Leave My Bones In Saskatoon

by Michael Afenfia

Seen through the eyes of Owoicho, a television presenter seeking a better life for himself and his family, Leave My Bones in Saskatoon spans two cultures and continents. It is honest, heartfelt and enlightening. The story begins with good news from Owoicho. He cannot wait to tell his family that their permanent residency application to Canada was successful. But while he was in Abuja, happy about this breakthrough, somewhere in the outskirts of Makurdi, a dark and troubling event threatens to torpedoe all the plans he and his wife, Ene had of moving their family to Saskatoon. We also meet Ochanya, the teenage daughter of Owoicho who has to deal with the twin shock of losing close family and the unavoidable transition from girl to adolescence that pitches her against the people that love and care for her the most. With everything Owoicho and Ochanya have to deal with, do they still make it out to Canada as planned and whose bones are in Saskatoon?

Genres: Africa

Paperback

Published April 1, 2023

Reviews

[Oyindamola Sosanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing story of family, immigration and what it takes to leave the known for the unknown.Leave my bones in Saskatoon shows the human side( and cost sometimes) of leaving ones home in the search of the proverbial green pastures. Both character and plot driven with a variety of themes such as navigating loss and grief, family dynamics, culture, the story of Owoicho is one I deeply resonate with as a first generation immigrant.

[Adefemi Fagite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warsan Shire says no one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark and this has been explicitly explained in Micheal Afenfia’s new novel, Leave my Bone in Saskatoon. The novel starts with a poem that reflects I guess the life of the writer in a new place called home. I have always enjoyed books that address political matters and this novel did justice to that.
If I wasn’t an immigrant I might not be able to relate to the story but as an immigrant who has experienced some of what the main character went through, I realized I wasn’t alone in this journey.
A tale of betrayal, love, grief, and political vices. I read this book in a sitting. It was an intriguing read. I was like Micheal Afenfia has done his magic again. You could sense the tension brewing from the first chapter down to the last. Such tension that pushes you to keep flipping the pages. Such tension that makes you curse the characters you hate.
The interesting thing about this novel is that it’s unpredictable. Micheal Afenfia is skillful at describing places and you as a reader would visualize it. The humor in this novel shouldn’t be left out. I wondered how a soft-spoken man could create such humor in his book.
A didactic story that teaches about the pros and cons of immigration. When an immigrant tells the people back home about how depressing the cold might be or how it’s hard to survive in climatic regions, they call you a bluff or an enemy of progress and more or less the reason why immigrants would rather keep quiet and pray for you to experience it. This is what Bimpe and her husband did to Owoicho, the main character in this novel. Well, they did more ‘strong thing’ and it takes you to buy the book to discover that. This is a novel I will suggest to everyone who’s interested in culture, immigration, and settlement to read. The author tells the truth without bias.

[Melanie Solar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and found it both eye opening and heartbreaking. What I didn’t enjoy was the writing. It was hard to read at times, and could have been more polished. The ending also felt very rushed. 2.5 stars.

[Bukola Akinyemi]

A very insightful and entertaining story about a couple’s quest for a better life for their family. A balanced immigration story with a mix of emotions.

Set in Nigeria, the first part explores some serious themes while the second half set in Canada sees a different set of challenges. The hope for a better future that the main character Owoicho had was the consistent thread through it all.

The writing stlye ensures a smooth reading experience. The story was so real to me, I kept having to remind myself that I was reading fiction.

I personally think everyone should read this book but would especially recommend it to people who are considering relocating to another country or living as immigrants in another country.

Overall, this was a great reading experience

[Kenneth Awom · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Leave My Bones In Saskatoon" is a compelling novel that explores the challenges faced by a Nigerian family as they seek to start a new life in Canada. The story is told through the eyes of Owoicho, a television presenter who has always dreamed of moving his family to Saskatoon.

The novel starts with Owoicho's good news that his family's permanent residency application to Canada has been successful. However, a dark and troubling event threatens to derail their plans. The story follows the family's journey as they navigate loss, grief, and the challenges of settling in a new country. The narrative is rich and multi-layered, with themes of love, family, immigration, and cultural identity is interwoven throughout.

One of the strengths of "Leave My Bones In Saskatoon" is the depth of its characters. Owoicho is a complex and nuanced protagonist who struggles to reconcile his desire for a better life with the loss of his roots and culture. His teenage daughter, Ochanya, is also a standout character, as she navigates the difficult transition from girl to adolescence in the midst of her family's upheaval.

Afenfia's writing is honest and heartfelt, with a keen eye for detail that immerses the reader in the story. The author's own experience as a diversity, settlement, and inclusion practitioner is evident in his nuanced portrayal of the challenges faced by immigrants.

Overall, "Leave My Bones In Saskatoon" is a thought-provoking and poignant novel that explores the complexities of the immigrant experience. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the themes of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience.

[Blessing Okwuofu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leave My Bones In Saskatoon is a tale of the Nigerian struggle. It was an emotional read that brought to life the tragedy of the insecurities in Nigeria, yet an escape is not always rosy, as demonstrated in the challenges faced by Owoicho as an immigrant in Canada. It was an intriguing read. Thank you @paperworthbooks for my copy
________
What I liked -

Emotional read

Relatable characters

Intriguing read

Happy ending

____
What I didn’t like -

The writing could have been more polished
The ending felt rushed
___

My rating: 7/10

[Bailey Olfert · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
This story of an immigrant to Canada from Nigeria is tragic, unpredictable, and compellingly readable. Still, I can't think of anyone I would actually recommend it to.

I have a pet peeve of multiple characters having similar names. This book goes further than I've ever experienced! There are SO many characters whose names begin with O!
Owoicho
Ochanya
Onjefu
Oroma
Obinna
Okopi
Oche
Okin
Oyale Ondujum
Ochepo

[Damola · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice read, based both in Nigeria and Canada, tells the story of a man who experiences some trauma in Nigeria and finally travels to Canada to face ordeals as he tries to settle into a new country.