This book was totally out of my comfort zone. Not my usual choice but I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read it. I found it extremely interesting.
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for gifting me this book

Review - black Sunday (Tola)
I really enjoyed this book as it was narrated by all the children and you got to read their language and tones change as time went on from child to adult. I thought the twin girls were at the centre of the story Ariyike and Bibike but I rather enjoyed the narration from Andrew and Peter as it was playful and very engaging. It started off as a hustlers tale as you read how these children fended for themselves when their parents left them- first their mother then their father abandoning them in his own mothers house. The twins had to be independent of each other and that was a running theme how each were featured in the others narrative. Though this book manages to touch on a few themes such as poverty, family, prejudice, religion and sex it doesn’t give it enough coverage as the narrator changes every few pages and you’re met with another theme. The inclusion of years in the chapter title was good but then you had to work out how old they would be given the time that has passed. It reads like a debut novel from a talented writer, I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Such an amazing read. The writing was so beautiful and the story was just impeccable. Amazing book, can't recommend enough

The story of a Nigerian family from 1996 to 2015, told in turn by twin sisters Bibike and Ariyike (aged 11 at the start) and their younger brothers Peter and Andrew.

The list of chapter headings made me want to dive in to the book: "How to be a Stupid Girl in Lagos"; "How to Wear Mom's Jeans" and "How to Leave your Lagos Lover". Don't be deceived by these though - the book is by no means as light as they suggest and covers many difficult and dark issues.

The girls are far from "stupid" - they are bright, rebellious and, at the start, living a relatively privileged life in Lagos, but their potential is hampered by a change in the family's circumstances that sees the children leave the city to live in a village with their grandmother.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book were the little details of city and country life: the man who makes plastic buckets out of pieces of scrap plastic; the neighbourhood shutting down for the night in a "dependable rhythm"; the patio furniture that, because it is expensive, is kept indoors. There is also humorous use of language and dialogue, such as the street seller who, when the girls ask for cold drinks, retorts "Can you see any fridge here? Will I keep the drinks in my brassiere?" and in particular Granny's invective, accusing her grandson of having "underwear smelling like the penises of dead male goats "

As the family grow up and move through their different lives, these lives are affected by issues such as politics, religion, corruption, sexual exploitation, poverty and migration, many of these intertwining. The final chapter, which gives the book its title, brings these issues, and the various secrets and scandals attached to them, out into the open with a violent attack on an abusive pastor which nonetheless has elements of black comedy because of the choice of weapon. In spite of these chaotic revelations there is no clear resolution and the book ends on a sad, bleak note.

As mentioned above, this book is not a light and comfortable read but is insightful and involving and I would thoroughly recommend it. My main criticism is that, although the writing throughout is powerful and imaginative, the voices of the four narrators are not always distinctive enough to bring the complex narrative together.

Black Sunday follows a fairly well off Nigerian family in the 90's, who lose everything and are forced to face a new impoverished reality. I really wanted to love this book as the premise was fascinating - but something was missing for me. The book is told from four point of views of the families children, which at times could make it hard to follow and meant that characters weren't explored in as much detail as I wanted. Overall I did enjoy the story and writing, however the structure let it down for me!

This isn't a particularly long book (just under 300 pages) but within it's average length, Abraham tackles some huge subjects: poverty, religion, feminism, love and loss, and that indelible feeling of loneliness one can feel even when surrounded by family. The narrative switches between chapters on twin sisters Bibike and Ariyike and their brothers, covering a twenty year period of their lives from 1996 to 2015, and the trials and tribulations the family go through. Their father having lost their home, the siblings are sent t0 live with their traditional Yoruba grandmother, and over time their lives diverge.

The narrative structure is definitely a divergence from a typically western narrative style, each chapter jumping from perspective to perspective and taking place months or more apart, so we don't have a single narrative thread - instead we're offered glimpses into the lives of the family, the experience of everyday life in modern Nigeria, and the struggle the family goes through to keep going. For some people this style will be something exciting and fresh, but I can also imagine how other people might not like it. For me, it added to the fresh feel of the book.

Overall, this is a powerful, heartrending novel, and I'll certainly be looking out for more books from this author in the future. Thanks to Netgalley and Canongate for the ARC.

This was a really interesting story. Very relatable mainly since it is set in an African landscape that resonates with me. It was interesting to see how dysfunction in African families is captured. The ending though was a little lacking in terms of completeness. I wish the writer would have explained what she meant when she says that Ariyike was seeking revenge from the Pastor.

Plot: 4 children born to parents (two boys and a set of twin girls), the father is gullible and constantly falls for get rich quick streams. He manages to loose all their money at which point the mother leaves in search of a better life for herself. The father carries the children to his mother's home in the village and leaves them there without a word. They grow up there till 10 years later when the mother shows up from America with another child begging the sons to leave with her. the father also shows up and wants to sell his mother's house while she is still there. The grandmother ends up dying and it goes on.

Triggers: abuse, sexual exploitation,

Opinion: The book was really good, I will definitely be reading more from this author. It was concise without being repetitive and it tried to showcase the characters in their entirety capturing their anger at being abandoned. The only fault I can find with this is I wish she had developed the boys relationship and decision to move to America with their mother, as well as elaborated Ariyike's reason at the end for not helping her husband as well as the incident that occurred whilst she was young with the pastor that made her so bitter and resentful of him. Other than that, definitely recommend!

I tried to enjoy this but this book wasn't for me. I liked the premise but the writing wasn't engaging enough to hold me all the way through. There was promise but it just missed the mark.

The novel opens in 1996, Lagos, with twin sisters, Bibike and Ariyike, somehow lost on their way home from school. They are ibeji twins, and in the Yoruba culture, considered magical, belonging to one soul. Although the story is told from the perspectives of the twins and their two brothers, it is the twins who dominate the narrative, providing the heart and soul of the novel.

For a short novel we cover a lot of time in each chapter and within each one we change perspective between each child. I loved following each of the children's lives and the final part of this book blew me away

I loved how the main theme of the book seemed to be look as contrasting differences. The difference between the twins’ lives, the difference between two cultures, the difference between rich and poor, the difference between male and female. It is also about the use of religion as a power, and its abuse. Church leaders and politicians. Wealth dispersed amongst the favourites and powerful. Wealth used to procure two private jets for the church, but when a young woman from the congregation needs money for an operation to save her son’s life, the flow of wealth trickles to a stop.

It is about different cultures. When their mother returns from the States, she simply cannot believe that her youngest son does not want to travel back with her. She is baffled that somebody could prefer a “simpler”, less urbanized life.

I will definitely be looking at more from this authors

The story of four siblings mainly told from the point of view of two twin girls Bibike and Ariyike. The book is set in Nigeria and it's also the story of a family that goes from being wealthy to poverty. But it's more than that it's a well written story of dichotomies, partly represented by the two twins, like two halves making a whole. There are also many social and cultural issues in this novel which gives us a glimpse on what it means to be a woman and poor in Nigeria. Not an easy read but a good introduction to Nigerian society with no embellishments but still respectful of a rich culture.

I really struggled to get into this book and found myself constantly distracted where I usually wouldn’t be. I have dnf’d for the time being. I may return to it at a later date.

I really enjoyed this book. Its not something I would usually pick up but the synopsis dragged me in. It was wonderfully written, insightful and gripping. Would recommend.

Everyone has a story. Twin sisters in the chaotic heart of family issues in Nigeria. Their path, pain, growing up, hopes, loves, oppressions. It a really good debut novel that shows you the story both unique and universal the same time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed the character work displayed in Black Sunday and the raw tone it sets for the entirety of its story: the bitter truths it uncovers are downright grisly and uncomfortable, with other chapters being warm and touching to read. Black Sunday's biggest flaw lies in its narrative structure and I really found it difficult to follow along with each individual perspective as well as piece together the segments into one cohesive plot. I enjoyed each separate part thoroughly but it was just hard to differentiate and didn't feel as seamless as I would have liked. I loved the thematical points hit in the book though and would love to see more from Tola Rotimi Abraham later down the line!

A highly anticipated release that ended up feeling short, unfortunately.
I couldn’t connect with the characters and especially felt that the brothers’ POV was completely unnecessary.
It only ended up making the overall story fragmented and sort of all over the place.

Black Sunday is Tola Rotimi Abraham's debut novel.

Setting :
The book follows a family of six - mother, father, twin sisters Bibike and Ariyike and two younger brothers-Andrew and Peter. Set in the 90s in Lagos, Nigeris, and told from the POV of the four children- Bibike, Ariyike, Andrew and Peter, over two decades.

It follows the decline of a family. The mother loses her job as a secretary of a political figure. The father isn't a very practical man and uses the house as a collateral for a scheme upon the advice of his pastor. The mother leaves for US, and the father leaves the children with his mother (their grandmother) and leaves. And these children fill us up with the story of the family.

Black Sunday has the premise of the kind of novels I enjoy. There are multiple perspectives and it follows the fall of a family from a comfortable life into one in poverty. However the novel did not move me. It is a quick read, but the POVs did not feel distinct. There was too much going on, many minor plots, which meant the main plot suffered. So there was neither a character study nor a strong plot to hold the book together. You might enjoy it, so I would recommend the book when you are in the mood for a quick read about familial problems.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Black Sunday is an incredibly intimate work of literary fiction, it was such an enjoyable reading experience. The writing was so raw and moving, and the characters were so incredibly fleshed out and it all felt so real. I think that Tola Rotimi Abraham's writing style is incredible, and I can't wait to see more writing from them. The two covers for this book that I've seen are both equally gorgeous and I just feel incredibly lucky to have been able to read this book.

Raw, intimate and beautifully written, Black Sunday is a stunning novel that explores the intricacies of family life through a cast of unforgettable and complex characters. Tola Rotimi Abraham tackles difficult topics such as oppression, poverty and grief with such compassion and poignancy. Deeply affecting and at times devastating, Tola has written a truly accomplished debut. I'm really looking forward to seeing what she writes next!

'Twin sisters Bibike and Ariyike are enjoying a relatively comfortable life in Lagos in 1996. Then their mother loses her job due to political strife and their father gambles away their home, and the siblings are thrust into the reluctant care of their traditional Yoruba grandmother. Inseparable while they had their parents to care for them, the twins' paths diverge once the household shatters: one embracing modernity as the years pass, the other consumed by religion.'

Set over the course of two decades in Nigeria, BLACK SUNDAY is told through the perspectives of Bibike and Ariyike, and their younger brothers, Andrew and Peter. The voice of each character is distinct and takes the reader through four key phases of their lives as they transition into adulthood. Tola Rotimi Abraham's writing is both weighty and sharp, and poignantly depicts the ripples childhood trauma can cast throughout an entire life.

Each voice, despite their ranging perspectives, conveys family, loss and power; there is a lot of sex in this book - at boarding school, motel rooms, a friend's house, church - most of it is soulless and transactional, and the nature of power and consent means that most of it is not actually sex, but something coercive, albeit commonplace. Here, female resistance in the face of misogynistic fate is shown through young girls with 'angry eyes', and 'deep frown lines like ridges on a yam farm'; callous, trickster women; tradition and change. There's a beautiful scene where a mother records her grandmother telling stories so that her own daughter will be able to hear them in all their glory when she is older: 'I want to cover my daughter with Grandmother’s Yoruba, in the pure softness of her Ondo dialect, baptizing her with every sentence sounding like birdsong when she speaks.' The final scene gave me chills and Lovecraft County ep 5 vibes...

Decolonising the curriculum: the final chapter has more than echoes of Mrs Birling in Priestley's AN INSPECTOR CALLS, 'We have a welfare program, but we only help married women. We cannot, as a church, support fornicators and adulterers with tithes and offerings.'

This is a devastating story which is well written. The author, Tola Rotimi Abraham, does a great job of presenting the facts of the story and not shying away from difficult subject and situations. By doing this, Tola has created a sad but beautiful story which stays with you.