August 2006    

Unexpected Joy at Dawn Author: Alex Agyei-Agyiri Publisher: Sub-Saharan Publishers $14.95 Paperback (319 p.) ISBN: 9988550537 B&T         YBP Reviewed by David White, Customer Service Bibliographer I read Unexpected Joy at Dawn in order to expose myself to the writings of a different culture. Not writings about a different culture, but from a different culture. I found the experience both rewarding and challenging. Unexpected Joy at Dawn takes place between two 'alien compliance orders' that forced illegal immigrants to return to their originating countries. The story unfolds between Ghana and Nigeria, as first Ghana expels the other's citizens and then Nigeria responds in kind some years later. The book interweaves two narrative threads. In Ghana, Nii - dealing with his wife's illness - searches for his roots and his long-lost sister, sent back to Nigeria in the earlier repatriation with the rest of his family. In Nigeria, Mama Orojo returns to Ghana in a search for her long-lost brother. I can't say it's an easy read. There are (thankfully) small sections of phonetic dialog, whose meaning I found often eluded my grasp. Cultural differences made understanding why certain things were happening very confusing at times, and the realities of every day life in Ghana and Liberia were a constant source of surprise. What I ended up with was a glimpse of life in Western Africa. It was also very clear that while I could enjoy the reading experience (and eventually I did enjoy it), and while I feel I have more insight into the culture of the narrative's time and place, I can't help feeling that some of the novel was beyond my understanding. Not the story itself - but the accompanying cultural experience so foreign to my own. I would recommend this book for collections on Contemporary African literature and history. Published by YBP Library Services 999 Maple St., Contoocook, NH 03229 USA v: 800.258.3774   f: 603.746.5628 w: www.ybp.com   e: academia@ybp.com All rights reserved.