Author: Busola Fawole
Reviewed by: Alhaji Denja Abdulahi – Immediate past president, Association of Nigerian Author
Where We Fell is a Comedy – tragedy, which began as a sweet love story between Martin Eguldor and Anne Santiago. The story gave a mental picture of the genesis of the love, down to where they fell.
The story began with Anne telling narrating the current place of her and her lover, and with a flashback, Anne tells of how she met her lover and how they both meet in a rather unconventional way. She was particular to note that the thing that brought them together is the burning desire in both of them to achieve their dreams.
Anne Santiago has earlier turned down a lot of offers for a love relationship, including the numerous blind date masterminded by her Rosa, her friend. However meeting Martin, a friend to Fred, at the airport was fantastic.
Fantastic in the sense that, it was very unconventional. She had left that morning without an expectation of finding love. They duo later has two dinner dates, before entering into a relationship.
One could tell from the book, that the relationship between the two was sweet, genuine, sincere and real. It was sure to the characters they will eventually get married and it was sure to the readers that the characters will get married.
However, the couple fell apart, during the debut exhibition of Martins arts and photography. Martins’ art features the saddest moments of Anne’s life. To Anne, this is her limit, she cannot put up any longer. Martins at the other hand wasn’t willing to understand. To him, she isn’t ready to support his passions.
First of all, I must commend the creativity of the Author, Busola Fawole. I am in love with her choice of literary device; namely, flashback, first person narrative, soliloquy and impressive use of imagery.
She used flashback, to navigate through the past and present, giving us a balance view of the entirety of the story. The use of flashback in the story, gave the story a very different perspective and storytelling approach.
The first person narrative, brings us to the forefront to the protagonist. We were able to understand her feelings, her desires and passions. We could see through her eyes, and that suggests how much the author wants the reader to feel the emotions of the protagonist.
In addition to the flashback and first person narrative technique, the author made an impressive use of soliloquy and imagery.
The soliloquy made us, understand the feelings of the protagonist even more, and we could follow her thought process. Imagery at the other hand, the gives us a clear and elaborate mental picture of the environment, sights, sounds and smell – just the as the protagonist sees and feels.
The author used imagery to show us the objects around, the room, the places, the expression on the character’s faces, and the movements of the characters.
The book, tells the reality of life. Relationship are not all rosy, and smooth. It comes with challenges, however what matters is how these challenges are solved in understanding and the commitment to stick together.
It is unfortunate, that the love burning between the two will abruptly end, just like that. The fell apart couldn’t have happen, but for the pride and unwillingness to understand from both parties that caused the fell apart.
If Martins was willing to make it work, as he claims to always be in love with her, he would have being understanding. For me, I see him as a selfish person, who always put his needs first, before considering the feeling of the other person.
For instance, we saw how he had earlier reigned a break up with Anne, just for him to witness, and take a shot of her sad moment. That is very mischievous and like Anne describes it, it was weird.
Anne at the other hand, could be more considerate. She understood her lover is obsessed with his dreams and a bit affected by a traumatic experience, she could as well possibly let it go, forgive him and move on with him.
However, we found her assuming he will call, and expecting him to apologies. He has placed the ball in her court, when he sent the text that reads, saying he wanted her to have time to think through what she wanted to do next without him hovering around in her space.
Conclusively, the book mirrors the realities of our current world, where couple easily fell apart for flimsily excuses, which could be solved if only, they were willing to understand themselves, make adjustments and move on together.
The book, where we fell, is a perfect book of art. There is no better way for it to end, than this.