About Ayodele Olofintuade's "Swallow; Efunsetan Aniwura," Tunde Leye, the author of Afonja, writes:
"Ayodele brings us a beautifully crafted story that melds history, Yoruba spirituality, and humanity in a way that transports you back and lets you relive the lives of these historical characters in an intimate way. You will enjoy reading Swallow."
However, in this book review, you will discover why I had a different experience while reading the novel and what I felt wasn't true about the quote above.
Across a backdrop spanning Ibadan, Abeokuta, and beyond the ocean to Britannia. Swallow; Efunsetan Aniwura focuses on the larger-than-life figure of Efunsetan and her star-crossed lover, Efunporonye, in a story filled with culture, spirituality, and conflict.
After tragedy strikes, both characters find themselves on different paths. Efunsetan emerges as a formidable presence in Ibadan's power dynamics. Meanwhile, Efunporonye's journey, marked by the constraints of an arranged marriage, surprisingly reveals the hidden depths of her character.
Content warning: depiction of sexual assault.
Commencing with Mr. Tunde Leye's initial assertion that it's
"...a beautifully crafted story that melds history, Yoruba spirituality, and humanity in a way that transports you back."
To a large extent, I concur. While refraining from commenting on its historical accuracy (not being a historian), the broad strokes of events in the book resonated with stories from the communities and other works set in a similar era.
The nuanced details of the characters' interactions with the world vividly portray Yoruba history, culture, and spirituality. These details are evident in their casual and ceremonial habits, expressions of grief, contemplation of death, and communication with ancestors.
Concerning the prospect of reliving
"...the lives of these historical characters in an intimate way."
I can understand why he phrased it that way. The character descriptions, particularly in vulnerable moments, exuded a raw and intimate quality, especially when scrutinized individually.
Yet, upon considering the novel as a whole. My disagreement with Mr. Leye becomes apparent when he asserts,
You will enjoy reading Swallow.
Instead of enjoyment, frustration dominated my experience.
While reading the first few chapters, I thought it was a promising start. This was mainly because the character introductions provided clear and distinct ideas for each character's personality, and their unique voices made it easy to recognize their POVs with little prompts.
So, when did frustration set in, and why?
As I continued reading, I noticed a recurring pattern in the narrative structure. For example, in one chapter, a character might firmly state that they would never forgive someone, but in a subsequent chapter, it would be revealed that they had already met and forgiven them off-screen.
Similarly, character traits fluctuate, with characters exhibiting caring behavior in one chapter but being at odds with each other in another.
These inconsistencies aren't the main issue. The real problem is that these crucial and sometimes drastic developments happen off-page, with exposition being used to convey the updates later. After a while, it started feeling like I was being told about the characters' growth rather than experiencing it alongside them, and that made the novel less enjoyable for me.
While I enjoyed many passages individually, many other scenes left me confused, with thoughts such as: "When did this happen?" "Why are they saying this now?" and "Am I missing something here?" Over time, the recurring confusion piled up until I no longer enjoyed reading the novel.
Hence, I would not recommend Swallow to you. If consistent character build-up and conflicts are addressed on the page, they are as crucial for your enjoyment as they are for me.
Swallow might resonate better with you if you align with a combination of the following three points:
I must give credit where credit is due, and the moment I received this book, I felt drawn in by its visual appeal. And I predict it will be a delightful addition for those who appreciate beautiful books.
The color palette promised an exciting journey ahead. Its thickness felt just right; It wasn't too cumbersome, making it easy to handle during extended reading sessions without fearing it would fall on my face (I usually read novels in a recumbent position).
Even after completing the novel, the spine remained intact without disfiguring or creasing. And, like icing on the cake, a lovely yet subtle pulpy scent enhanced its overall appeal.
The novel intuitively centers the lives of women and LGBTQ individuals, each on their unique journey, from showing their pursuits of pleasure to exploring their complex relationships.
One of my main criticisms of the novel is its reliance on exposition after the fact, over-experiencing the events alongside characters on the page. However, if you can adjust to this storytelling style, Swallow; Efunsetan Aniwura might just be an excellent addition to your reading list this month.
