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How To Get Rid Of Ants
JUMP INTO A COLLECTION THAT JOLTS YOU WITH STORIES AND CHARACTERS THAT EMBRACE THE WEIRD, BIZARRE, AND INSANE.
In this collection of short stories, everyday anxieties unravel into the strange and surreal: a man in Abule, desperate to “hammer” like his peers, risks everything for a shortcut to success; a young woman, weary of the endless pressure to marry, turns to magical matchmaking with unexpected consequences; a greedy man finds himself unable to stop eating, his hunger growing beyond control; and a Lagos-based graphics designer’s simple attempt to get rid of ants spirals into something far more existential. With a sharp wit, keen eye for the bizarre and highly stylised syntax, Ipinmoye reshapes familiar anxieties – ambition, love, survival – into haunting and unexpected narratives. Each story in this eclectic collection is a cold shower – urgent, sharp and unforgettable.
In this collection of short stories, everyday anxieties unravel into the strange and surreal: a man in Abule, desperate to “hammer” like his peers, risks everything for a shortcut to success; a young woman, weary of the endless pressure to marry, turns to magical matchmaking with unexpected consequences; a greedy man finds himself unable to stop eating, his hunger growing beyond control; and a Lagos-based graphics designer’s simple attempt to get rid of ants spirals into something far more existential. With a sharp wit, keen eye for the bizarre and highly stylised syntax, Ipinmoye reshapes familiar anxieties – ambition, love, survival – into haunting and unexpected narratives. Each story in this eclectic collection is a cold shower – urgent, sharp and unforgettable.
262 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2025
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Jesutomisin Ipinmoye
2 books6 followersJesutomisin is, currently, best described as an alleged author working in a university where he does fiction and other things. He can also be described as: "enigmatic", "curious", "communitarian", "postmodern", "an unserious engineer", "hilarious", "living on an island", "survivor of ages nineteen and twenty-three", "from Nigeria", "a relentless idealist", "a writer of nigerian weird and afro-depression", and "over-employed".
Depending on who you ask, he can also be described as: "anxious", "possibly insane", "pretentious*", "a train wreck", "unreasonably passionate", "chaotic", and "lost in his thoughts".
He is published in Hobert After Dark, Kenga, and Brittle Paper. He came second in the 2023 Happy Noisemaker Prize for Storytelling, and he was published in 2024's Afritondo Anthology after being long-listed.
"How to Get Rid of Ants", (Parresia Publishers, 2025) is his second short story collection.
*It will never be pretentious to care a lot about what you do.
Depending on who you ask, he can also be described as: "anxious", "possibly insane", "pretentious*", "a train wreck", "unreasonably passionate", "chaotic", and "lost in his thoughts".
He is published in Hobert After Dark, Kenga, and Brittle Paper. He came second in the 2023 Happy Noisemaker Prize for Storytelling, and he was published in 2024's Afritondo Anthology after being long-listed.
"How to Get Rid of Ants", (Parresia Publishers, 2025) is his second short story collection.
*It will never be pretentious to care a lot about what you do.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 30, 2025
Incredible collection, highly recommended. Wonderful stories woven around a Yoruba proverb: When an ant mistakes you for a tree, you respond by flicking it away from your body. I read each story with this in mind and it added alot for me.
My absolute favorite story of the collection is Husband Material: a story about the weight of expectations, dissatisfaction and spiritual powers that resolves in a glorious and funny way.
Another of my favorites was "Spicy!" a bittersweet meditation on familial love and loss.
The first story "That Space should've been left Blank" is another favorite as well. I don't want to include any spoilers as each story is a fresh surprise that will delight you.
My absolute favorite story of the collection is Husband Material: a story about the weight of expectations, dissatisfaction and spiritual powers that resolves in a glorious and funny way.
Another of my favorites was "Spicy!" a bittersweet meditation on familial love and loss.
The first story "That Space should've been left Blank" is another favorite as well. I don't want to include any spoilers as each story is a fresh surprise that will delight you.
June 15, 2025
When you ask the question, “How does one get rid of ants?”—Jesutomisin Ipinmoye offers a bold, almost unsettling answer in the story that makes the question into a title. In it, the solution is as extreme as setting the entire house on fire. But in doing so, you risk becoming one of the casualties. This sets the tone for the entire collection: daring, unconventional, and thought-provoking.
*How to Get Rid of Ants* is a collection of 15 short stories that are best described as abstract and delightfully bizarre. They stray far from conventional storytelling, and that’s exactly what makes them so memorable. Ipinmoye blurs the lines between the real and the surreal, often using that space to reflect on pressing societal issues with both wit and depth.
Depression is a recurring theme, ringing loud and clear throughout the book. The opening story cleverly links depression with reincarnation, a connection that is both unexpected and profoundly moving—especially when the realization dawns that two characters are, in fact, one and the same. It’s an inventive twist that showcases the author’s ingenuity.
In *How to Tell a Story You Haven’t Lived*, the answer lies in “giving voice to the character”—a beautiful meta reflection on storytelling itself.
While all the stories are compelling in their own right, *Belle Full* stands out as my personal favorite. It explores cannibalism as a grim final resort in a life overshadowed by a curse, and the imagery is as disturbing as it is gripping. Another standout is *Lalubu Street, Oke Ilewo*, where a simple act of picking up something seemingly abandoned spirals into a sense of impending doom. I found myself wondering what dark fate awaits the protagonist for that one misstep.
The book itself is deceptively quiet in its presentation—except for the eerily lifelike ant illustrations on the cover, which have sparked many comments. It doesn’t scream for attention, but rather seems to call out to those curious (and brave) enough to venture in. And once inside, there’s a treasure trove waiting to be discovered.
Themes explored include reincarnation, childhood trauma, African spirituality, addiction, gluttony and cannibalism, the father-son dynamic, depression, societal expectations, abuse, life on the street, and the disorientation of early adulthood. Each story leaves a lasting impression, and together, they form a rich tapestry of modern life with all its complexities.
This is a deeply original and rewarding read. If you’re on the lookout for a short story collection that challenges the norm and stirs the mind, *How to Get Rid of Ants* deserves a spot on your shelf.
*How to Get Rid of Ants* is a collection of 15 short stories that are best described as abstract and delightfully bizarre. They stray far from conventional storytelling, and that’s exactly what makes them so memorable. Ipinmoye blurs the lines between the real and the surreal, often using that space to reflect on pressing societal issues with both wit and depth.
Depression is a recurring theme, ringing loud and clear throughout the book. The opening story cleverly links depression with reincarnation, a connection that is both unexpected and profoundly moving—especially when the realization dawns that two characters are, in fact, one and the same. It’s an inventive twist that showcases the author’s ingenuity.
In *How to Tell a Story You Haven’t Lived*, the answer lies in “giving voice to the character”—a beautiful meta reflection on storytelling itself.
While all the stories are compelling in their own right, *Belle Full* stands out as my personal favorite. It explores cannibalism as a grim final resort in a life overshadowed by a curse, and the imagery is as disturbing as it is gripping. Another standout is *Lalubu Street, Oke Ilewo*, where a simple act of picking up something seemingly abandoned spirals into a sense of impending doom. I found myself wondering what dark fate awaits the protagonist for that one misstep.
The book itself is deceptively quiet in its presentation—except for the eerily lifelike ant illustrations on the cover, which have sparked many comments. It doesn’t scream for attention, but rather seems to call out to those curious (and brave) enough to venture in. And once inside, there’s a treasure trove waiting to be discovered.
Themes explored include reincarnation, childhood trauma, African spirituality, addiction, gluttony and cannibalism, the father-son dynamic, depression, societal expectations, abuse, life on the street, and the disorientation of early adulthood. Each story leaves a lasting impression, and together, they form a rich tapestry of modern life with all its complexities.
This is a deeply original and rewarding read. If you’re on the lookout for a short story collection that challenges the norm and stirs the mind, *How to Get Rid of Ants* deserves a spot on your shelf.
December 14, 2025
This book is so refreshing. I loved how twisted some of the stories are, and how each of the stories always twisted a reaction from me.
Also, a round of applause for the writing. I loved the descriptions in this book, and there were so many sentences that made me pause and just re-read in awe.
The only downside for me was some of the grammatical errors I noticed, but that did not affect the story telling at all.
All in all, I loved this book and will definitely read it again.
Also, a round of applause for the writing. I loved the descriptions in this book, and there were so many sentences that made me pause and just re-read in awe.
The only downside for me was some of the grammatical errors I noticed, but that did not affect the story telling at all.
All in all, I loved this book and will definitely read it again.
September 5, 2025
This was a beautiful collection. 15 stories in total and I loved 10. The first and second stories almost made me drop the book but by the third story I kept turning the pages. I loved the way the author played with words, brought characters you cared for to life. Definitely worth picking up.
May 2, 2025
how can an Author make me feel; sadness, laugh my **s out, Fear, 🫨 shock finally bewilderment. my new favorite thing to say is I really enjoyed this prose. well-written.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews