Entangled: A review, By Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi

When I first laid my hands on this book – the title brought back a memory of the word entanglement that trended a few years ago.

So my curiosity was heightened. On the day I received it, I had planned to read it over the weekend, but I started on my drive home and couldn’t drop the book till I finished it close to midnight.

Quite honestly, the book brought some nostalgic feelings to me. The young romance of Ajoke and Femi, starting from the university is reminisce of my husband and I – though without the drama

Entangled is an interesting read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

So let’s get down to business.

1. The plot – 5 major characters Ajoke, Dr Femi, Kike, Deji, and Prof Ola. Plus other support characters. The story is woven primarily around a university campus setting. The book is still on the boy and girl matter. – starting with Kike in her current school and transporting us back in time.

Kike was in an almost constant confused state of mind that is typical of her age and circumstances. Being from a broken home- she is constantly under the radar of her mother Ajoke, as expected who is weary of her daughter making the same mistakes that she made.

Should we say Ajoke constrained Kike? Or was she just being a dutiful mother? We see family dynamics in operation, the struggles of a young girl to do right by herself and by her family. Faced by societal and family pressure. The book builds momentum and eventually ties the dots together.

Being an advocacy of self-esteem and self confidence in a girl- child, I could relate. The insecurities, the tendency to want to conform and fit in. The book depicts some intrigues and twist at some point. I would say it’s kind of romantic too – in a kind of way

2. The author’s style and voice: he used a dialogue style and sometimes descriptive story telling style, in a voice that is warm and conversational. Which made the book Easy to read and follow
3. Praise: I like the depiction of vulnerability. There was no attempt to create a superhero out of the characters. It was all down to highlighting our frailty as human beings and our inadequacies at times. It was real, practicable and very relatable.
4. Favorite character – who is my favourute character. Can you guess? It is Deji. Such a gentleman and a well cultured human being. If we had many more of him, this world will be a super place. They possibly only exist in books! he is Real, supportive and loving. He has his head screwed on rightly. Every girl’s dream of a man!
5. Critique. I think the character of Prof Ola could have been given some more prominence. I thought there should have been closure on Professor as it concerns Kike’s mother. Given what came to be later.
6. The climax: you would ask what’s the high point of the book? Wow! I won’t be a spoiler on that! You need to read the book to know. It was an unexpected twist to the story. Which bring complication to the plot further reinforcing human susceptibility to life happenings. I would say I almost beat myself – when I got to the point when I said – I should have known!
7. In Summary: Entangled brings to fore -the effects and implications of choices made/ the impact of parental influence and the fall out on their children/ the vulnerability of the girl child/ and how as parents, our children often perceived us as infallible.
8. I will recommend Entangled. The appeal cuts across age groups. And does not alienate anyone. It has a broad appeal. It’s a book that you read and pause to ask yourself – what would I have done in that situation?

Round up

I see an opportunity for another book Kayode. Someone once told me, that when you see philandering men, it’s not just for the sake of having fun for them but more out of a deep hole in their lives they are trying desperately to fill. So maybe Kayode can explore what that is from the perspective of men like Dr Femi Cole. It might just help women see things from their point of view.

On that note, I will say well done Kayode and to many more books!

Thank you

• A review presented at the Lagos launch of Entangled, the novel.