Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta Book Review — Oluwatosin Kayode
Seffi Atta’s novel, Everything Good will Come narrates the journey of a young girl and the circumstances that envelope her. The novel details her journey right from her innocence, her relationship with her dysfunctional family, search for identity, her friendship with Sheri, the shedding off of her innocence and naivety, her growth, her love life, her “rebellions”, and the decisions she consciously makes in her adult life which includes activism and her quest for individuality.
The novel, narrated from Enitan’s point of view is able to paint the different vices and realities people — especially women — live in. It can be argued that her birth into her family and several other instances shaped the woman she becomes at 35. She watched her mother lose herself to religion and other shenanigans because of the lack of individuality which could have resulted from her failed marriage and other circumstances, she watched her mother advise her against “yellow” simply because she is moslem and “lose” and she became curious. Then she experienced her best friend get raped; and I can imagine her faith in humanity dropping by several pounds. She also finds out that her boyfriend, who she had some sort of complex relationship with cheated. By the time she got married, she had grown, seen and experience a lot that would not allow her submit, lest she lost her mind also.
Everything Good will Come shows ironically shows how Enitan’s father (perhaps indirectly) puts the rebellious and revolutionary spirit in Enitan. He supports her friencship with Sheri, and he advocates for the liberation of women; a phenomenon that Enitan’s mother could not fathom. In addition to this, Enitan accepting her sexuality started during her studies in London, thereby proving the stifling society she grows up in.
In Seffi Atta’s Everything Good will Come, we also see the journey of Enitan’s friend, Sheri who grows up overly exposed in a polygamous home. Sheri, despite being crippled in thinking — to an extent — by the patriarchal society, grows up to be assertive and bold about what she really wants. She journeys from the little girl that believes that women cannot be presidents to the woman who leads her family to start a business. She reminisces of the strength of women before her — her grandmother.
Finally, Seffi Atta’s novel basically narrates the growth of two young women as they try to survive in the society they have been placed and also, the various decisions they make that seem alien to the society.
The Luminaries Bookclub is an online book club with the aim of encouraging people of different backgrounds and walks of life to read, interact, and expand their knowledge base to increase in wisdom and understanding and maximize their potentials. Our sole purpose is to revive the reading culture among the youth, and as the name implies, build up individuals that are an inspiration to others and together be a body that gives light.
Want to be a member? Click here to chat with our Admin. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get our updates.
