Voice of America Book

An electrifying debut from a winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing

E. C. Osondu is a fearless and passionate new writer, whose stories echo the joys and struggles of a cruel, beautiful world. His characters burst from the page—they fight, beg, love, grieve, but ultimately they are dreamers. Set in Nigeria and the United States, Voice of America moves from the fears and dreams of boys and girls in villages and refugee camps to the disillusionment and confusion of young married couples living in America, and then back to bustling Lagos.

In "Waiting," two young refugees make their way through another day, fighting for meals and hoping for a miracle that will carry them out of the camp; in "A Simple Case," the boyfriend of a prostitute is rounded up by the local police and must charm his fellow prisoners for protection and survival; and in "Miracle Baby," the trials of pregnancy and mothers-in-law are laid bare in a woman’s return to her homeland. Each of the eighteen stories here possesses a voice at once striking and elegant, capturing the dramatic lives of an unforgettable cast of characters.

Written with exhilarating energy and warmth, the stories of Voice of America are full of humor, pathos, and wisdom, marking the debut of an extraordinary new talent.

Publishers Weekly

In "Waiting," the first story in Osondu's debut collection, Nigerians in an American refugee camp take their names from T-shirts given to them by the Red Cross, a telling detail that sets the tone for all that follows. In "Jimmy Carter's Eyes," a blind girl becomes a prophet; in "Miracle Baby," another prophet assures a childless woman that one of the fish in his pond will become her baby. A Greek chorus gives many of Osondu's tales a folkloric tone and, indeed, "Our First American" feels as if the entire village is telling the story of Mark and his girlfriend, a temperamental prostitute named Beauty. Whereas the stories set in Nigeria have a fablesque quality, the American-set tales are poignant studies of the immigrant experience. "An Incident at Pat's Bar" is a compelling marriage of both worlds. Set at an expat bar in Nigeria, it explores the strained relationship between Nigerian and American oil workers. Osondu's direct and humorous insights and poetic descriptions create a captivating portrait of time and place. (Nov.)