The book tells the story of the Biafran conflict through the microcosm of Kunle, a half Igbo young an in his 20s, who, through a series of mishaps, ends up being conscripted into the Biafran army at the beginning of the conflict. Through his personal travails we see less of the politics and more of the minutiae of life at the front line, and how that affects the individual. In some ways, it's the Biafran version of All Quiet on the Western Front.

It is an excruciatingly vivid depiction of the ravages of war, and the cruelty of day to day events. It is also an interesting psychological profile of the protagonist, and an example of a certain personality type that ends up being rather good at a war he never should have been fighting.

What I liked most about the book was the extent to which the book described life in Nigeria during the war, and how, through that, it created an extraordinarily strong manifest against war, especially as the moral highground is ambiguous and constantly shifting. It was also a great vehicle to learn more about the details of the war on the ground - the effects of the blockade, the role of mercenaries, the motivations of the soldiers, and the hopes and fears of the population. More than anything, it reminded me once again of the futility of war, and the effect that ideas thought of by politicians and generals can have on the single individual, and how essentially invented ideas of nationhood (whether wanting independence, or denying it) can destroy masses of human beings, maim yet others, and destroy the psyche of an entire generation.

What I liked less were two things. The first is the aspect of the seer. I really didn't understand what value it added - it just made the story extra complex, without adding anything substantive. It was like that Chekhovian gun, but this one fires not shots. The second thing, and this is my main peeve with the book, was the relatively shallow way the protagonists are depicted. It almost felt like the author tried hard to make them come alive, but, unfortunately left them almost like sketches of characters without depth or dimensionality. The protagonist was robotic, with the odd emotional outburst. The impression I got left with is that the author can tell a great story, but struggles to depict credible characters.

I recommend it to anyone interested in the Biafran war (though, Half of a Yellow Sun is infinitely better, in my view), and the history of Nigeria. If folks are keen on a good character driven story - skip it.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

A dark and tense novel, a young man searching for his lost brother, then becoming lost himself. The war in Biafra in all its tragedy. Lovely writing for an eye opening story.

The Road to the Country is a story about love, friendship, family and war. I have to admit I had no idea about Biafra so reading about it and what it meant to the people who tried to fight for it it was interesting and I learned more about history. But it's not only about history it's about more than that. Kunle, a student in Lagos, goes in the search of his brother who ran from home after the girl he was in love with. Going after him he finds himself involved in a war he didn't quite believe is real but then he sees the reality of it, that it's not as majestic as some people wanted to believe it is. Anyway, there he finds the true meaning of friendship and love.
The story is slow paced but the writing style is quite beautiful and it makes you want to grasp the words and the feelings that the characters have to deal with.

Hmmm. I don't even know how to review this one because of how beautifully written it is but how I still struggled to get into it.

It follows the story of Kunle who leaves Akure for the eastern part of Nigeria (then Biafra) in search of his brother who suffers a disability that Kunle blames himself for. It is on this journey that he is caught and forced to become a Biafran soldier. The new development derails him from his initial course. He’s forced to take on a new identity to blend into his new normal. He meets new people including a woman he falls in love with and who will change his entire reality. Regardless, he still holds the hope that someday he’ll find his brother and they can return home to their worried parents.

While I appreciate the story's characters and the war's role in shaping the plot, I have to admit that I'm not a fan of war-themed books. I think a beautifully done movie adaptation would be more up my alley. I’d rather watch than read about a war. But that's just my personal preference. It’s understandable why this book is slowly placed, unfortunately, it's just so hard for me to get into as a lot of descriptions put me off.

While I struggled to get into the story, I found the dialogue between Kunle and his newfound brothers in the camp to be enjoyable. Their characters are very likeable and very close to reality. I also appreciate how the war isn't just a backdrop but the meat of the entire story.

Overall, this book may not have been my cup of tea, but I appreciate having the opportunity to read it and thank Random House UK via NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

A brutal look at the Biafran war, mixed with a splash of magical realism. We follow Kunle, a man caught up in the war by mistake, fighting for a side he feels no loyalty to, and constantly out of his depth. Obioma writes in such powerful prose - this is not an easy read, and you truly feel Kunle’s fear, his desperation, his blood and sweat seep through the page.

Deeply moving and an engrossing read. For me, at its best when it leans into the magical realism, which Obioma uses to great effect in creating some memorable scenes.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC

The Road to the Country is a hard-hitting, brutal novel set against the backdrop of the Biafran war. Kunle, the main character, is our eyes and ears into this conflict, whose details will be unfamiliar to many in the West. He is beautifully drawn on the page, and the heat and the sweat and the danger of those days seeps through on every page. This was a truly engrossing novel of war.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

This is really beautifully written with some very hard-hitting and impactful thematic work explored. Very excited to see what this author writes next.

'The Road to the Country' is a proper war novel, of the sort I don't often read. In my experience lot of literary fiction set in wartime focusses more on civilian characters or life away from the battlefield. 'The Road to the Country' however is a war story first and foremost and sticks closely to the frontlines throughout. The central character is Kunle, a young man who travels to the newly declared republic of Biafra in order to bring back his younger brother. Instead he ends up conscripted into the Biafran army, fighting in a horrific conflict that saw unspeakable brutality both on the front lines and perpetrated on civilians.

The story follows Kunle very closely and includes in depth descriptions of the fighting and realities of life for the young soldiers. As you can imagine, it is not pleasant and this is not a cheerful read in any way. It is however very well written and powerfully described, as you'd expect from a writer of Obioma's skill. It is framed via a Seer who is experiencing the whole story of Kunle's military life as a vision, shortly before Kunle is born. The Seer tries to warn everyone about the coming war but no one listens, so events pan out just as he foresaw.

I can't say that I liked the story, and I think it would be hard for anyone to do so as it describes such appalling things. But that is what happens if you choose to read about a war and want an even half-realistic account. It certainly brings home just how horrible war is, if anyone needed to be reminded of it. Of course the reader will know that the Biafran war did not end in the favour of the breakaway state, and that adds to the sadness you feel particularly at the beginning, knowing what the outcome will be.

If you are looking for a power and unflinching war novel, this is a good choice. It is well written and makes you feel as though you are there - the only problem with that being that no one could possibly want to be. But I'm still glad I read it, as sometimes it's good to read outside of our comfort zones particularly when there is so much brutal conflict going on in the world today. It certainly made me feel lucky that I was only having to experience the events through a story and not in reality.

"The Road to the Country" by Chigozie Obioma is a powerful and poignant novel that takes readers on a journey through the tumultuous period of the Biafra war. Obioma's vivid storytelling transports readers to a time of political unrest and cultural upheaval, capturing the resilience and spirit of the Nigerian people. Through the eyes of the protagonist, we witness the devastating impact of war on families and communities, while also exploring themes of love, loss, and the pursuit of freedom. With compelling characters, Obioma crafts a gripping narrative that leaves a lasting impact on the reader.. I really enjoyed this book and I would love love love to have hardcopies of this once released 🥰🥰🥰🥰