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An Orchestra of Minorities
- Narrated by: Chukwudi Iwuji
- Length: 18 hrs and 8 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
Non-member price: $30.38
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Publisher's Summary
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2019
From the Author of the Booker-shortlisted novel, The Fishermen.
A young farmer named Chinonso prevents a woman from falling to her death. Bonded by this strange night on the bridge, he and Ndali fall in love, but it is a mismatch according to her family who reject him because of his lowly status. Is it love or madness that makes Chinonso think he can change his destiny? Set across Nigeria and Cyprus, An Orchestra of Minorities, written in the mythic style of the Igbo tradition, weaves a heart-wrenching tale about fate versus free will.
Critic Reviews
"Chigozie Obioma is a writer to watch." (The Economist)
"Chigozie Obioma truly is the heir to Chinua Achebe." (New York Times Book Review)
"A spectacular artistic leap." (Guardian)
More from the same
What listeners say about An Orchestra of Minorities
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Robyn
- 05-04-2020
Heartrending and transformative
The text, with its deeply wrought physical and emotional moments, beautifully read. The ability of human beings to become contemptuous of each other explored at every scale. Loyalty to each other, deeper than love or forgiveness, also. This work places the Crucifixion in the hearts of humanity, but not only there.
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- Anonymous User
- 27-02-2020
Emotional African tail
I like the central character, throughout the book I was back in his efforts. I really felt for his emotional well-being and sometimes
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-10-2019
This novel should have been shorter
I can’t understand why this book was 16 hours long. The first 8 hours drag terribly but then it gets very interesting in the last eight.
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- Aud Jorunn Hakestad
- 18-09-2019
Best novel in decades
I was wrecked and ruined while listening. But it was still so entisingly and beautiful written that I couldn't stop. This story is so sad, so all-consuming and so life changing that I can't help listening to it. The novel reminds me of great authors like Kafka, Dostojevski and Ibsen. It will mean a lot to many people.
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- Ade
- 22-08-2019
Be yourself, no matter what they say!
This refrain made me smile "I have seen this before, many times" Love this novel, a great lesson in staying true to yourself and being authentic. The narrator captured the essence and atmosphere of the story quite well. Looking out for other titles by the author.
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- Hugh M. Clarke
- 28-01-2019
Orchestra of Minorities
A very rewarding book. A story about love and obsession, vengeance and repentance. A story about transformation, from malign to good and from good to destructive. The story is told from the perspective of the spirit of the main character. The story shares many attributes of the great tragedies, with the inner spirit acting as a Chorus, commenting on its host with objectivity, love and; at times; powerlessness. The spirit bears witness to to the physical, emotional and moral ruin of an admirable and loving man at the hands of Fate, with which he colludes in his own destruction. Beautifully read by Chukwudi Iwuji, whose voice carries the listener into day-to-day Nigerian society.
4 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 10-11-2019
an orchestre of minorities
tragic, terrifyingly a possible reality. we must not shy away from but makes hard listening. very well written and superbly narrated
2 people found this helpful
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- amaka Nwosu
- 06-11-2019
Excellent read
Loved the book. My 2nd from this author . Thoroughly engaging, thought provoking and excellent read.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 13-10-2019
Heart wrenching
A moving and beautifully written tragedy which will remain with me for a long time
2 people found this helpful
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- Osareme
- 07-10-2019
A thrilling read.
The narrator was almost excellent. His voice was as commanding as it was clear. Superb.
2 people found this helpful
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- Witty
- 06-10-2019
Mystical
I simply could not stop listening, I woke up wanting to know what had happened next. I binge listened and had a most pleasurable experience and am now wondering about my Chi :-)
2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 17-07-2019
Really good story, not so great narration
I loved the book. The story was written beautifully, was quite captivating and I listened to the book rather quickly. However, as an Igbo person, I struggled greatly with the narrator's incorrect pronunciation of some of the Igbo names and Igbo phrases and Nigerian pidgin words/sentences They did try with the overall narration of the book and it was moving but the incorrect pronunciation seem to rob the story of its "authenticity".
2 people found this helpful
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- Mel
- 25-06-2019
Breathtaking
I loved this story and was so invested in the main character and his partner. beautifully written and beautifully narrated. I feel privileged to have listened.
2 people found this helpful
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- A. Emitomo
- 26-05-2019
Great Book
What a wonderful emotional story, very moving. Really sad end. I really enjoyed the story.
2 people found this helpful
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- holly bird
- 13-03-2019
Epic
Chigozie Obiama is a wondrous story teller. The best around in present contemporary literature. His is an epic tale with Oddysseum themes. The story takes place in Nigeria, and tells the tale of an innocent poultry farmer, who in an effort to prove his love for his woman, sets in motion a nightmarish series of punitive events that eventually lead to his mental undoing. I couldnt imagine the book being read by a better reader. Fabulous book and so is The Fishermen his previous novel.
2 people found this helpful
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