Becoming Abigail

by Chris Abani

Book Overview

--A New York Times Editors' Choice"Moody, lyrical prose reminiscent of Toni Morrison's Beloved . . . Though the fictional Abigail exists only on the pages of Abani's novella, her character will seize... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1888451947
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Akashic Books, Ltd.
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.4" x 5.6"

Customer Reviews

Abigail, I wish I could have helped you...

I honestly haven't ever read a book quite like this. It is in one word 'wow!' Short, painful (almost masochistic to read, nearly like self flagellating), raw and honest. You will be glad to get to the end of the book but you won't dare skip a page in the process. Abigail's story couldn't have been told in any other or possibly better form or manner. Chris Abani is such a mature, heavily talented writer and he manipulates and owns his language. This is my second read of his works and I will keep on reading him. He speaks for the underdogs who have no voice, no easy feat. Chris Abani makes me proud to be Nigerian and Ibo and reminds me of the possibilities.

A gem...

This book captures so much in so few, beautifully chosen words that, after each event, I stopped to consider all that wasn't said -- all the historical, sociological, emotional, psychological, and other aspects of Abigail's complicated and harsh existence juxtaposed with her indomitable spirit.

Gripping - I wanted MORE

This is a very quick read, but not because it was not engaging. As a matter of fact, I kept reading because I wanted to know more...and you will be the same way. Although it's short, it's probably all I could handle - very deep!

Beautiful and Devastating

Becoming Abigail is devastating in its deep understanding of the complexity human nature (both the beauty and the monstrosity). I am a woman and I am amazed at Abani's ability to understand and portray a female voice. This novel is sad, terrifying, moving and every page of it rings true. The prose style is sparse, for example (from chapter 31): "The comfort of simple things. Coffee percolating. Cinnamon buns warming oven and home. An ice cold Coca-Cola on a hot day, Licking out the mixing bowl. Chocolate. Childhood... And what would be the line for her?... A line is a lie. Who can tell what it will open unto." And in this unpredictable strong novella, who can tell indeed? Abani's style here is fearless (you can read how he has distilled his prose from Graceland to Becoming Abigail) and its rhythm ranges from a paused, minimalist riff, to a painful staccato, to the intensity of a fluid jazz solo. This is a fast read that will singe your brain. Abani gives the reader no easy answers, as indeed no good artist should. He raises questions. Through this beautifully told story, in the vein of films like Moodysson's Lilya4ever, calls our attention to one of the world's most overwhelming exploitative practices: the sexual slavery of women and children, not only in Nigeria/Britain but everywhere.

Lovely and unflinching

This novel reminds me of Marguerite Duras' equally unflinching look at a young girl's sexuality, "The Lover." The writing is poetic and spare, with a real attention to visual detail and repetition of image. It has the fugue-like feel of a novella with regard to the thematic repetition of loss and violation -- although it *is* sad material, there is still some hope, and the beauty of the language carries the reader through.