Week 7 - Aké

Wole never returns to a voice that denotes observation for the reader leaving them to infer the thought process behind the situation at hand. Leaving people to unconscious argument would be fine if writing fiction, as we have already seen in the previous books we’ve read, but this case being almost negligent, where the author is trying subliminally to create discussion points based out of fact, authority is lost. The passivity which is faced when observing the issue of colonization (i.e. the marching troops) by the reader creates a dilemma that increases insecurity within them – we, as readers, can certainly infer what the intended meaning or subliminal reference is, but are we correct? (And, to digress slightly, I do understand that contextually our logic seems correct.) The nature of the book is autobiographical. But, because we are being sent convergent messages, our logical perspective is jeopardized – is this a book about someone’s life, or is it a fictional narration of colonial complacency? Wole’s voice, being that the initial one is only two and half years of age, is completely compromised for this fact. I absolutely cannot, wont, will never, accept that a three year old child has complex thoughts outside of whether this bug or that dirt looks better to put in its mouth. The fact that he organizes an erudite mission to his sister’s school, and does so with gustier and such serpentine flavor would be something someone three times his age would find difficult to do. If no one had told me that Wole’s factual life was wrapped up in the convoluted messages he’s sending to his readers, I think this book would have been the favorite I’ve read this semester. With that said, I will get through it, but consistently, the foundation created by the narrator will be shook with fierceness that topples all factual information leaving me to wonder – why, and a great big really?