One challenge too many

Born Under a Bad Sign is a novel which satisfies the five elements of fiction: plot structure, characterization, theme, setting and style.

The novelist approached the narrative from a highly creative angle by not allowing the events in the novel to flow in the most natural, conventional way. He starts the story at a near climax stage, instead of the beginning, and continues to creatively alternate between the past and present of the storyline, while also moving the plot forward. The use of frequent flashbacks at strategic moments in the story portrays the imaginative and creative ability of the novelist, and shows him as a good storyteller who can sustain the interest of his readers and keep their minds active in tracking where the story eventually ends.

The conflict in the plot is plausible, and the protagonists cannot be more real than they already are. In fact, while reading, one can picture individuals whose real stories, reactions and beliefs are similar to those protagonist and antagonists.

Characters are the wheels which move a storyline forward. A good storyline without well-developed characters amounts to a big dent on a work of literature. In the novel, the author was able to create characters whose attitudes, dispositions, beliefs, emotions etc. are well laid out for the readers to understand their persons. The author ensures that there are no doubts about the persons of Retired Colonel  Morakinyo and Toun Morakinyo as static charactyers; Assistant Superintendent Tunde Badmus as a flat character, and David, Larry Okon, Justice Akinsola s round characters, to mention but a few. Also, based on the plausibility of the storyline, it is not impossible to have

a particular character being categorized as belonging to more than one character type, egg. Tunde Badmus, Chief Atunwase.

The themes of class stratification, oppression, high-profiled conspiracy, determination, love, fate among many others featured in the novel. All these issues are what every society and individuals face almost on daily basis. Hence, the themes serve the purpose of not just entertaining but reminding the reader of the reality of the aforementioned issues.

The novel is set in Africa, particularly in the Nigeria nation, but in an unnamed state. References to places like Ibadan, Ondo state, and the use of a government structure similar to that of Nigeria lend credence to this. The temporal setting is post-independence Nigeria, given the kind of technological devices employed.

Though a prose, the novelist employs a very distinct kind of style by adopting the technique of dialogue in great measure. This enlivened the story and made it more interesting to read. The languages of the work is appropriate and embellished with idioms. Instances of jargon, code-switching and code-mixing are used to mark character differences and camaraderie.

The book is good and ranks high in quality and content. It is readable for students in secondary and tertiary institutions as well as for lovers of good stories.