Official Review: Corruption Isn't Sexy by Kehinde Sonola
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Official Review: Corruption Isn't Sexy by Kehinde Sonola
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Corruption Isn't Sexy" by Kehinde Sonola.]
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Corruption Isn't Sexy is the debut novel of Kehinde Sonola. A curious hybrid of a novel and a lifestyle guide, this short book (weighing in at a slight 119 pages), relates the story of model Fleur Túzhiné and her financier fiancé Christian Lord. (Yes, really. From the opening moments of the book I was completely torn as to whether the name of the character was an act of commendable chutzpah on the author's part or a little bit naff. I remain undecided, although the unfortunate name is at least acknowledged by various characters in the novel, so I am inclined to give Sonola the benefit of the doubt). The novel follows Fleur and Christian as they negotiate the pitfalls of modern life, all the while remaining committed to their philosophy, a slightly vague mix of indeterminate spirituality and anti-capitalist romanticism.
The writing is mostly very proficient, occasionally veering towards excellent, particularly with the evocative, simple descriptions the author employs. Having said that, there are a few minor quibbles. The first of those is a simple mistake rather than inelegant writing. As I understand it, the convention is that in direct speech someone's name should be preceded by a comma, something that almost never happens in this novel. Which would not necessarily matter unduly except it happens a lot. At one stage the following exchange occurs: '"Thank you Angel." "Told you he was a charmer Kimi." "...Thank you Christian." If a mistake happens that many times in that close proximity then it is going to be very noticeable.
The writing can occasionally be a little clumsy. I am unconvinced by the use of 'going all the way' as a euphemism for sex in a novel, likewise 'Shouting scandalous innuendos at Fleur, like "hope you're not tired loverboy"' does not seem all that scandalous, as well as being a fairly heavy-handed description of what happens. That is not the only instance when the dialogue that we are presented with undermines the author's voice. There is a dinner party scene at one point in which we are told that every single person there is helpless with laughter. Which would be fine except we have just been presented with the whole conversation that has rendered them so, and, while humour is subjective, it is very hard to envisage it making anyone do more than smile politely.
There are problems too with the pop culture references. Sometimes they work excellently; Christian's habit of calling Fleur by the name of comedians when she makes a joke at his expense comes across very naturally. However, as is often the case in books by far more experienced and renowned writers than Kehinde Sonola, the reference can feel quite forced, notably when describing the music played at both the fashion show in the opening chapter and by the DJ, 3D, in the bar later that evening. Fleur and Christian planning on a cinema trip also appears slightly stilted.
These are minor quibbles though. The fact that the examples of bad (or rather, less good) writing can be cited in a couple of paragraphs is a testament to the strength of the rest of the novel; they are very much the exceptions. Nevertheless, I am not sure the book ever resolves its central tension - is it a book of quasi-philosophical guidelines presented as a novel, or a novel with a message? If it is the former, as chapter titles such as 'No, they don't look cool smoking' might suggest, then the story can be praised as standing up very well for a book that is primarily about how to live your life. If, however, it is intended to work primarily as a novel then the proselytising for a more virtuous lifestyle is too obvious.
Nor am I entirely comfortable with all of the messages it presents. At one stage Christian and Fleur intervene to rescue a friend from her would-be rapist, which is fine except there is a definite implication that part of the responsibility for the incident falls on the shoulders of another friend, Polina, who has left the party with a man. The tacit implication of alcohol and sexual promiscuity being responsible for rape is getting very unpleasantly close to victim-blaming.
That incident brings me to my greatest problem with the novel and the reason why I am only able to give it 2 out of 4 stars, although I would like to mark it higher. The attempted rescue of their friend from her assailant is basically the only real moment of tension in the novel, and there is no tension whatsoever in Fleur and Christian's relationship. They, their relationship and their lives are irritatingly perfect, which for me devalued the messages the book was trying to present. If Sonola is trying to convince his readers that they should aspire to live in the same way as his protagonists, he may have been better off providing them with more realistic people to emulate.
Corruption Isn't Sexy is definitely flawed but I would not want my review to deter people from giving it a go. It is a well-written, fast-moving book that is genuinely pleasurable to read, especially for any readers who like their fiction served with a substantial dollop of spiritual wisdom.
***
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The writing is mostly very proficient, occasionally veering towards excellent, particularly with the evocative, simple descriptions the author employs. Having said that, there are a few minor quibbles. The first of those is a simple mistake rather than inelegant writing. As I understand it, the convention is that in direct speech someone's name should be preceded by a comma, something that almost never happens in this novel. Which would not necessarily matter unduly except it happens a lot. At one stage the following exchange occurs: '"Thank you Angel." "Told you he was a charmer Kimi." "...Thank you Christian." If a mistake happens that many times in that close proximity then it is going to be very noticeable.
The writing can occasionally be a little clumsy. I am unconvinced by the use of 'going all the way' as a euphemism for sex in a novel, likewise 'Shouting scandalous innuendos at Fleur, like "hope you're not tired loverboy"' does not seem all that scandalous, as well as being a fairly heavy-handed description of what happens. That is not the only instance when the dialogue that we are presented with undermines the author's voice. There is a dinner party scene at one point in which we are told that every single person there is helpless with laughter. Which would be fine except we have just been presented with the whole conversation that has rendered them so, and, while humour is subjective, it is very hard to envisage it making anyone do more than smile politely.
There are problems too with the pop culture references. Sometimes they work excellently; Christian's habit of calling Fleur by the name of comedians when she makes a joke at his expense comes across very naturally. However, as is often the case in books by far more experienced and renowned writers than Kehinde Sonola, the reference can feel quite forced, notably when describing the music played at both the fashion show in the opening chapter and by the DJ, 3D, in the bar later that evening. Fleur and Christian planning on a cinema trip also appears slightly stilted.
These are minor quibbles though. The fact that the examples of bad (or rather, less good) writing can be cited in a couple of paragraphs is a testament to the strength of the rest of the novel; they are very much the exceptions. Nevertheless, I am not sure the book ever resolves its central tension - is it a book of quasi-philosophical guidelines presented as a novel, or a novel with a message? If it is the former, as chapter titles such as 'No, they don't look cool smoking' might suggest, then the story can be praised as standing up very well for a book that is primarily about how to live your life. If, however, it is intended to work primarily as a novel then the proselytising for a more virtuous lifestyle is too obvious.
Nor am I entirely comfortable with all of the messages it presents. At one stage Christian and Fleur intervene to rescue a friend from her would-be rapist, which is fine except there is a definite implication that part of the responsibility for the incident falls on the shoulders of another friend, Polina, who has left the party with a man. The tacit implication of alcohol and sexual promiscuity being responsible for rape is getting very unpleasantly close to victim-blaming.
That incident brings me to my greatest problem with the novel and the reason why I am only able to give it 2 out of 4 stars, although I would like to mark it higher. The attempted rescue of their friend from her assailant is basically the only real moment of tension in the novel, and there is no tension whatsoever in Fleur and Christian's relationship. They, their relationship and their lives are irritatingly perfect, which for me devalued the messages the book was trying to present. If Sonola is trying to convince his readers that they should aspire to live in the same way as his protagonists, he may have been better off providing them with more realistic people to emulate.
Corruption Isn't Sexy is definitely flawed but I would not want my review to deter people from giving it a go. It is a well-written, fast-moving book that is genuinely pleasurable to read, especially for any readers who like their fiction served with a substantial dollop of spiritual wisdom.
***
Buy "Corruption Isn't Sexy" on Amazon
Buy "Corruption Isn't Sexy" on Barnes and Noble
Latest Review: "The Mystery Factor" by Michael Brightman
