rpc reviewed on 3/16/2010 + 6 more book reviews

Arrow of God follows Ezeulu, the chief priest of the god Ulu, in a time of uncertainty brought on by British colonization. The story alternates between the perspective of Ezeulu and his people and the colonists, including the memorably-named Winterbottom. The plot seems at first anecdotal, with chapters telling almost complete stories of the happenings in the six villages of Umauro. Yet as the book goes on a larger conflict emerges between the traditional ways of the Igbo people and the colonial impositions. The character of Ezeulu was a hard one to grasp; he seemed distant from his own story and was not nearly as relatable as some of his (many) children. The ending was my favorite part of the book, because despite the sadness it captured, it also created an ironic and ambiguous situation. Though I struggled through parts of the novel, it left me wanting more.

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