After reading only the first paragraph of The Liquid Eye of a Moon, I knew this story was special. Awokes prose is immersive and alive, and you sink into it without effort. I had to blink a few times whenever I stopped reading, and I always looked forward to sinking back in. A beautiful coming-of-age story I will not forget.
-- Mary Adkins, author of
Palm BeachIn The Liquid Eye of a Moon, Uchenna Awoke casts a spell that is at once enchanting and haunting. An important story full of love and wonder, family and culture, strife and tribulation this is not your typical debut novel. You are in the hands of a masterful storyteller, one whose grace and lyricism will win you over and then burrow deep inside the muck and marrow of your soul where it will remain for a long time.
-- Robert Lopez, author of
Dispatches From Puerto NowhereA wonderful debut. The Liquid Eye of a Moon is funny and moving in equal measure. A coming of age story that readers wont forget.
-- Dipo Faloyin, author of
Africa is Not a CountryLike the great Igbo writer Chinua Achebe before him, Uchenna Awoke has given us a stunning debut novel in The Liquid Eye of a Moon. Magic is the word that best describes this book. The magic of felt life for a young person seeking a place in a senseless world. The magic and madness of superstition, exploitative beliefs, and other outmoded practices. And the magic of literary prose in the hands of a master. If there is justice in the world, this brilliant novel will change the literary landscape.
-- Jeffery Renard Allen, award-winning author of
Fat Time and Other Stories and
Song of the ShankIn The Liquid Eye of a Moon, Uchenna Awoke intricately intertwines memory, loss, and resilience against the backdrop of adolescence, capturing the essence of village and city life. With vivid portrayals of familial dynamics and societal upheavals, the narrative delicately navigates the communitys journey to reconcile its past with present obstacles, portraying Nigerians multifaceted realities.
-- Nnamdi Ehirim, author of
Prince of MonkeysA masterful debut that takes us into the ancient beliefs and present complexities of Nigeria, told through the ordinary human failings of a young man you cant help but root for.
-- Santanu Bhattacharya, author of
One Small Voice[C]ompulsory reading for fans of Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi and Imbolo Mbue Awokes style is reminiscent of Chinua Achebes, drawing on oral storytelling traditions and embodying the Nigerian proverbial style of speech. Yet it also has notes of Homers Odyssey, introducing a deity whose whims and offenses lead to tragic results for the mortals who interfere. Awoke explores a part of Nigerian culture and tradition not often examined in literature by questioning an ancient and harmful caste system, and the result is a novel that is gripping and unforgettable.
* Booklist *
Awoke's debut novel has a sturdy spine in Dimkpa, who piles up psychic and physical scars throughout his travels as he realises that to be loyal to any one tribe is to be complicit in factionalism and violence [A]dmirably ambitious.
* Kirkus Reviews *
[A] memorable debut Keenly narrated by Dimkpa, the tale is shot through with Nigerian history and insights into the ways in which political and societal oppression stymie his attempts to get ahead. This artful story of resilience is tough to shake.
* Publishers Weekly *
