My Sister, The Serial Killer was not the book I expected it to be. It is hard for me to fully remember what I had thought originally but I think I had expected it to be more of a thriller, perhaps more malicious than it was. Instead it is more an exploration of the complexities of family and especially the relationship of sisters. Very early in the story we see that Korede resents being the responsible older sibling and having a younger sister who appears to have a charmed life (despite her habits of murder). We see that Korede is uncertain of her sister and the circumstances that lead to the supposed acts of self- defence.
What I did get from the story was an interesting character study about perceptions of a person versus reality. How far can a familial bond be pushed, and where do our loyalties ultimately lie. This is quite a quick read, due to its lower page count. I think that it may have benefited from a little more fleshing out, perhaps more about previous events that were only hinted at. I also enjoyed experiencing the elements relating to Nigerian culture and would have enjoyed more of this if it has been part of the story.
My Sister, The Serial Killer has been nominated for a number of awards, and I think it is easy to understand why. I am definitely interested to read any future releases from Oyinkan Briathwaite and this may be a story to re-read in the near future to see how some of the elements read once you know the outcome and conclusion.
What I did get from the story was an interesting character study about perceptions of a person versus reality. How far can a familial bond be pushed, and where do our loyalties ultimately lie. This is quite a quick read, due to its lower page count. I think that it may have benefited from a little more fleshing out, perhaps more about previous events that were only hinted at. I also enjoyed experiencing the elements relating to Nigerian culture and would have enjoyed more of this if it has been part of the story.
My Sister, The Serial Killer has been nominated for a number of awards, and I think it is easy to understand why. I am definitely interested to read any future releases from Oyinkan Briathwaite and this may be a story to re-read in the near future to see how some of the elements read once you know the outcome and conclusion.