My Sister, the Serial Killer. by Oyinkan Braithwaite

 

Back in January while reading two novels by Femi Kayode, I came upon a review of one of his novels, written by "Oyinkan Braithwaite, author of My Sister, the Serial Killer." Naturally, with a title like that, I had to locate her book and put it in the queue.

On the Goodreads website, someone describes her book this way-"My Sister, the Serial Killer is a blackly comic novel about how blood is thicker - and more difficult to get out of the carpet - than water..." . That's an pretty fair description.

It was originally published in Nigeria as an e-book entitled Thicker Than Water in 2017, before being released in the United States in November, 2018.

I wouldn't say the book is uproariously funny, but there are comic elements and it's worth a read.

Oyinkan Braithwaite is the third Nigerian writer that I've read recently - the third being Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It's an interesting genre.

The Reading List for January, 2024

 

The time has come to post another monthly reading list. With nine books on the list, January has been the most productive month since July of 2023.

I've already posted about the first four books on the list - "The Razor's Edge" by W. Somerset Maugham ,The Devils Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo and two novels by Femi Kayode .

Lost to the West by Lars Brownworth deals with the history of the "other Roman Empire" - Byzantium. (Thanks Dom).

Running a 1000 Miles for Freedom is the story of Ellen & William Craft, as told by themselves - Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo is an expanded telling of the Crafts' story.

Naturally, I couldn't end the month without catching up with Commissario Guido Brunetti.

January's reading list is as follows:

The Razor's Edge  by W. Somerset Maugham 

The Devils Flute Murders  by Seishi Yokomizo

Lightseekers  by Femi Kayode

Gaslight  by Femi Kayode 

Lost to the West  by Lars Brownworth 

Running a 1000 Miles for Freedom  by Ellen & William Craft 

Master Slave Husband Wife  by Ilyon Woo  

Through a Glass, Darkly  by Donna Leon  

Suffer the Little Children  by Donna Leon

A Look at Femi Kayode

 

There are a number of similarities between writer Femi Kayode and the protagonist of his first two novels (Lightseekers and Gaslight) - Dr. Philip Taiwo. Both were born in Nigeria and received a degree in psychology. Both moved to the United States, Kayode working for many years in advertising while the fictional Dr. Taiwo becomes an "investigative psychologist" for the San Francisco police department. After spending several years in the U.S., both return with their families to Africa; Dr. Taiwo returning to Nigeria, Fayode and his family moving to the much safer Namibia.

According to his literary agency's website, Kayode..... "managed to build an impressive resume on prime-time television by creating, writing and developing several award-winning TV dramas." Unfortunately, the website doesn't list these award-winning TV dramas. I am very impressed with his first two novels and I'd be interested in seeing these TV programs.

I can recommend both novels, although I didn't care for Dr. Taiwo's implied "pro-choice" attitude in Gaslight. Of course, that attitude is to be expected with folks with politically Liberal views. Other than that, I liked both Lightseekers and Gaslight. At Goodreads.com, he was give a good review by Nigerian writer, Oyinkan Braithwaite. Now, of course, I have to put Braithwaite's novel My Sister, the Serial Killer into the queue.