Love Is Power, Or Something Like That: Stories

Name: Love Is Power, Or Something Like That: Stories
Author: A. Igoni Barrett
ISBN: 9781555976408

by A. Igoni Barrett

Vivid, powerful stories of contemporary Nigeria, from a talented young author An NPR, Flavorwire, and Largehearted Boy Best Book of the Year One of the Millions's Most Anticipated Books of 2013 When it comes to love, things are not always what they seem. In contemporary Lagos, a young boy may pose as a woman online, and a maid may be suspected of sleeping with her employer and yet still become a young wife's confidante. Men and women can be objects of fantasy, the subject of beery soliloquies. They can be trophies or status symbols. Or they can be overwhelming in their need. In the wide-ranging stories in Love Is Power, or Something Like That, A. Igoni Barrett roams the streets with people from all stations of life. A man with acute halitosis navigates the chaos of the Lagos bus system.…

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NPR Books We Love

"Love Is Power, Or Something Like That — a collection of arresting stories by A. Igoni Barrett — is so much more than its lyrical language, delicious detail and author’s love of English — Nigerian English and English English. A born storyteller, this young writer melds contemporary Nigeria — Africa’s most populous nation and arguably the continent’s most bewitching — with age-old wisdom. Is Barrett a modern-day sage? His prose may shock and startle; but with anguish, violence and cruelty comes compassion. Barrett artfully captures humanity in these nine tales, adding layers to characters as memorable as Scrooge and Okonkwo. A friend gobbled it up in one sitting — through the night. A scrumptious read."

NPR Books We Love — 2013 · apps.npr.org