Patience Is a Subtle Thief

by Abi Ishola-Ayodeji

Hope and circumstance define a young woman's life in this heartbreaking tale of lost innocence, set in politically volatile 1990s Nigeria, from an exciting and fresh voice in global literature.

For as long as she can remember, Patience Adewale, the eldest daughter of Chief Kolade Adewale, has been waiting for confirmation that she is loved, that there is a place where she truly belongs. Patience lives a sheltered life within the secure walls of the family's mansion in Ibadan, but finds no comfort from her distant father and stepmother Modupe. Her only ally is her younger sister, yet even Margaret's love and support cannot overcome Patience's insecurity and uncertainty.

More than anything, Patience wants to know why her father and uncle banished her mother from their compound years ago--and whether her mother is even alive. Determined to discover the truth, Patience embarks on a desperate search to find her mother. Answers begin to surface when she moves to Lagos for university and unexpectedly reconnects with her cousin Kash.

Kash and his friend Emeka are petty thieves with an opportunity to make a big score. To pull it off they need help--and enlist Patience and Emeka's straight-arrow brother, Chike, to become partners in their scheme. The thieves' plan is to quit after this job. But unforeseen events lead to unexpected consequences--and demand a price from Patience that may be too steep to pay.

Suspenseful and evoking the subtleties of Nigerian life in an fresh and unexpected way, Patience Is a Subtle Thief is a heart-wrenching story of one young woman's precarious journey to adulthood, and the risks and sacrifices it takes to follow her heart.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Africa, Audiobook, African Literature, Mystery, Nigeria

383 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Abi Ishola-Ayodeji is an Emmy award-winning producer, brand builder, and storyteller.
Her debut novel, Patience is a Subtle Thief, was named one of BuzzFeed’s best books of May, 2022.

Reviews

[BookOfCinz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Underwhelming, unrealistic, repetitive and culminates in a disappointing ending.

In Patience Is Subtle Thief we meet Patience who lives with her father, stepmom and half sister. She was told her mother went away to America because she could not take care of her. Patience was born in America and her plan is to get her passport and track down her mother in America to find out why she left her. The only problem with this plan is, she does not have access to her passport, birth certificate or money. Patience becomes fixated on this plan and will stop at nothing to make it happen.

Honestly, this book was so underwhelming and unrealistic. The whole time I am reading this book I kept thinking, “dis cyan real!” After a while I actually stopped caring because Patience became such an unlikeable character and I wasn’t invested in whether she won or not.
I did not enjoy this book at all.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect going into this book. At first, I thought it was going to be a simple coming of age story but it's so much more than that. This is truly a heartbreaking story about a girl making choices that reflect the lack of love and acceptance she's always wanted in her life. I really enjoyed the story and getting to know Patience as a character. I think Ishola-Ayodeji did a wonderful job of writing Patience and it was nice to see her story unravel in a way that was intertwined in the plot without just saying it outright. There is a list of shady characters who you will also feel betrayed by and you do find yourself rooting for the protagonist to get her life on the right track. I think if you can handle a book where the protagonist is down on their luck and just wants to do right, then you will enjoy this story.

[Bobbieshiann · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Patience is a subtle thief. It’s a thief of time and a thief of money. See this country? People have been patient for democracy. Patient for change. All their patience will eventually steal their hope. They say fraud, and they say 419 when they speak of what I do, but the government is really the biggest fraud”.

The relevance of this quote seeps within this story. Set in the 1990s in Nigeria, a story of a girl seeking her purpose while searching for a mother who left when she was a child. With a wicked stepmother, a father consumed by greed, and a stepsister who loves her unconditionally, Patience has rebellion sitting at her fingertips and leaves home to attend university. Patience is not my ideal character. She is naive and gullible and I almost forgot how childlike she really is. Sheltered and seeking independence is no easy tasks but what Patience finds is no true happy ending.

Of wealth and yet not wealthy at all. What one defines as rich may be present in different forms. Patience slowly detours away from college with a dream to return to America to find her mother. “Wasn’t it so— to be American born meant problems were misunderstandings? Hardship to the American born, a foreign concept?” But with doing so, she encounters a group of friends who are seeking a financial freedom that will alter their lives forever. Though money seems to fix all, their is an election at hand and one character , Mayowa symbolizes hope as his belief in doing what’s right and voting in a rightful president will change the dynamics of their lives and will give men like Chike (Patience’s boyfriend) a job he is deserving of after graduating university and yet his current occupation is an Okada driver.

The dynamics between patience and Chike bothered me. How long do we beg a man to fully commit before you call it quits? Granted, Patience fell in love with him as if she’s been dehydrated for years and finally got a drop of water. Chikes character changes and his development shocked me but what do you do when change does not come?

“Poverty can be like a mental disease that affects people in two ways: either you succumb to it for the rest of your life or you spend your days searching for ways to be rid of it. And for those lucky enough to escape poverty, there can be an obsession to never return there”.

Patience shows us what’s it like to seek independence and how everyone who smiles in your face is not friendly. How greed can change and how putting your faith in something does not mean the outcome will be in your favor. In fact, if so, the sacrifices may not be worth it in the end.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is not an attempt at a truism. The whole book is an attempt at a truism. The book is about a Nigerian girl named "Patience" who, with sledgehammer irony, displays every other personality trait but her namesake one. She's kind, cruel, clever, stupid, callous and compassionate, but never patient. She's not a metaphorical thief, either, as her desperation to be reunited with her exiled mother drives her into the shadowy world of 419s, which is Nigerian slang for the kind of scams that show up in your inbox now and then. Ms. Ishola-Ayodeji's potboiler is a fascinating portrait of early 90's Nigeria with its fragile democratic politics, oil money, and tribalism. What's not fascinating, though, is Patience herself. The plot is so frantic that it stretches any interiority out of her. But the setting is so engaging and alien that I got some satisfaction out of this book.

[Lolá · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon completion of this book I can say Patience the main character is not patient at all.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was 2.5 for me. It was just okay. I did enjoy the vivid descriptions and narration was brilliant. Found it long-winded and dragging in the middle but still wanted to keep reading to see how it ended.

I did feel irritated that it was in 3rd person when main character and main story was Patience. That threw me off. A lot of “Patience said, Patience thought” could have been avoided.

The ending was disappointing after the massive build up. But at the same time can see how it’s a realistic portrayal of hope and disappointment. That made the story more poignant for me. Will definitely read another book from this author.

[kisiadejuwon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was like draggggging, I felt like it had the potential to be really good but it was so predictable and sorta underwhelming. It’s not like I hated it but idk if I enjoyed it either.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads like a script. The semblance to the Nollywood movies I’ve last watched over 10 years ago is quite strong.
Nigeria in the throes of political upheaval, economic mischief, evil riches bordering madness, and a young population with big dreams and plans. All told through a group of friends and their family ties.
Patience comes off as naive, daring… made me wonder, when does she get a break.

[Tsholonki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would've rated this 3 but because of the cover and I am a fan of black women authors I had to bump it up.

This story had depth and heart to it, many times I felt the struggles that the characters faced and often feeling like it wasn't fair. My heart strings were tugged it, I feel there were parts which dragged a bit but I saw the relevance of those parts to the overall story.

[Habeebah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a good book. 3.5 stars.
Very real depiction about how desperation can take you out of character and the almost innate Nigerian need to go searching for better.
I liked the backdrop of political and societal unrest, but also it made me sad that a book set in the ‘70s still had the same problems Nigeria has today. Anywhooo, naija no dey carry last

[Dawn Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The audiobook version was so gorgeous to listen to. The story was interesting - especially the setting, as many have said. The story didn’t quite capture me, but I did enjoy it.

[Tameka Fleming]

I enjoyed the narrator, Liz Femi; she is a true performer: her witty delivery enhanced the story. I liked going on the journey with Patience and I understood her motivations, which attracted unsavory characters. However, I think the author wasn't mindful of the stereotypes she perpetuated in this story. Overall, it was a decent read. The political intrigue is barely there so if you are avoiding this for that reason, don't worry about it; (I only mention it because it is in the synopsis). The ending is a little underwhelming because Patience's whole quest is to find her mother but that resolution happens in the final chapter. I look forward to reading something else by this author.

[Bridgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patience is a Subtle Thief is a strongly written book that had me hooked from the first chapter! Powerful storyline, great character development, an easy, yet inspiring read! Highly recommend!

[Akona · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Morayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just want to say Patience stressed me out so much. Who knew mommy issues would be this complex???
I think and believe that Patience would look back on all she did and she’d be a better person.
I was giving updates as I was reading it.
Initially I was like why wasn’t she content just staying at home and being grateful to her dad and step mom because she just kept making such reckless decisions. Babe was suffering and I’m like just go home and say sorry. The way it ended, I’m glad. She was stupid a lot of the times but she was brave and I admire that.
The crimes they committed???? First of all I don’t support crime but one can only look at the state of the country and what circumstances have forced people to do. Not her though because she had her father(a very useless fellow if I may add). The rest of the gang were down on their luck and didn’t have any other choices
I’m not saying I support her choices however I am in awe of her bravery and how she did everything possible to meet her mom. I would have given up.
If she had waited a few more years she’d have done it the correct way but again she was a teenager so I get it.
I really enjoyed the book
Her cousin Kash is a villain I’m so sorry. You don’t do that to family. Bimpe and her mom can go to hell. Chike, bless his heart… a deeply problematic person. Emeka… oh poor Mayowa. I think if there were people who showed her kindness like the tailor, her life would not have gone in so many stressful directions. She just had the unfortunate pleasure of being surrounded by awful people

The one good person in this book is her sister Margaret. I wish Folami had done more for her child.
I enjoyed this book very much. Patience stressed me out so much that’s why it’s not 5 stars.

[Megan Worth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 The main character, Patience, encountered real life struggles in Nigeria revolving her family and we follow along with her, Kash, Emeka and Chike through tough times.

I found it very entertaining to see these 4 characters ban up to take on many illegal “jobs” in order to obtain quick cash in order to survive in Lagos.

What took away from this story was it was written in 3rd person this element alone made it harder for me to enjoy this novel. I think this writing style was targeted for an audience a bit less mature for my liking as well. I also wished we got more scenes so we could get more character building from the secondary characters.

This book had a lot of potential but was poorly executed plot wise and I wish more occurred so that I could be more attached to these characters. I actually really liked Chike + Patience but this romance was secondary to the plot so was not portrayed as much as I wanted it to.

The ending could have been improved a lot. I felt like we rushed from the climax to the resolution which did this book injustice.

[Bukola Akinyemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

June 12 1993 - MKO Abiola - if you were living in Nigeria at this time, you will remember where you were when you heard the news of the annulment of the election results.

We follow Patience, an eighteen year old daughter of a rich and influential politician in Ibadan as she tries to make her way in a politically unstable Nigeria. Her search for her mother and belonging is a consistent thread throughout the book.

Characters from different works of life, politicians, area boys, students and fraudsters, so well written that o found myself understanding their motivations.

An easy and enjoyable read which I enjoyed even more because it is partly set in the area of Lagos I grew up in.

[Elaine Walters · Rating 1 out of 5]

Soooooo s l o w. Just almost impossible to stay interested.

[JaVone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good story. I do feel that sometimes the story got way off track and then I would zone out. I also kept getting the characters confused. Overall a good story.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so slow until the last 40 pages, where the bulk of the story was crammed into a few pages. Those last pages expanded into an actual novel would have been a much better story.

[Brews.and.Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an interesting book, I will give it that. Patience is a complex character who does quite a bit of growing up throughout the entirety of the plot. I enjoyed the discussions of wanting something so badly you feel like you must make specific choices. It is a book about wanting being more than principals and desperation leading you down paths you didn't think you'd go down. There is no winning often in the game of life. I also think the Ishola-Ayodeji did a spectacular job looking at the way people view young adults and how, in some worlds, keeping them in the dark is often seen as protecting them. There is a danger to that, and the author knows how to write about it. Overall, the book was a fun, interesting read. It isn't spectacular, but well worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the plot of this book. Patience and Chike's struggle for identity and independence was engaging. Nigeria in the 90's isn't a place that I know that much about and I was fascinated by the political history and cultural differences. There's so much nuance in the difference between my experience as an American college student in the late 2000's compared to Patience's experience in a country eager to retain tradition and striving for change. However, I think my ability to grasp some of those nuances was hindered by the writing style. The prose is stilted and the speech is full of slang that I didn't understand and had no context for. That being said, I think it's an excellent addition to the library of anyone looking for more BIPOC work in their personal libraries.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but mostly because of the glimpse of life in Nigeria it provided. The story was just OK.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

First-generation American Abi Ishola-Ayodeji’s new novel, Patience Is a Subtle Thief introduces readers to modern-day Nigeria’s wealth and poverty while telling Patience Adewale’s story.

Born in the United States to Nigerian university students, Patience hasn’t seen or heard from her mother for many years. After leaving the U.S., the family has lived in Ibadan although her mother has been replaced by a step-mother, who arrived with Patience’s half-sister. Ishola-Ayodeji opens the novel with a party celebrating the appointment of Patience’s father, the multimillionaire Kolade Adewale, to commissioner of finance. Patience has never felt loved by her father, who threw her mother out of the house years earlier and has told Patience only that her mother went mad and returned to the U.S. Patience, herself, appears to feel ties to her birth country as she makes efforts to sound like an American.

When “Aunty Lola,” Patience’s mother’s best friend, attends the party, the friend tells Patience she has information about her mother that can only be told when Patience visits her home in Lagos after moving there for university.

Once in Lagos, Patience first visits her cousin Kashimawo. Although she doesn’t know it yet, “Kash” and his friend Emeke are involved with petty crimes but eager to join a larger operation they feel will set them up financially. They want to draw in Emeke’s brother Chike, an engineering graduate, who hasn’t been able to find an engineering job and struggles financially, driving an okada (a motorcycle cab). Perhaps, they will draw in a woman.

After Chike drives Patience to her mother’s wealthy friend’s home, Patience is more determined than ever to find her mother. First, however, she must come up with the passport and money for a trip to the U.S.

A prize-winning journalist and film producer, Ishola-Ayodeji has several impressive credits to her name, including a PBS video on the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and a four-part series on issues facing contemporary Nigeria and Ghana. In Patience Is a Subtle Thief, she moves from reporting fact to creating fiction but logically grounds her debut novel in social issues Nigeria faces today, showing how circumstances can drive well-meaning people to make wrong decisions.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for an advance reader copy.

[Lo-La Soda-Pereira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review O'Clock: Patience Is a Subtle Thief by Abi Ishola-Ayodeji. Rating: 7/10

This book was not mind blowing but it reminded me of a time, a place and a feeling.

Set in 1990s Nigeria, against the backdrop of Hope ‘93 and MKO Abiola’s historic election, it took me straight back to my childhood, the jingles, the excitement, the unshakable belief that maybe, just maybe, Nigeria was on the cusp of change. That nostalgic feeling was everything! I could practically hear the campaign songs my siblings and I used to belt out at the top of our voices. And then came the annulment and the chaos that followed. The author captured that period with such vivid emotion that I felt like I was living it all over again.

The story started slow, The pacing dragged, It was a bit repetitive. But once it found its rhythm, it carried a quiet power that held me till the end.

Now, to the characters, whew! So many unlikeable ones, but none tested my patience (pun intended) more than Patience herself. Her name was the biggest irony of all. She was impulsive, naive, gullible, desperate to find her mother in America. Privileged but poor in love and cash, Smart but foolish. Kind and cruel in the same breath. She made choices that had me shaking my head, but you could still feel her ache, that longing to be seen, to be loved, to matter, to belong.

The book, for me, is really about what desperation does to people, how the hunger for love, freedom, money or validation can take us out of character. It is also about identity and belonging, the price of independence, and the bittersweet reality of chasing dreams that might break you before they heal you.

One character that was unforgettable was Mayowa, full of hope and optimism, to see his spirit crushed was heartbreaking.

I enjoyed listening to the book, I am not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I had read it. The narrator breath life into the story. The ending? Not a fairy-tale reunion but maybe that’s the point. Life isn’t neat. Healing isn’t instant. This is a book I would love to see on the screen.

[Abena Maryann]

18-year-old Patience, the eldest daughter of Chief Kolade Adewale needs to reunite with her estranged mother in America. In her father’s mansion in Ibadan, Patience feels out of place with her distant father, stepmother Modupe and stepsister Margaret. Patience lives in her head with questions on replay in her mind “Why did her father and uncle sack her mother from their compound years ago and is her mother alive?”. Her father enrolls her in UNILAG to study accounting, however, determined to find out the truth about her mother and study Fashion Design, Patience leaves school and follows her cousin Kash to trick and dupe people in Lagos to raise funds to travel to America. Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s political turmoil of the 1990s, the author unfolds a suspense-filled story of a young woman’s journey and the risks and sacrifices she makes.
I think Abi Ishola-Ayodeji did a beautiful job unfolding Patience’s character. Patience is young and gullible - everything but what her name means – Patient. The author brings to the centre stage the difficulty young people in Nigeria faced in the 1990s. Unemployment is the biggest issue and survival is key. Chike, after completing his degree in Engineering ends up jobless, riding an Okada to make ends meet. Then there is Kash whose father died, and he failed to complete school, so he ends up as a petty thief with his friend Emeka (Chike’s brother). Last but not least is Mayowa – a man who is hopeful for a better Nigeria. He joins the Abiola Campaign with the hope that democracy will save Nigeria. Abi-Ishola-Ayodeji did a wonderful job describing the desperate circumstances of our 419 gang. What do you do when the country doesn’t want you to succeed, and the system is designed to make you fail? You take the situation into your own hands.

[skeptic · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is the early 90s in Nigeria when Patience decides she NEEDS to know where and why her mother disappeared ten years ago. Her father threw the mother out and won't speak of her.

She starts bailing her accounting classes in Lagos and spending all her time with her wayward cousin and his group of male friends. She gets pulled into their world and ends up doing crimes in order to get money now that she's without her father's commissioner money. She doesn't have a passport and her documents are missing but she was born in America and is OBSESSED with getting to NYC to find her mother after she learns that's where she's been all these years.

Patience definitely grows up a lot in the book and it was really cool to learn more about the (sad) politics of that time. I didn't know much about what it was like to experience an election between a long time military ruler and Mashood Kashimawo Abdiola who promises to stop the poverty and corruption in Nigeria. It was honestly very disheartening to see the characters learn that Nigeria wouldn't be improving politically after all their hoping.

3.2 /5 I chose to take out a star because it was long with lots of telling instead of showing. But worse, there's a scene where a woman character is introduced by the size of her breasts. Can we stop doing this to women? Can we stop focusing on "budding breasts" and maybe use something other than breast development to explain that a character is no longer a child? Can you IMAGINE if we did this stuff to male characters? Like "oooh, I noticed that there was a bratwurst-like bulge in his pants.....the last time I saw him, he only had a little carrot bulge going on!!!" I don't know why women and male writers both pull this move???

[Asanda Gwebushe · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Patience is a subtle thief, it’s a thief of time and a thief of money.”

This is that moment where an author mentions the title of the book in the story and certain things just click. But also it’s very cool. I loved that she did that. When you start the book, you think Patience is just the girl with the messy life, struggling with young adulthood, that that’s what the book is all about. But it has layers, and more beautifully even the title has layers to it. It’s not just the girl, it’s not just a name, but it’s also everything the girl and her name represents.

She wasn’t patient, for anything. Time and time again people kept telling her to be patient, to follow her name, even her mom had said in her letters. But Patience just couldn’t be patient. A part of me criticised her for that. For her, time was running out, and who knows, maybe it was. Only she knew her sense of urgency.

So the book depicts, to me, what can be birthed from patience - good and bad, but in the book, mostly bad. Patience is a thief, it stole form the people of the country their freedom, what they had been waiting for, for years. It stole from Patience her boyfriend, it also stole him from his mother and siblings, his friends. Because there wasn’t any patience from the group of friends, and calamities followed. But they were also lucky in certain instances, with Patience subtle as a thief.
The book was pleasant to read, I enjoyed knowing the messy lives of the characters and their interesting characters. They blended in seamlessly. I did feel like the book dragged in certain parts, and it was also too predictable for me, but perhaps that’s how the writer wanted it to be. I had also expected a fiery ending based on the momentum that was building up towards the end, but then again, perhaps the writer had a reason. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful book with beautiful complex lives, I recommend it.

[Perpetual T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Patience and the title is a play on scheme on how she comes to the world of thieving propelled solely by the need to seek her mother and get answers for why she left her to begin with.

Through the process, we meet so many interesting characters like her down for her ass half sister, evil step mom, typical corrupt dad. In Lagos we get a peek into her college life but most importantly the harsh realities of living in Lagos in poverty during political unrest of the 90s. Her friends, cousin and her come up with michevious plans but honestly we see then as means of survival . These plans are thrilling and the banter between them honestly had me laughing out loud at certain points.

The end of the story was super bittersweet and left me feeling so sad at the state of most African countries and also the life Patience lived because of one choice - her parents split. The poverty and lack of middle class reminded me of how things are even in Ghana , because it’s either you are really poor or really rich there’s no means to just survive. You’re barely surviving or you’re thriving . Additionally the love story was so sad :(

It highlighted many themes such pollitical corruption, the desperation that stems for poverty and betrayal that stems from a place of lack just to survive, unrequited love, college love, friendship, sisterhood, unconditional love, family, mother daughter connection and coming of age.

[DearBookClub · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Patience Is A Subtle Thief," starts out in Lagos during 1992. Patience father, Kolade, who is extremely wealthy, is elected the Chief of Finance. He graduated from Howard University in Washington D.C. While studying he meets Patience mother, Folami. They connect because they are both from the same place in Nigeria and after graduating they decide to move back to Nigeria. Soon after their arrival in Motherland things begin to unravel.

Nigeria has an excessive reliance on petroleum imports, which is a major cause of embarrassment for a nation that is Africa's top crude oil producer. One of the main characters, Chike, graduated from The University of Lagos with a petroleum engineering degree but years later can not get a job in his country utilizing his degree, so he becomes a driver. Patience and Chike develop a romantic relationship. She is very strong and does not let him get away with exhibiting toxic masculinity. Chike and Patience come from very different economical backgrounds, and opposites attract.

Chike, his brother Emeka and Patience cousin, Kash, come up with unlimited scams as a way to support themselves. The book talks about the economical conditions that many young Nigerian's face, the corruption that is ingrained in the highest levels of their government and their unstable electorial process. I have a new found respect for the expert level cons that people survive on. I appreciate that the author talks about this part of the culture and gives a deep background on how each individual arrived at a feeling of hopeless. This novel was disturbing, riveting, and extremely provocative.