First Impression Friday will be a meme where you talk about a book that you JUST STARTED! Maybe you’re only a chapter or two in, maybe a little farther. Based on this sampling of your current read, give a few impressions and predict what you’ll think by the end.

Synopsis:

When Things Fall Apart ends, colonial rule has been introduced to Umuofia, and the character of the nation and its values, freedoms, and religious and sociopolitical foundations have substantially and irrevocably been altered. Arrow of God, the second novel in Chinua Achebe’s The African Trilogy, moves the historical narrative forward. This time, the action revolves around Ezeulu, the headstrong chief priest of the god Ulu, which is worshipped by the six villages of Umuaro. The novel is a meditation on the nature, uses, and responsibility of power and leadership. Ezeulu finds that his authority is increasingly under threat from rivals within his nation and functionaries of the newly established British colonial government. Yet he sees himself as untouchable. He is forced, with tragic consequences, to reconcile conflicting impulses in his own nature – a need to serve the protecting deity of his Umuaro people; a desire to retain control over their religious observances; and a need to gain increased personal power by pushing his authority to the limits. He ultimately fails as he leads his people to their own destruction and, consequently, his personal tragedy arises. Arrow of God is an unforgettable portrayal of the loss of faith and the downfall of a man in a society forever altered by colonialism.

Happy Friday everyone! Finally, another work week is done. I know, everyone is excited about the weekend. I hope that everyone is ending the work week on a high note. I hope that you were all able to accomplish all the tasks on your list. I hope that you are jumping into the weekend unstrapped from the worries attached with being an adult. It is time to ditch those corporate clothes and don more comfortable articles of clothing. What adventures are you looking forward to this weekend? I hope that everyone will have a great time. I hope you will be spending the weekend resting or recuperating, especially if the work week does not go as planned. I hope the weekend will allow you to pursue your hobbies or things you are passionate about.

To cap another blogging week is my last First Impression Friday update for August. Since 2019, this has become a weekly tradition that allowed me to figure out my initial feelings about the book that I am currently reading. This has also become a springboard for my book reviews. I started August reading works of European literature; I had to extend for a bit to read books I have been looking forward to. My three-month journey across the vast landscape of European literature then officially concluded. The question then emerges, where do I go next? With a well of possibilities, I initially considered reading works of Asian literature. Ultimately, I resolved to read recently published works that I have been looking forward to. Among these books were James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store and Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water.

My current read, however, is a digression from this direction. Realizing that my last two reads were works of Nigerian writers, I decided to read Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God; I was planning to read Kristin Hannah’s The Women. Besides, Arrow of God is a part of my 2024 Top 24 Reading List. This makes it the 18th book from the list that I read. Wow. Quite a development. I used to cram toward the end of the year vis-à-vis my annual reading lists. I guess it is safe to say that I can complete all 24 books before the year ends. Anyway, Arrow of God is my third novel by the highly-touted Nigerian writer. He first captured my imagination with his debut novel, Things Fall Apart. Things Fall Apart is also the first book in The African Trilogy. Arrow of God is the last book in the trilogy. These books don’t share characters but are thematically interconnected.

Arrow of God is set amongst the rural villages of the Igbo people in colonial Nigeria during the 1920s. When the story commenced, a bitter feud between the villages of Umuaro and Okperi. The denizens of the two villages were on the cusp of going to war over a piece of disputed land. Nwaka, an influential and affluent member of Umuaro, was advocating for the war. This went against the advice of Ezeulu, the Chief Priest of Ulu, the ruling deity of Umuaro. Despite the deity’s chosen representative’s caveat, Nwaka nevertheless pursued the path of engaging in a tribal war even though it threatened to disrupt the harmony between the two villages. The conflict came to an abrupt halt when Captain T.K. Winterbottom entered the scene. He was designated by the British monarchy to be the District Officer. His task was to oversee this section of the British colony.

While reading the book, what emerged is the flow of history. The African Trilogy, from what I understand, is a portrait of Nigeria’s recent history. It started with the tribes, captured in Things Fall Apart. While I have not read the second book, I surmise that it depicts the annexation of Nigeria to the British Empire. Things Fall Apart did conclude with the entry of the Europeans. As such, it is not surprising that Arrow of God fuses these two cultures. On one side we read about Nigerian culture and traditions, mainly of the Igbo tribe. The Igbo tribe is one of many that comprise modern Nigeria. It was also Igbo culture that influenced Achebe’s writing. Arrow of God also captures the integration of Western ideals and philosophies into the Igbo culture. We also read about the exploitation of the Europeans on the Nigerians; I just finished the part where a Nigerian plantation worker was whipped by his white master.

One prominent voice that emerged was the Church. Christianity is another influential figure in Achebe’s writing. His father was an evangelist while his mother was a leader among church women. I can then surmise that the novel charts the landscape of Nigeria in the first half of the 20th century before it struggled for Independence. The transition between the two books in the trilogy I read was palpable. Arrow of God would then be a fitting conclusion to Achebe’s highly regarded Tbe African Trilogy. I am looking forward to reading how the story concludes, and hopefully, I also get to read the second book in the trilogy, No Longer at Ease.

Speaking of the Top Ten Books I Look Forward To List, my current read, Percival Everett’s James is part of my 2024 most anticipated releases list. I believe it was in 2022 when I first came across Everett when his novel Telephone was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His novel The Trees was also shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize. There are plenty of reasons for me to dip my fingers into his oeuvre. The opportunity came earlier this year when I learned that he was publishing a new work, James. It was a no-brainer for me to add it to my own most anticipated releases list; several similar lists also named the book as one of the literary feats this year. My anticipation for the book tripled when it was announced as part of the 2024 Booker Prize longlist. How about you fellow reader? What book or books have you read over the weekend? I hope you get to enjoy whatever you are reading right now. Happy weekend!