Customer Reviews

Graceland

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book was quite a moving, magical experience for me. I was first drawn by just the cover (which is funny considering we're not supposed to judge books by covers yet I almost always am drawn to striking covers and then the contents). When I read the jacket, I thought of the recent Brazilian film CITY OF GODS. Well, I thought Chris Abani's book had far more humanity, and far more hope. The ending is sublime, and very emotional. The book is rather sprawling, detailing the life of young Elvis Okwe. His struggles to do the right thing are incredibly intense and heartbreaking. He really wants to be a good person, a good man, and its often things that are out of his hands that prevent him from doing that. All of the characters are well-drawn and unconventional, without ever being stereotypical, especially Elvis's father, who you think is just abusive and distant, but is really a tragic, complicated man, torn apart by the love of his country. GRACELAND encompasses many themes, but most importantly, it is about "redemption," not just for Elvis but for the country that Mr. Abani clearly loves. I loved this book and I hope it finds its audience.

Let me start by saying that this book was so good, so interesting and provoking both intellectually and emotionally. It follows a sixteen year-old boy named Elvis in Lagos, Nigeria, as he pursues various paths, from an idealistic dancer to a criminal to a prisoner of war, to his ultimate choice, where we see him as a more mature and independent young man.

What makes this novel so important is its function as a virtual tour of the actual hardships plaguing Nigeria, as seen through the innocent eyes of the main character. I think Elvis's naivete, offset by a tragic personal history, reflects the simplistic view of highly developed and morally righteous countries - especially America. As the reader (and Elvis) encounters poverty, classism, beggars being burned alive, civil war, torture, cannibalism, and government cruelty, our innocence is stripped away.
The struggles are counterposed, though, throughout the book with moments of hope, of kindness, of people working together to overcome unfairness and stand up for their rights. The book definitely evokes respect and optimism for the strength of the characters, and ends in a positive light, although it seems almost counterintuitive...

From the globally symbolic names to the glimpses of native Igbo culture, Graceland had me reflecting on the relationships between countries, particularly between America and the rest of the world, and universal mechanisms of hope in places of extreme hardship.

The writing style was reminiscent of a combination between Russell Banks's Rule of the Bone and Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things [thank you, Oakwood!]. The meaningful names, as well as the combination of clashing cultures and classes and the narrative of the adolescent trying to navigate them, put me right in mind of Rule of the Bone. And in the back-and-forth of time settings, the familial anguish, and the disastrous results of government dictatorship on lower-class society, the book echoed some themes of The God of Small Things.

All in all, this book was an excellent, meaningful read, a great fictional piece addressing factual problems, solutions, and attitudes.

Graceland is an enlightening yet very disturbing look into the poverty-stricken and corrupt nation of Nigeria. Although this book is a coming-of-age story, it also displays a culture besieged by American influence and internal discontent. Abani's choice to name the main character Elvis is particularly interesting since the reference to an American pop culture icon contrasts with the other metaphorical names like Redemption and Comfort. He is cloaked in a culture to which he doesn't truly belong and is alienated in a manner reminiscent of Ralph Ellison's nameless invisible man. Descriptions of the elaborate and vital kola nut ceremony are spaced throughout the book in a way that implies how deeply embedded such rituals are in Igbo people despite the background of American runoff; Nigeria has a society of multiple layers. Abani displays the curious intermingling of these two contrasting cultures very well.

The book was very well-written and the format made it particularly realistic. It is not chronologically organized, but the date preceding each section prevents confusion. This format, with excerpts from his mother's journal and descriptions of the kola nut ceremony mixed in, makes it easier to understand Elvis' perspective; details about his earlier life and Nigerian culture provide a context in which the story is set. The only problem I felt there was with the book was I felt Elvis could have been more emotionally developed. We see him undergo incredibly traumatic events (he has to deal with a drunken failure of a father and the memory of a mother who died of cancer when he was very young in the midst of intense poverty and the widespread crime that inevitably accompanies it), but it would have been interesting to read about the mental repercussions in more detail and perhaps with more nuance; his emotions seem a bit too straightforward. I felt myself more fascinated with the lesser characters because they are more dynamic and have greater depth. The aptly named Redemption is particularly interesting because he initally appears to be Elvis' downfall, but ultimately is his savior.

I read a review of this book in the local paper and decided to read it. Once again I was lucky to get hold of a book that I couldn't wait to finish. I've never even heard of the author but he shows great promise. There are scenes in the book that made me laugh, feel dread and set my teeth on edge. It must put a writer's teeth on edge to set such thoughts down on paper but to me this is what good writing is about. Having had a few years of contact with this particular culture, I could understand most of the things the author referred to and knew what some of the recipes tasted like, like moi moi, fufu and bitter leaf soup. The part about organ donors is true and can be verified by reading "Princess" or its next sequel, "Daughters of Arabia", I forget which. This must stop..but anyway this book would make a great movie. I totally recommend it.

Chris Abani's Graceland is a compelling novel that chronicles the adolescence of a Nigerian Elvis impersonator left to fend for himself after his mother's death and his father's turn to alcoholism. The novel is set in post-colonial Lagos, Nigeria and provides a devastating look into the violence, corruption, and poverty of Africa's slums. But although it delves into the issue political tension, it is not solely focused on the local goings-on. Graceland is a story of human affliction at the hands of overbearing fathers, crooked governments, and western influence.

If you are looking for an uncomplicated and linear novel, then Graceland isn't for you. Its plot jumps back and forth from Elvis' childhood to his teen years. Although these sudden shifts may seem disconcerting, they ultimately help the reader understand Elvis on a deeper level. The stories of his past make up who he is in the present, giving the reader a fuller sense of his character. The point of view also shifts throughout the novel. While most of the story follows Elvis, some parts of it are instead of his father's point of view, or even his cousin Innocence's. These short dips into another character's life and experience show that Elvis is not the only victim of the circumstances in Nigeria. It would be easy to point a finger of blame at Sunday, Elvis' father, but glimpses into his life show that he too has been irreparably damaged. Although he seems like the cause of Elvis' pain, he is just another casualty of corruption. Every character suffers, and no one lives unscathed. Bits of culture are also thrown into the mix: throughout the book, one can find Nigerian recipes, medicinal uses for herbs and plants, and the procession of the kola nut ritual. These give the story color and character; they are little remnants of the authentic Nigerian culture that seems to be slipping away. To say that the book is too cluttered by these many story-lines is to miss the point. Graceland isn't only about Elvis just like it isn't only about Nigeria: every single piece of the novel contributes to the reader's holistic understanding of suffering and the struggle for salvation. All of the seemingly random threads of information somehow weave themselves together into a cohesive story.

Elvis seems to be on an endless quest for goodness. He strives to do what is morally right, even when those around him resort to violence and theft. Despite what he endures, Elvis has a sort of purity and innocence-he believes that his friends and family are essentially good, and each time they fail him, he is hurt. In Lagos, the concept of right versus wrong is loosely defined: the promise of a mediocre stipend is often enough to skew the balance of one's moral scale. Even Elvis finds himself-albeit reluctantly-involved in a world of drugs and slavery and employed by the corrupt Colonel. But in the end, it is Elvis' unfaltering conscience that renders him incapable of living in Lagos. He is born in Nigeria, but he never really belongs there; he doesn't have what it takes to partake in the day-to-day struggle for survival.

Your first response may be to want to save Elvis, his friends, his family, his father, Lagos, but it becomes clear that they ultimately don't need saving. Despite the many pressures they face-one after another militaristic government, western culture encroaching upon their own-they display stunning acts of bravery, unity, and loyalty to defend themselves.

I was given Graceland as a present, and when I looked it over, I thought it would be a book in which the political statements would dominate in the entire the story. But I was wrong. In Graceland, the writer successfully avoided that with his rich characters, fascinating details, fast pace and the emotional expressions of the characters, especially the protagonist. The characters in the story stand very well for themselves. Like Triple Agent, Double Cross, Graceland is one of the most remarkable novels I have read and surprising enough, it showed that Nigeria has adopted so many things usually thought of as essentially American.

It's so refreshing to ready a story that takes place in present day Nigeria. Very well written with hidden gems such as traditional proverbs and receipes- i jumped for joy when I saw roast yam and palm oil. Mr Abani tackles diverse issues from incest to political unrest. I loved it

If you've come this far in your trip to Graceland, take the next step. Buy it. Read it. Abani's story will not resemble the well-made novel - the plot jumps, holes abound, and the focus shifts, but you will be mesmerized, horrified, and provoked into laughter and even delight. If you've read Chris's poetry, you'll be grateful that his gift for concise and intense language is given full play, but the novel form allows him more room to work with structure, memory, and juxtaposition. Recipes and kola ceremony flow through the narrative, reminding us of another time, a "childhood" of ancestral wisdom and motherlore that has been all but beaten out of modern Nigeria. The story's events occur between 1973 and 1983, over twenty years ago. It feels contemporary but also quite dated: there's no mention of AIDS, for instance, and the war in Sudan is only beginning. One fears that a contemporary version of the story would seem worse, but that's like saying Oliver Twist is out of date. The forms of human misery change, but pain is timeless. What Elvis undergoes in Graceland is horrible by any standards.

The book is not just an exercise in suffering. Its high-life rhythm is almost danceable and the language begs to be sung or rapped with the right lilt and spin. The characters have fantastic names, exotic personalities, and metaphorical heft. The reader is always aware that Abani is working on several levels at once, exposing a real world, developing a complex character, cauterizing an enduring wound, mourning a lost past, and crafting a handbook for survival in the global village. The elements are familiar, the mix is new, important, and vital. Reading this book will expand your mind and delight your soul.

Abani's novel was deeply disturbing as it was fascinating. The characters are richly drawn and by the book's end one feels well acquainted with them, especially Elvis. As a fellow African - I was born in South Africa - I found it very interesting to read about life in a different African country - a country that is not very favorably looked upon by other African countries.

I would recommend this - it's a compelling and refreshing story, it has humor and intense sadness, and it is very well written.

The great cover attracted my eye and Abani's engaging writing style drew me in from the first page. Abani brings us into an unknown world for most Americans: the slums of Lagos, Nigeria and introduces us to Elvis, a complex boy who impersonates his namesake as a profession.

Through the course of the novel, Elvis is shown different ways of living, by different characters: his friend Redemption, a man named King of the Beggars, and his father Sunday. His ultimate goal being to escape Lagos for Las Vegas, Elvis takes differnt paths winding up in jail at one point, and trafficing children as organ donors at another, the message being clear: there is no easy way out of the ghetto.

Abani brings to life distinct and amazing characters, from the grandmother who speaks with a Scottish accent, due to the people for whom she worked, to Elvis's mother a woman who remained strong for her son until the day she died.

This is an important book, not just for its literary contribution, but also in the fact that it highlights a part of the world and a difficult way of living that is absolutely foreign to Americans. America is shown as the bright lights of Vegas, the land of opportunity, the land from which John Wayne movies come, and the only way to escape.

His realistic characters and incredibe writing style prove him to be a new bright force in the literary world. Read this book, and then, read it again.