Book Review: Stifling Embrace By J. N. Mbunabo

I received a copy of this book from the author. Thank you, J. N. Mbanubo for the gift.

Stifling Embrace is a collection of 9 short stories that explore the simple but complicated lives of a normal people. “Freckles” reveals the discrimination that people with Albinism face while “One Chance” tells a story of a girl who learns a hard lesson after she accompanies a friend to Abuja from school to make extra cash. The stories have a variety of themes from romantic relationships to relationships between parents and their children and how these relationships affect people in different ways.

For a debut, this was a good attempt. I particularly liked “One Chance” and “Freckles” because of the messages these stories carry. Most of the other stories are what I would call “having Potential” but not quite hitting the right cord. Examples are “Stifling Embrace” and “A Means To An End” which seemed  promising but veered  off course in certain parts and in my opinion too long. My least favorites were “Noonday” and “The New Soul”  as I didn’t connect with these stories at all.

In a nutshell, it was an ok read and I look out for this author in the future. If you are looking for a quick read, you may want to read this book.

Rating: 3 Stars

Published: December 2019 by Nwanne Books

Pages: 198

Genre: Short Stories

The Author: J. N. Mbunabo was born in Lagos, Nigeria. She studied Law at the University of Benin and currently works in the Legal Department of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund. She is a Chartered Secretary, trained Arbitrator and supporter of worthy courses. She is the founder of Menazuka Care Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting literacy and advancing the protection of child rights. Her poems, short fiction and non fiction have been published online and in print. Outside of serious business, she enjoys telenovelas. She lives in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Stifling Embrace is her first book.