The Son of the House
 First edition (Nigeria) | |
| Author | Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onubia |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Literary fiction, family saga |
| Publisher | Penguin Random House LLC Parrésia Publishers |
Publication date | 2019 |
| Publication place | Nigeria |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 978-1-4597-4708-1 |
The Son of the House is a family saga novel written by the Nigerian author Cheluchi Onyemelukwe. Her debut novel, it was first published by Parrésia Publishers (in Nigeria) and Penguin Random House South Africa in 2019.[1][2][3][4]
Plot
[edit]The Son of the House is focused mainly on Nwabulu, who was sent out by her step mother to work as a servant. She falls in love with a boy from a wealthy family who impregnates her and then denies the pregnancy. Nwabulu is sent back to the village where she was married to a man whose grandmother is eager to get a grandson.
Meanwhile, there is also an independent teacher named Julie who has fallen in love with a wealthy man married man named Eugene who wants nothing more than a son.
When both women are kidnapped they tell each other their stories and find that they have more in common than they once thought.
Theme
[edit]The novel revolves around polygamy, patriarchy in Africa, and the subordinate position which most women are kept in Africa.
Reception
[edit]A reviewer at Publishers Weekly described the novel as an "...intimate study of the issues facing contemporary Nigeria..." and that "...her masterly storytelling makes this consistently entertaining."[4] Quill and Quire described it as a "...roller coaster of emotions that Nwabulu experiences with perfectly executed cliffhangers to her chapters."[1] CBC Books acknowledged that the "...debut is set against four decades of vibrant Nigeria, celebrating the resilience of women as they navigate and transform what still remains a man's world."[5] The novel has been compared to Buchi Emecheta's The Joys of Motherhood.[6]
Awards and recognition
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Sharjah International Book Fair | — | Won | [3] |
| 2020 | SprinNG Women Authors Prize | — | Won | [7] |
| 2021 | Giller Prize | — | Shortlisted | [8] |
| Nigeria Prize for Literature | — | Won | [9] |
Other honors
[edit]- 35 Canadian books to check out in summer 2021 by CBC Radio.[10]
- The Top Nigerian Books Of 2019 by Channels Television.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onubia (7 June 2021). "Review: The Son of the House". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ Ikhide Ikheloa (18 October 2019). "Book Review | Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia's The Son of the House | Ikhide Ikheloa". Brittle Paper. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Nigeria's Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia Wins At Sharjah International Book Fair". Channels Television. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Fiction Book Review: The Son of the House by Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia. Dundurn, $18.99 trade paper (304p) | ISBN 978-1-4597-4708-1". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia (25 January 2021). "Book Review: The Son of the House". Dundurn Press. CBC Radio. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ Uduak-Estelle Akpan (2 May 2021). "The Son Of The House: Cheluchi Does Impeccable Work Here, While Entertaining, Educating, And Appealing To One's Sense Of Morality – Book Review". OkadaBooks. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ Chukwuebuka Ibeh. "Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onubia wins inaugural SprinNG women authors prize". Brittle Paper.
- ^ Adina Bresge (5 October 2021). "Two-time runner-up Miriam Toews among authors on Giller Prize shortlist". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Damiete Braide (30 October 2021). "BREAKING: Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia wins Nigeria Prize for Literature 2021". The Sun Nigeria Newspaper.
- ^ CBC Books (30 June 2021). "35 Canadian books to check out in summer 2021". CBC Radio. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "Afonja, Be(com)ing Nigerian – The Top Nigerian Books Of 2019". Channels Television. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
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