A present to someone that really appreciated it.

A book o read

What the hell is this? English is not my native language, but I have a master's degree from an English speaking, Anglo-Saxon country as well as writing and talking in English almost as much as in my native language (if not more, at times). But this book is hard to read. It's not like I dont understand it. I do understand what's going on. But it seems to me the author tries artifically to use complicated words and sentence structures. It just does not seem fun or leisure-ly to read it. If I want to read complex English language literature, I'd prefer to read Shakespeare, at least that is real poetry.