Memoria e desiderio

by Jumoke Verissimo, Gioia Guerzoni (Translator)

Lui è Eni, un ex insegnante che ha alle spalle dieci anni di prigione per reati politici. Lei è Desire, una studentessa brillante che pende dalle sue labbra sin da quando era piccola. Prof e Desire non possono essere più diversi, ma le loro confidenze, nel buio della casa in cui si incontrano, accendendo un'intimità che, sera dopo sera, abbatterà il muro delle loro differenze.
Chiuso e solitario, Eni si apre finalmente al mondo di fuori, dove una Lagos povera ma piena di esuberanza lo riconnette alla vita, a un passato segreto e ai movimenti studenteschi di ieri e di oggi. E ci restituisce, nelle conversazioni con Desire, il sogno di una Nigeria diversa.

"Una volta, una persona che amavo mi diede una scatola piena di tenebre. Ci ho messo anni per capire che anche era un dono."

Genres: Africa, Fiction, African Literature

280 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2019

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting study of a man (a professor) following his release from prison where he had been imprisoned for ‘political crimes’ struggling to reintegrate in the world. As a direct result of his experiences he prefers to live in an apartment without light and quickly alienates those he had been closest to prior to his incarceration. This is not particularly a deep dive into this psyche but instead his experiences are teased out through his relationships with a young woman, Desire, who has idolised him since coming in to contact with him as a child (and whose experiences make up as much of the narrative as the professor himself). Through these two characters and their main contacts we get a much wider of societal issues that somehow manages not to get overly melodramatic or depressing even when there is not much to feel positive about. A very good debut that takes a slightly different angle to the norm.

[Emmanuel Oset · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm quite conflicted about this book. I appreciated the quality of the prose and the exploration of some of the issues around identity, poverty, loss and pain, both from a cultural and individual perspective. As I read, and even after reading, the author got me reflecting on the nature of silence as a way of understanding or exploring how we deal with issues (said or not). Maybe I'm not smart enough to appreciate the subliminal nature of the book, but it left me wanting more, especially the ending.

[Obiageriaku Onugha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have one word. WOW

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is much less allegorical than the back summary would suggest, and much more about fathers and children (cursorily yet centrally) than anything else.

[Uchenna (favourite_igbo_boy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book, and I'm surprised this book isn't been talked about much in this space.⁣
This book deserved to be read by all because man, Verissimo did a good job with this debut. ⁣
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I got into A Small Silence with little knowledge about the book, like I didn't even read about the author till I was done. I remembered seeing this read on two of my fav bookstagrammers handle (@lipglossmaffia x @naijabookbae), that was what sparked my interest.⁣
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This read was easy to get in, slow and steady, intriguing cos I was just curious to see how everything plays out. And it was a good one for a debut novel. The RAWNESS of this book was just lit.⁣
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The themes were interesting (trauma reverberates against a backdrop of violence, love, hardship, and trust).⁣
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Fav Line: "As long as they fuck, they can be fucked, and they respond to fucking, they must mean some-fucking-thing to somebody".⁣
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A Small Silence deserved to be read and I recommend it. Looking forward to reading more from Verissimo.⁣

[theRainbowMoth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that the story is different. The book builds like a pyramid, where my most delightful reading was at the mid-section. There are instances where the writing is so strikingly beautiful. And what a gorgeous book cover!

[Lara Kareem · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Small Silence by Jumoke Verissimo is a very suspenseful book that will have you turning the next page because you just have to know what’s going to happen.

The story explores the aftermath of a traumatic experience, how darkness can be a security blanket and also dangerous for the mind.

The story showcases different experiences of the main characters and side characters that are intertwined with their lives.

The story predominantly takes places in a university setting being that the main characters of the story have links to it, with Prof. being a retired professor and Desire being a current student.

This is a book that is going to spark a lot of conversations when it hits the Nigerian market and I can’t wait to partake in it.

[Anne Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once renowned as an academic and political activist, Prof is now a broken man. Recently released from prison, he sits alone in the dark, attuned to the voices in his head and refusing to speak to his mother or to his childhood friend. He fears the light and no wonder: in prison it heralded some new torture sprung on him by the guards.
Full review
Reconnecting with figures from childhood: The Far Field & A Small Silence https://annegoodwin.weebly.com/1/post...

[Onome · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say 3.5 stars because the book had on and off moments for me. I think the plot was good. A prof tortured in prison for standing up for his beloved country and became a beacon of hope for a young lady like Desire whose first encounter with him was at Maroko where he gave her her first book.

The story builds on past recollections of each character and they all tell their stories that show the inhumanity they had to endure. The characters were Ok and developed but I don't like books that don't give me closure.

The book needs a finer cover...

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't really know anything about the book or the author before reading it, but it makes sense that Verissimo is a poet too; she writes really beautifully. Good sentences, interesting characters and plot.

[Ejike Ogada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about loss, longing, betrayal and rejuvenation.
The loss of stability by the people of Maroko settlement, the loss of freedom by those who dare to speak out against an oppressive Government in Nigeria.
The longing for a better future, in a democratic government with a working system. The longing for acceptance by friends, family and society.
Spousal betrayal, by those who promised to stand by us and finally the human capacity to come back from the deepest trauma, to live again.

The overarching plot is about Prof's political activism, imprisonment and subsequent freedom into a society he no longer feels a part of. The novel explores in depth, the damaging influence of imprisonment (Nigerian Style) on the psyche.
Tracing, the short period between the last years of military rule and the dawn of the 4th republic in Nigeria.

There is an underlying theme of suspicions of betrayal. For example Babaginda Jones (Desire's Father) is driven to beat his wife whom he was once in love with, black and blue after every drunken bend. This is because they are both fair complexioned and gave birth to a dark child, if Desired made up story is to be believed.

Also, in a scene reminiscent of Indecent Proposal (1993 starring Demi Moore), Prof's fathers begs the mother to sleep with his boss for a promotion at work. She does not go through with it, but the fact she went in the first place, shatters their relationship, and his relationship with his unborn son, Prof Eni. He feels betrayed, but he asked her to do it.

It is also a story about the kindness of strangers and the friendships that result from these. From Prof standing up for Kayo in Elementary School, to Mama T funding Desire's University Education. From Prof gifting Desire her first book as a Child in Maroko and lighting a burning zeal for reading in her, to Desire seeking out Prof in his Isolation after his release from prison.

The novel is complemented by a wonderful exposition by the author.

If I had to critique anything, it is the tendency to leave some subplots unfinished, like the story of Ireti (aka Ghandi Reloaded) and Desire feels unfinished, also, Remilekun felt like such a sidekick, her character had almost no features. But she plays a substantial role in the novel that she could have been fleshed out more.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siamo in Nigeria.
Spesso i romanzi ambientati in Africa sono narrati da autori non africani e quindi si perdono molti riferimenti.
In questo caso l'autrice è nigeriana, pluripremiata ed è in grado di raccontare il rapporto tra due anime, l'una quella di un attivista per il riconoscimento dei diritti civili appena uscito dal carcere a cinquantaquattro anni, che decide di rinchiudersi al buio in casa e l'altra quella di una studentessa universitaria vissuta nel culto della sua figura, tra difficoltà familiari e povertà.
Il loro rapporto si evolverà giorno per giorno e farà conoscere a entrambi parti di loro che credevano sopite.
Molto toccante, nonostante alcuni passaggi raccontino delle realtà apparentemente lontane da noi.

[Theo Verissimo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! The plot was incredibly captivating, and the characters were so well-developed that I knew them personally. Jumoke's writing style and use of language is engaging and keeps me hooked from start to finish. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a phenomenal read!

[Millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend.

Made me reflect on what solitude means to me. What my solitude means to the people who love me. Made me reflect on how much of an impact my decisions or choices affect my environment or influence my experience of life.

[Ademola Adesanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last 2 chapters told me everything I failed to see in the first 32 chapters. Truths can only be confirmed in the light. The book seemed to have had an inevitable ending and anything different would have felt untrue.

[Richard Godwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

still reading

[EMMANUEL CHINEDUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with an open mind and it held me to it until the very last page.
The suspense was tense and the plot was okay, moving fast, a little slow and passing.

It is a good read.

[Obby · Rating 4 out of 5]

"only imagination can destroy its own creation."

[Katherine Fyffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.85 's

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[DebbieG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very intriguing story from a culture not my own. Akin Omotoso, the narrator, brought this story to life for me!

[Ezie Amobi Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We all forget what we read. That's why some of us keep reading. So we never forget."

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed the writing style of this book and the way it was mapped out. But the ending kind of threw me off.

[Paa Kofi Botchwey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

Jumoke writes with so much creativity and her ability to lure you in with her words is extraordinary. It's definitely a must read.