An Orchestra of Minorities

There are so many wonderful aspects of this novel but my god it socks you right in the gut.

The gorgeous title refers to a description of chickens as they mourn the death of one of their flock and it is a central theme. Power relations stretched across culture, class, and interpersonal obligation are the main moves but what makes this novel so breathtaking is its narrative point of view. It is told from the perspective of the protagonist's "chi" as it defends him in a mystical court of judgement. Chi is unlike any concept I've come across before. It is sort of a transcendent spirit, consciousness, soul, and double persona all rolled into one and it is stunning to see how this doubling of the main character provides a rich texture to the narrative.

I'm honestly beside myself. Obioma's prose at times melts into the forward progression of the narrative and at others comes out of nowhere with a line of blistering grace. Pieces of my heart snagged on some of those barbs and I just had to leave them there.