The Carnivorous City: A Bitter-Sweet Experience.
The city of Lagos, Nigeria, is a really vast abyss with lots of tales. Every person who has ever visited this city has interesting stories to share and those who have never visited it, like myself, have even better stories to tell. Little wonder “Lagos” was the first city that came to mind when I initially saw the title of the book I would be reviewing today–The Carnivorous City.
In a bid to be recalcitrant or better put, in a bid to avoid doing the ‘very important activities I need to do that may seemingly determine my future’, I went online in search of a novel that could distract me and “The Carnivorous City” was the right catch.
About The Book
The Carnivorous City by Toni Kan is a fascinating novel that delves into the darker side of Lagos, Nigeria(a very interesting place to be). The novel uses Lagos as both a setting and a metaphor–“a beast with bared fangs that voraciously devours its inhabitants”.
This book centers on two brothers: Sunderland “Soni” Dike, a wealthy Lagos fraudster who mysteriously disappears , and his elder brother Abel Dike, a school teacher from a quieter town who ventures to Lagos in search of his brother after a phone call from his sister-in-law.
As Abel navigates the complexities of Lagos, he finds himself entangled in a web of corruption, greed, violence and everything in between. He must strive to maintain his sanity in an insane city while still in active search of his brother.
My Opinion
Toni kan brings the city of lagos to life as a character in this narration. A city that devours its inhabitants. A city that changes people for good or bad, yet, it's a city where many strive to inhabit. This novel is a vivid critique of the city’s underbelly, exposing the harsh realities of Lagos, irrespective of socioeconomic classes.
One of the standout features for me is the author's masterful storytelling. The plot is immersive and unapologetic, richly capturing diverse Lagos landscapes from affluent districts like Ikoyi and Victoria Island to the mainland neighbourhoods, and the complex human stories within. Although I don't have a favourite character from this piece, the few characters are richly drawn, well-developed and central to the novel’s depiction of Lagos as a devouring force.
This novel explores themes of brotherly love, self-discovery, family, greed and survival in a city that is simultaneously alluring and brutal.
This novel starts with the news that Soni is missing but I couldn't help but notice that over the course of the novel, little effort was put into finding Soni, judging from the resources available. A lot was going on in the novel, a variety of themes explored and tales told but where was Soni? Did he vanish into thin air? I would like to think of this as a setback for his novel.
The Carnivorous City is a powerful and timely portrayal of Lagos’s harshness and vitality, offering a unique blend that resonates with anyone familiar with urban survival and transformation. Being my first read from Toni Kan, I am truly impressed by the dynamics of this book.
Recommendation
I had an amazing time reading this novel and the evidence would be in the fact that I consumed the entire content of this piece in less than 24 hours, and when I was done, I yearned for more. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in African literature or looking for a gripping thriller. I would give the book a 4/5 rating as it managed to drag me out of a reading slump with a page count of 241. Now, It's time to face reality and get back to the activities I need to carry out, or not..
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