Absolutely amazing writing—so many quotable thoughts and phrases. The story of the Biafran war was front and center and very hard to read because of the emotional impact on its participants. I loved the structure of the novel as the author weaved a bit of magical realism throughout. This reads like an award-winner which it deserves to be.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hogarth Press for the ARC to read and review.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this story and do a review. Everyone has written on what it is about - but it is a stiry that takes place in Biafra. It is an extremely emotional story.

The Road to the Country is one of the most brutal yet beautiful books I have ever read. I'm grateful to have gotten a copy through NetGalley--otherwise, I would not have finished it. But I'm so glad I did.

Kunle is a young Nigerian man, at the beginning of his career in university. He is haunted by an accident to his brother that happened years earlier, for which he blames himself. His brother is staying with friends when war breaks out. The Yorubi people are killing the Igbo people. The Igbo people want to secede from Nigeria, forming the nation Biafra and the powerful Nigerian army is determined they will not. Kunle sets off to bring his brother home but is caught by Biafran forces. He lies, to save his life, saying he is Igbo, and is then drafted into the Biafran army.

I am old enough to remember the horrors of the Biafran war. My memories of the conflict, the pictures we saw of the children, are vivid so I knew this was going to be a difficult book to read. But I was unprepared for just how difficult. Obioma depicts the terrible suffering of not only the soldiers but of all the innocent people who were slaughtered and starved.

The famine in Biafra is well-known (although with our penchant for a new disaster after 15 minutes, I don't know how many young people even know about this tragedy) but it is hard to take in the enormity of this suffering, deliberately caused by the stronger forces. Not that it's news that people deliberately cause horrendous pain to each other--or that similar tactics are not still used--but it still felt like I was being punched in the gut repeatedly. That's how powerful Obioma's writing is.

There is no happy ending possible in this rendering of historical truth but as a reader I was continually drawn to the small moments of, if not happiness, then of at least relief, of comaraderie, even of love. Obiamo seems to detect and be able to portray every nuance of the human heart and experience.

The book also has the mystical dimension of a seer who sees this future, who follows the path of the young man not yet alive, the war and suffering not yet begun.

As I think I've already repeated several times, the writing is amazing and carried me through the extreme ugliness of man-perpetrated horrors. And in that suffering, how hope, how life, insistently appears despite everything. Because we have to have some moments of relief or we couldn't go on. And in addition to my obligation to NetGalley, I felt compelled to keep reading--to find out the fates of the characters I came to care deeply about, and to be a witness to a suffering that should not be forgotten.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and to Chigozie Obioma for writing it.

Okay here’s the deal, I didn’t understand half this book but I sure did like the writing and the way the story unfolded! There’s a war, a seer that sees a man who died and came back to life, Kunle (our protagonist) and just family strife.

I loved it, and realized that sometimes, the understanding comes with just not knowing a damn thing. WELL DONE. I don’t know if I’d tell a lot of my friends to read this one but I will say it was compelling, beautiful and in some ways gave me hope in humanity.

The story involces a seer and a war in Africa. The characters are very believable. I was hoping the main character would succeed, but had my doubts. Overall, it is a war story and not really my genre. It that is the genre you enjoy, then this is well written and you'll enjoy this story.

Posted to my book club page on Instagram - @sistahtosistahbookclub
Kunle, is a university student in Lagos burdened with a guilty conscience and who sets out to rescue his missing brother from Biafra, a country at war, only to find himself conscripted to fight in one of the most devastating and under-examined conflicts of the 20th century.

I did not expect to even like this book! I cracked this one open the same way I did the first BIG novel I read…with dread. My grandfather handed me a pretty big read when I was quite young…too young to even comprehend most of what I read at the time. I recall he told me that it would all make sense one day..and boy was he right!!! To kill a mockingbird at 8 years old was a heavy read, much of which went over my head, but would later prove to be the reason I aced my high school literature course!!

Ok, back to Chigozie Obioma’s book. i felt like I was trapped in some sort of 1960 Nigerian portal by page 2. Each character had their own distinct voice that clearly came through page after page. The writing is incredible, and I can literally say that after only a few days of finishing it, my heart continuously weeps for the protagonist. Kunle is a young man who was so haunted by guilt, he risks it all and ends up fighting a war he hardly understands.

Absolutely no spoilers, but if you read this one, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

This is a compelling story about conflict in Nigeria and a family that is caught in the throngs of it. Kunle, the protagonist, unwillingly gets pulled into the conflict as the short lived country of Biafra seeks independence from Nigeria. The narrative describes the contrast between the harsh realities of conflict and the hope in humanity. The author does a great job of mixing reality and mysticism when he describes Kunle’s journey of self-discovery and search for identity and purpose.

"The Road to the Country" is a powerful book about the Biafran war where Kunle, the main character, gives the reader insight into what it was like during that time. The author's writing is phenomenal and brings the story to life. Would highly recommend.

Could not finish. That’s a first for me! Very difficult to keep up with what was going on. The rich history was portrayed well, but it felt like the story dragged on and on.

It's personal, religious, immersive. Sometimes it's not what you do but what is done to you that defines your heart and your experience. You'll be plunged into the world of war, family, and the dreams and hopes of Kunle and his friends.

You'll be captured by the descriptions and conversations. You'll be immersed in the hardships of combat and the deprivation of normal life.

I recommend this gripping novel if you are interested in culture. You'll be challenged by an insider's view of modern Nigerian life in times of conflict and opposition.

Kunte is a shy studious Nigerian student in the late 60's. He is engulfed with guilt over mistakes he believes he made with his family which manifests when his brother disappears during the civil war. Embarking on a journey to find him, he ends up in the army of Biafra, conscripted to fight for those who are trying to set up a country free of NIgeria. It's a journey, a long treacherous tale that is unequivocally fantastic prose.

This is a must read novel written by one of the new writers of this generation. Much like a gripping biopic on television, you will never forget reading this book and it will be touchstone for you when thinking about cultures in Africa. It is truly a masterpiece. #randomhouse #theroadtothecountry #chigozeobioma

“There will be laughter and tears, remembrance and forgetting, pride and shame, silence and noise”

Wow. This was a heartbreaking and graphic tale of Kunle’s life in the Biafran war. This was a dark and heavy read, but so worth it.

“Before the war, we always want this or that; we always have big dreams, big ambitions. But now our needs have become so small, and our dreams have vanished. What is the hope we have? Just that we survive…that’s it”

We see the graphic descriptions of war and death. Very graphic. I had to take breaks from reading this at times because of how visceral the imagery was. That said, I think it’s important to read about the terror and reality of war. While this is considered fiction, it seems to be based in the truth of the real Biafran war. I’m astonished at the brutality of the scenes Obioma wrote throughout this book. It had me sick to my stomach, and I can only imagine what the reality of these sights could do to a person. This was a dense read, and very serious.
It’s heartbreaking to know that terrors like this actually occurred. I can’t imagine how terrifying and awful it was, and how it would have impacted people on both sides so deeply.

“They have seen so much, and they will see yet more. They must learn to withstand what they have seen, to adapt. If it shocks you, then it can haunt you; if it haunts you, it can damage you”

We follow Kunle through his journey of trying to find his brother, where he gets swept up into the Biafran army. This is his story of love, loss, betrayal, and discovery. This perspective is sandwiched in between the visions of the seer, sprinkled with details of African folklore (which I struggled to understand at first, but would love to learn more about now).

“Life is like earth, soil - you never know what you will dig up” chapter 30

This was an incredible, poetic, and realistic read. I was crying by the end of it. I wholeheartedly recommend this to everyone, just be wary of your limitations for gore.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Chigozie Obioma for the ARC. I’m honoured to have been able to read this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Hogarth for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on June 4, 2024.

A quaking and powerful read that you must not miss!

A story of brotherhood, of war, of redemption… this was incredible. With visceral imagery, incredible writing and devastating events happening at every turn, this book truly packs a punch.

With a stunning mix of brutal reality and sweeping folklore, we follow Kunle as he searches for his brother, gets caught up in a war and learns things about himself he never imagined.

This is a denser, much more serious book than I was envisioning, but I was blown away! This is a MUST READ!