A childhood in Nigeria left its indelible imprint on the author's sensibilities, and the sights, sounds, smells, flavors, and textures of that beloved land fill the pages of this rich and thoughtful novel.
1963, and Isabel, a newly married American who has come with her aid worker husband to a small town in Nigeria, struggles to find some meaning in her life. Her husband is busy with fulfilling work, often leaving her alone. She attends a party with friends and is at once drawn to a charismatic musician. That single night will have consequences both devastating and rewarding.
Soon, while digging in her garden, Isabel discovers an enigmatic terra cotta female figure that somehow seems full of meaning. As she attempts to decipher the message, she returns to painting the watercolors that once gave meaning to her life, until a casual criticism stopped her pleasure in creation.
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The novel is full of incident and reflection. And always, Nigeria, the place and its people, speak to Isabel-- and to the reader.
Of course, I particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions as Isabel created her watercolors. And by the end of the book, I was so invested in the characters that I found myself hoping for a sequel.
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