A Bit of Difference (Interlink World Fiction) - Softcover

Atta, Sefi

3.44

447 ratings by Goodreads

9781566569668: A Bit of Difference (Interlink World Fiction)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1566569664 ISBN 13: 9781566569668

Publisher: Interlink Books, 2014

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From the winner of the Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature. At thirty-nine, Deola Bello, a Nigerian expatriate in London, is dissatisfied with being single and working overseas. Deola works as a financial reviewer for an international charity, and when her job takes her back to Nigeria in time for her fathers five-year memorial service, she finds herself turning her scrutiny inward. In Nigeria, Deola encounters changes in her family and in the urban landscape of her home, and new acquaintances who offer unexpected possibilities. Deolas journey is as much about evading others expectations to get to the heart of her frustration as it is about exposing the differences between foreign images of Africa and the realities of contemporary Nigerian life. Deolas urgent, incisive voice captivates and guides us through the intricate layers and vivid scenes of a life lived across continents. With Sefi Attas characteristic boldness and vision, A Bit of Difference limns the complexities of our contemporary world. This is a novel not to be missed.

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Review:

‘Atta brilliantly evokes a world just on the brink of major change; her writing is intelligent, witty and controlled.’ The Times

‘Although the novel might not appeal to the Nigerian authorities, it’s far richer and more complicated than the mere displaying of dirty linen ... a shrewd, quietly fearless and often witty novel that triumphantly succeeds in being both politically thought-provoking and emotionally engaging.’ Daily Mail

‘Character is one of Atta's strongest points as a writer – each character, even the most fleeting, has a story, a mannerism that stays with the reader. The book advances not by plot, but rather through anecdotes, flashbacks, side comments and observations ... This is a refreshing book from an author with a lot to say.’ Helon Habila, Guardian

‘Difference is both desired and feared by the characters in this thought-provoking novel ... Atta hones a distinctive voice to tell a memorable if uneven story about the quest to preserve uniqueness faced with pressure to conform.’ Anita Sethi, Guardian

‘One of the leading writers of her generation.’ Teju Cole

‘Atta's splendid writing sizzles with wit and compassion. This is an immensely absorbing book.’ Chika Unigwe, author of On Black Sisters Street

‘Enlightening ... Atta imbues Deola’s voice with delicious perceptiveness and irony ... Atta perfectly hones in on the emptiness which so often epitomises modern life ... A pithy analysis of contemporary Nigeria and a character you will want things to work out well for.’ Royal African Society

‘An up-close portrait of middle-class Nigeria exploring the boundaries of morals and public decorum. Pitched between humor and despair, with stripped-down, evocative prose, “A Bit of Difference” bristles with penknife-sharp dialogue, but its truths are more subtle, hiding in the unspoken.’ Nii Parkes, author of Tail of the Blue Bird

About the Author:

Sefi Atta is the author of two previous novels, Swallow and Everything Good Will Come, and a collection of short stories, News from Home. She has been awarded the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa and the NOMA Award for Publishing in Africa. Her novels have been published around the world and translated into numerous languages, and her radio and stage plays have been performed internationally. She was born in Lagos and now lives in the United States.

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