An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma (The Fishermen) is a tragic look at how binding oneself to a singular purpose can both give life new meaning and destroy it. Narrated by the chi (guardian spirit) of a young man living in Nigeria, the novel is a sprawling look at the country's past and present.
It's a love story between Chinonso and Ndali, a woman far above him in caste and learning. The two meet by chance when he sees her preparing to jump off a bridge to her death. He succeeds in stopping her, and they fall in love, much to the chagrin of her family. A poor poultry farmer, Chinonso has none of the attributes her parents expect in a suitor, and he is ostracized for his failures. At the urging of an old schoolmate, he sells his family's property to enroll in university in Cyprus, hopeful that by returning with a degree he can win over Ndali's parents. But his schoolmate's encouragement turns out to be a ruse, and Chinonso is left penniless on the Mediterranean island, beginning a years-long journey back to Ndali that forever changes them both.
The Odyssey is mentioned offhandedly on a couple of occasions, but An Orchestra of Minorities plays like a dark satire of that foundational text of Western literature. And the chi narrates with the weariness of a creature who has seen all facets of human suffering. Ultimately, An Orchestra of Minorities is a powerful look at the opportunities and ruin that lay before a man in pursuit of his dreams. --Noah Cruickshank, adult engagement manager, the Field Museum, Chicago, Ill.