The Healing Power of Love – A Review
The genius in the author of a novel will amount to nothing when the readers fail to discern what such an author’s point of view is. That this novel is fraught with allusions and hymnals is enough to tilt the readers’ heads towards the thought that the novel is a Christian novel. Contrary to this opinion, the work is better monikered “Life’s Exact Duplicate”.
One other enviable thing about the novel is its printing. Though some printing and editing flops are evident, the book cannot be thrown off the lane when compared to books published by other publishing outfits. The attractive cover the book has attests to that. Olive tree sure challenges the like of Farafina, Cassava Republic and other highly ranked publishing houses with this! The efficacious power genuine love has which makes it serve as a panacea for lust, revenge, ill health and the like is what the narrative elucidates.
Priscilla, a product of a decrepit marriage struggles against the fangs of unemployment which in turn pushes her to see more of the wide world. Despite all she goes through, she finds succour in her faith which imbues in her an attribute that most of the characters initially are destitute of. Thus, love becomes as insidious as laughter in a comic show that even the conflict the storyline creates laughs itself into obscurity. Imagine love growing from a phenomenon to an antidote.
One evident feature of the work is the author’s employment of apt allusions. References to the Bible, literary texts like Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” and the like saturate the whole narrative. This contributes to the opulence of the work as it makes the author’s diversity as a result of the blending of different aspects of life – in language usage overt. Imagine how effectively the narrator handles the medical aspects of his narrative as well as the David/Bathsheba scene.
On the other hand, the use of allusions to introduce the different chapters of the book reduces the influence suspense has on the reader. Thus, the pressure that is developed in the reader is doused. The complexity of the characterization also paints the picture of the multifarious characters of humans. The contrasting characters of Jide and Priscilla emphasize this. The former, though Gulliver in age demonstrates the attribute of a Lilliputian faith; Modibba’s benevolence is in contrast to Quadri’s malevolence.
The illusion of reality is infused into the work courtesy of the narrator’s omniscient narrative technique. He probes the characters’ inside like an explorer on an expedition. With the character of Pricilla, one cannot but sense that there is no taint of man’s fallibility in her. She is just too perfect. Love is not utopian neither is it from the philosophical ‘world of forms.
The erroneous perception that love is better expressed with one’s libidinal prowess is corrected in the novel. Jide, Priscilla’s brother-in-law finds it difficult to put his mind off the thing beneath the skirt. Love’s ability to understand the weaknesses of one’s beloved is also accentuated in the novel. With love, the worst sin even if deliberately committed is forgiven. This is the case with Bode and Salewa, his wife. What would have happened if Bode found himself in Modibba’s situation before he reconciles with his wife?
As inseparable as religion and the African society are, the practice of the former has suddenly become a source of income for those who can feign piety. Churches spring up in the name of the current trend of pentecostalism and unfortunately, not to ameliorate the conditions of people but to add masses to the mounds they already bear. The novel pokes fun at the like of Solution Mountain (God of Magnus); Anointed Ministry; Laughter Mountain; Swallow Battle Mountain; Fire for Fire Prayer Mountain and their kinds which serve as a proscenium for the society to act out its cultural role in the latest regalia of folly. Despite all this, some lives don’t fail to propagate religion in its impeccable and undistorted form.
The novel doesn’t fail to portray the exact situation the feminine folks find themselves in this part of the world. If not for the wise intervention of Priscilla, Salewa (Bode’s wife) will remain a single parent till death. Let’s consider what the situation will be if Bode finds himself in a similar situation. It must be said that society is too harsh on the misdeeds of the females. Tunde doesn’t get crucified for not being a virgin. If Priscilla finds herself in such a situation, despite the fact that her partner isn’t a virgo intacta, what could have happened? The usual thing. But with LOVE, no wound is incurable.
Told in the most sincere way, the novel will not only be of immense usefulness to the readers alone but to those whom they bequeath their library.
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