The Famished Road by Ben Okri
The novel centers around the life of an abiku, a spirit child, who resides in the bustling city of Lagos. Despite numerous attempts to return to the spiritual world, the boy is tethered to the physical realm through the love of his mother. As he navigates through the political unrest and poverty of post-colonial Nigeria, he experiences a series of surreal and mystical encounters, all while wrestling with the pull of the spirit world. The narrative is a blend of reality and the supernatural, providing a unique perspective on the struggles and complexities of human life.
The 818th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1991
- Nationality
- Nigerian
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 500-600
- Words
- 156,000
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 88th on 100 Books of Classical and Modern Foreign Literature (The Union of Russian Writers)
- 499th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The Graphic Canon (Book)
- 25 acclaimed international writers choose 25 of the best books from the last 25 years (Wasafiri Magazine)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century (Zimbabwe International Book Fair)
- Man Booker Prize (Man Booker Prize)