Typically I avoid short stories. And contemporary authors. Would have been a mistake to miss this collection, however. And perhaps I need to revisit my book selection guidelines?
Author communicates things like: (1) challenges of the immigrant - seemingly mundane things like English usage, grocery store navigation; larger things like attitudes of locals; (2) challenges of the newly-emigrated in dealing with those-who-emigrated-just-a-few-years-earlier; (3) challenges of being female in situations where males are favored - without being preachy or annoying about it; (4) the disorder and perhaps charm of a place like Nigeria.My favorite stories:
--story #3 - two women in a store during a riot
--story #4 - retired university professor runs into someone he thought had be3n killed in the war following Biafran independence
--story #10 - aunt/uncle arrange their niece's marriage to an American doctor (previously had emigrated from Nigeria) - she meets the doctor - not in love but sticks it out - interesting stuff about transitioning to America
--story #12 - only story set earlier in time - arrival of white men, protagonist's son becomes one of them, next generation rediscovers earlier culture - well written
Thought-provoking throughout, good.
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