Book 4: Patience Is a Subtle Thief by Abi Ishola-Ayodeji, Book Review

There are quite some thoughts that have been on my mind since I finished reading this book. 

The first is, that Chike should not have died, there was no reason for that, I guess, it makes the story realistic, it points to the fact that bad things happen and you often don't get everything you desire particularly when you're doing wrong. It would have been too much of a fairy tale if both of them i.e. with Patience were able to get to the US and start a new life together. I understand the reason for that twist, but I refuse to accept it.

I've gradually come to appreciate how significant the presence of both parents is in the life of a child, their stability, values and self-esteem. Patience had it wrong on all fronts, she was not a terrible person neither was she a good girl, she was desperate, naive and went into crime because of it. All because of the absence of her mom in her life and an uncaring and despotic father.

Abi's portrayal of Patience's father didn't add up, but it's relatable nevertheless. I also found the dynamics of the relationship between both parents sketchy, but she did a good job keeping the story together and making us wait to the very end just like Patience to find out why her Mom was sent away from the house.

Margaret's character is a beautiful one full of love and genuineness.

Bimpe's insecurities were glaring but she had a good run, didn't exactly like her character but her entrance and exit of the story were exceptional.

Kash got a bit of what he deserved.

Don't know what to say about Emeka, but I think Oga died too easily, you can't be running criminal operations on the scale he was and be easily set up by two of your boys, cheap death and the takeover by Emeka and Philip also didn't come off well, it seemed like the story was rushed there to get back to Patience and Chike's trajectory but it worked fair enough.

Generally, Patience had it easy, she pursued what she wanted, and made horrible decisions but life turned out well for her, except for Chike's death, she found her mom, she found answers and she was going to do what she loved.

The book is interesting, I dropped some books I was reading in search of something relaxing and it had that effect, I was a bit detached from the characters, but it felt like I was watching some performance and appalled and entertained by their wrong choices.

It gets a 3-star from me.