The Visit || What If We Tipped the Scales?

I put off talking about this book for as long as I could, or maybe let's just say I forgot about the book, only remembering it at odd moments. But then, I had some random thoughts today and had a hearty laugh thinking about it. So, I knew today had to be the day to talk about this novel. And here I am.

The Visit by Chimamanda Adichie

This is a satirical 20-paged story where guess what, the matriarchy now rules. I think after reading it for the second time, it’s fair to call this book satirical. It addresses social ills, and somehow, seeks to correct them, that’s if you’re willing to reflect on them and see what you're supposed to see/realize

It’s a matriarchal world. Obinna is a faithful and dutiful stay at home husband. He is eagerly anticipating a visit from his childhood friend, Eze, who is single and since relocated to the United States. Now, he is paying his dear friend a visit on his return to Nigeria.

Eze is taken aback by his friend’s views and how comfortable he is with his marital status — Eze’s perceived awful treatment of his friend by his wife, Amara, who is a successful business woman but barely has time for her husband and children anymore. In a world where being a husband is an achievement beyond belief, can Eze make his friend see reason? Or are the clutches of society held on too strongly for Obinna to be rescued?

My Thoughts and Rating

When I saw this book, I didn’t expect to laugh this much. It’s a short book, so like the last piece of Chimamanda's work that I reviewed, you can only say so much. It’s just best to read the book and forge your own opinions. But boy, did I laugh. Maybe not exactly laugh, but smile at how cleverly this was written.

It aptly gives rise to its classification as speculative fiction. What if the roles were switched? What if we found ourselves in a world that we’ve for centuries now taken as normal, only it’s the other way around? What if, what if, what if?

It occurred to me to wonder about our most esteemed male readers. How did they feel as they read this book? Did they smile, like I did? Were they angered at the absurdity of the book? Did they get terrified at the prospects of this becoming their reality? And maybe, through this fear, did they begin to see what the average African woman goes through? Could they finally, through the words in this book, get a glimpse into what it feels like to be in our world?

Women ruling the world and men taking the places of women in the homes and in the society in general? Even the things I knew at the recesses of my mind but never gave much thought to, were suddenly right in front of me. I couldn’t be angry as I smiled my way through the pages, and I couldn’t help the excitement that bubbled vigorously within. If they read this book, would they finally SEE?

Chimamanda, as always, gave us nothing but excitement, vocabulary, and as always, a palatable food for thought. I was left still and reflecting like I do each time I read her works, only this time, I wasn’t sad, but filled with hope that someday, the scales would tip towards becoming more balanced. More women-friendly. More favourable for all of us as a people. A good 4.5/5 stars from me. It’s Chimamanda, so it’s supposed to be a full 5 stars. But I wouldn’t want my amazing audience to think I was biased, would I?

Jhymi🖤

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