Official Review: Bonfires of the gods

[Nhien Vu]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Bonfires of the gods" by Andrew Eseimokumo Oki.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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“We believed that wars happened because the gods of the Earth felt cold and stopped watching over us to gather large trees to make bonfires to keep themselves warm.”

In Warri, Nigeria, the conflict between two opposing ethnic groups, the Ijaws and the Itsekiris, has reached its peak. People see violence as the only resolution; Warri is under siege. Bonfires of the gods paints war from the small people’s perspectives: Tonye and Laju, two star-crossed lovers who must overcome the deeply ingrained prejudice to reunite; Mogha and Seye, two brothers who are ambushed, trapped, and in danger of being burnt alive in their own home; Toritseju and Jolomi, a young couple having a quarrel as the journalist husband insists he must stop the war despite the ensured danger; Oyinmiebi, an educated law student who gets dragged into a so-called political revolution out of identity crisis and familial obligation; and finally, an unnamed woman who stands on neither side of the war but still suffers and laments the loss of beauty and peace. Through their eyes, we see the horrors gradually unfold: houses are burnt down, families are broken, lovers are torn apart, and children are born without ever knowing their parents’ faces.

Warri used to be such a beautiful and unique place. Then, war happens. Warri, once a vibrant and lively city, now has become a graveyard of “ghosts and shadows,” full of smoke and ashes. The novel vividly portrays the detriments and complexities of the war, how it begins, how it unravels, and how it ends. It breaks out over some trivial conflicts; conflicts breed vengeance and retaliation; vengeance and retaliation lead to pain and regret. No man comes out of war fully himself. This bitter road only ceases once they stop looking through the micro-lenses, learn to heal, grow, and move on. Unfortunately, for some people, war never ends.

Bonfires of the gods introduces a rich cast of Ijaw and Itsekiri characters. Since they used to study and work in more developed parts of the country and the world, they see the war as pointless and damaging. Yet, they come home when something related to Warri gets a hold on them, whether it’s family, first love, or Nigerian tradition. This subtly suggests the idea that a person cannot escape his past and his roots; the only way to fulfillment is to accept and make peace with them. Nonetheless, the highlights are when familial ties, romantic love, morality, and communal responsibilities do wonders in the most damning situations. I admit I did shed a few tears when the characters manage to find inner strengths to rescue their loved ones and overcome the traumatic experiences despite their own fear, inhibition, and bigotry.

Andrew Eseimokumo Oki has a simple and fluent storytelling style. He sometimes even utilizes Pidgin English to retain authenticity. Unfortunately, there are still a few minor downsides. While the author often notes the specific time before each session to clarify the timeline, he misses in some important occasions, such as when Jolomi goes to Angbarama Village. Besides, the prologue and epilogue are intriguing but slightly disconnected from the in-between chapters. The novel is not professionally edited since there is a lot of misuse of commas and semicolons, which is the reason why I cannot grant it a perfect rating and settle with 3 out of 4 stars instead.

Bonfires of the gods is a short book which does not narrate war on a grand scale or venture too far into historical contexts and tactical descriptions. Therefore, you don’t need to be a history fanatic to enjoy it. It will delight readers in search of a sympathetic and humane tale focusing on small people and how they cope in such a grave time. I do not recommend this novel to those who want a work of grandeur. On a warning note, it contains violence, explicit sexual content, and some disturbing events. If you are sensitive to these details, please consider carefully before reading it.

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Bonfires of the gods
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Like SpencerVo's review? Post a comment saying so!

[randompersonavility]

Just reading your summary, I feel like this book is simple yet will make an impact to the reader. Thanks for a wonderful review.

[kandscreeley]

I think the content would be too much for me. In addition, it just doesn't sound like something I would be interested in. I appreciate your review, but it's not for me. Thanks.

[HRichards]

Excellent review. I don't think this book would be to my tastes based on it, but I'm glad to know about it in detail.

[chiefsimplex]

I think it will be interesting to learn the effect of war from ordinary people's perspective.Its also a great opportunity to learn about the tribes' cultures .Thanks for sharing.