Book: Love’s Persuasion
Author: Ola Awonubi
Publisher: Ankara Press
Price: £4.00 (ebook)
Review by Catrina Walters
Love’s persuasion is a romantic novel based in Lagos, Nigeria. It tells the story of Ada Okafor, a young woman working as a receptionist at City Finance and studying to become an accountant in an attempt to succeed in her career.
When the chief executive officer develops a heart problem, he sends for his son Tony Okoli to return from England to take over the company as assistant managing director.
Tony quickly shakes things up in the company, and Ada’s life, as she falls into his arms when they first meet. He is good looking, charming and intelligent, but he is also her boss.
However, Tony’s life is far more complicated than Ada could ever have imagined. The book explores the ‘will they, won’t they’ classic relationship dilemma between them as they embark on an affair.
Ada is strong and secretive, and is wary of trusting people in general. Instead of the expected ‘tell all’ gossip, Ada holds back on sharing her feeling for Tony as she has strong views on how it could be perceived. So when faced with an attempted rape and “slut shaming”, Ada battles with a desire to flee from the drama and rejects any offers of help.
Ola Awonubi has created a flawed but realistic female character. In a male dominated working environment, Ada wants to be successful and displays an assertive professionalism. Yet when it comes to standing up for herself, she is scared of ruining her reputation and being shamed by her colleagues and neighbours. During these moments, when Ada’s embodiment of feminism falters, I want to shake her.
As for Tony, he wants to be a creative writer and has no interest in working for City Finance. He would be happy for his sister Samantha to run the company, but his traditionalist father wants his first born son in charge as Samantha’s role is to get married and look after the home.
Tony is a man influenced by modern society. He is open minded to the equality of women and demonstrates his support for a loving, strong and determined 21st century woman. But like Ada, he compromises on his values and beliefs by trying to please his family.
The bond between Tony and Ada over a love of literature, arts and knowledge is enjoyable, though this connection could have been explored further, instead of them turning into two lovestruck teenage halfway through the novel. Tony’s worldly influences as a traveller, and Ada’s exceptional experience of an expensive restaurant, rather than her usual fast food, highlights the social disparities in the city, and between them.
Awonubi’s writing style is easy to read and as a romantic novel, the ending is anticipated. The references to Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are an appreciative nod to great writers in African literature as well as those mentioned from English literature. That said the conversational dialogue in local dialect between characters doesn’t flow naturally and misses the correct intonation.
Love’s Persuasion is a good read and page turner. It quickly engages you into the lives of Ada and Tony and you are left wanting to know what happens to them.