Allow Me to Introduce Myself brought to the fore questions and thoughts I’ve grappled with, such as when cajoling your child to go to a doctor’s appointment for their benefit crosses over into manipulation/exploitation, and forcing them to do things against their will that do not benefit them.
Childhood trauma, child exploitation, mental health and therapy, parental neglect, love and its limitations, and social media and its vices are some of the topics and themes that Allow Me to Introduce Myself covered.
Onyi Nwabineli analysed these themes decisively and critically with an unyielding voice. The research she did shines through, and she deserves her flowers.
The narration is brilliant! Each ‘POV’ had a different tone and voice that matched each character. The omniscient POV worked so well in highlighting the other characters outside of the MC as having lives, feelings, and emotions that weren’t just in service of the MC’s story.
The writing and use of language stand out for their excellence, infusing the book with so much vibrancy, culture, and beauty.
The characters made the book! They have depth and are multifaceted and nuanced. I loved reading and knowing a bit about all of them.
Anuri (the MC) is my favourite. So much care was taken with her. Her character set the tone for the book. Her character arc, growth, and development were a chef’s kiss. She brought so much emotional depth to the book. Anuri’s struggles and triumphs brought me to tears.
Other characters that I loved include: Simi (a true Yoruba babe), Loki, Nneoma, Gloria, and Ammah. (All part of Anuri’s circle of family & friends) Now for the ones I hated, cause I hate as much as I love.
I wanted to feel empathy (especially for the young Ophelia) cause I felt some of her actions could be explained as feelings of inadequacy.
But in the face of the trauma and pain she caused both of her daughters, that empathy disappeared. Then, there was Nkem, a failure of a father!
Every character in Allow Me to Introduce Myself was important, and they were integrated nicely into the story. The comedic moments were well-timed! And provided a lightness that this otherwise “heavy” book needed.
As much as I loved this book, I have a con. It felt as if the author didn’t know how and when to end the book, so the book went on longer than it should have.
The ending, while satisfying, was lacklustre. It wasn’t rushed, but it felt abrupt. What was supposed to be the climax to this great piece of art just didn’t live up to what I expected.
Overall, a triumph of a book—a masterpiece everybody should read—Allow Me to Introduce Myself is a fresh story, one that has never been written (not to my knowledge) but is long overdue.
