The Fishermen (Obioma novel) explained

The Fishermen
Author:Chigozie Obioma
Language:English
Publisher:Little, Brown and Company
Release Date:April 2015
Media Type:Print
Isbn:978-0-316-33837-0

The Fishermen is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma, published in 2015. The novel follows four brothers in a quiet neighbourhood of a Nigerian town, who were given a violent prophecy which shakes their family to the core. It is set in the 1990s, during the rule of Sani Abacha.[1]

It was shortlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize.[2] [3] [4] The novel received a number of accolades, and positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Four brothers, Ikenna, Boja, Obembe, and Benjamin, begin to fish at the Omi-Ala river near their home in a quiet neighbourhood of the city of Akure in Nigeria, despite being forbidden from doing so by their parents, as the river is heavily polluted. On one of their fishing trips, they encounter a local madman, Abulu, who follows them shouting the name of Ikenna, the oldest brother. The other children flee, but the four brothers stop to listen, as Abulu shouts a series of prophecies: that Ikenna will become blind, mute, crippled. He finishes by prophesying that Ikenna will be killed by a fisherman. Ikenna thinks this means that one of his brothers will kill him, and he gradually turns against them. The prophecy undoes the family and the expectations the brothers' parents have for them.

Development and writing

Obioma has seven brothers and four sisters, and wrote the novel as a tribute to his siblings.[5] Two of Obioma's brothers fought violently when they were children, and Obioma was inspired by what he imagined was the worst possible outcome of those fights.[5]

Reception and criticism

The Fishermen was generally well-received. According to Book Marks, the book received "rave" reviews based on ten critic reviews, with seven being "rave" and three being "positive".[6] According to CREETIQ, based on critic reviews, the book received a 6.9 out of 10.[7]

The novel has garnered comparisons to Things Fall Apart in part due to the central role prophecy has in each novel.[8] However, some critics disputed the validity of the comparisons.[9] It also references the Biblical story of Cain and Abel, and has been referred to as a "retelling" of the story.[8] [10]

Multiple critics referred to the novel as a Bildungsroman given that it is told from the perspective of one brother, and charts his youth.[11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'The Fishermen,' by Chigozie Obioma . . 2015-04-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150423022633/http://www.nytimes.com:80/2015/04/19/books/review/the-fishermen-by-chigozie-obioma.html?_r=0 . 2015-04-23 . live . Rocco . Fiammetta . 1 November 2016.
  2. Web site: Pulitzer winner makes Booker Prize shortlist . . 2015-09-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150915215654/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34255672 . 2015-09-15 . live . 15 September 2015.
  3. Web site: Man Booker Shortlist Review 2015: Chigozie Obioma's 'The Fishermen' . . 2015-10-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151009233629/http://www.theatlantic.com:80/entertainment/archive/2015/10/man-booker-shortlist-2015-the-fishermen/409399/ . 2015-10-09 . live . Sharp . Naomi . 31 October 2016.
  4. Web site: The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma, review: 'full-force' . . 2015-09-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150927202136/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/books/what-to-read/fishermen-chigozie-obioma-booker-shortlist-review/ . 2015-09-27 . live . Martin . Tim . 1 November 2016.
  5. Web site: 2, 2 and 2: Chigozie Obioma talks about The Fishermen. Curtin. Amanda. 23 February 2015. looking up/looking down. 1 November 2016.
  6. Web site: The Fishermen . 16 January 2024 . Book Marks.
  7. Web site: The Fishermen. 14 January 2023 . CREETIQ. https://web.archive.org/web/20210616191800/https://creetiq.com/reviews/reviews/the-fishermen/. 16 Jun 2021.
  8. Web site: Review: 'The Fishermen' by Chigozie Obioma . . 2017-11-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150529204850/http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-prj-fishermen-chigozie-obioma-20150423-story.html . 2015-05-29 . live . Tsouderos . Trine . 1 November 2016.
  9. Web site: Review: The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma. Morosetti. Tiziana. 9 October 2015. The Conversation. 1 November 2016.
  10. Web site: Making myths: Chigozie Obioma's The Fishermen . 2015-09-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150921042007/http://www.newstatesman.com:80/culture/books/2015/09/making-myths-chigozie-obioma-s-fishermen . 2015-09-21 . live . Twidle . Hedley . . 1 November 2016.
  11. Web site: Fathers and sons . 2015-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150327025634/http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21647262-lyrical-retelling-story-cain-and-abel-fathers-and-sons . 2015-03-27 . live . The Economist . 1 November 2016.
  12. Web site: The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma review – four brothers and a terrible prophecy . . 2015-03-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150314140240/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/13/the-fishermen-chigozie-obioma-review . 2015-03-14 . live . Habila . Helon . 1 November 2016.

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