THE KNOTS OF KARMA
By Ngozi Onyioha-Orji
So, what are the questions at the heart of The Knots of Karma?
Ask almost any parent about love, and they'll probably describe to you of the ultimate love sacrifices by them to their children like, the skilfully crafted sacrificial, all suffering love of Romeo to Juliet or, - vice versa depending on your side of the divide. But their kids, sometimes, particularly, as in these instances, often, have different views. So, the questions are; do these parents know that by their very idealistic love, insistent on channelled paths to ‘ideal proper life style’ etc, that these children may get affected unhelpfully? As Kubie is dead, your answer, is in the game played out in the stories the other five girls told of their teenage years arising from misguided parental misconceptions, ignorance, overzealous love, faulty upbringing, psychotic conceptions and, of course, the beautiful strokes of Ngozi’s imprinted words.
Thematic ideas of loved, suicide, solitude and secrets lead six characters to very confused adulthood, and propelling Ngozi to create over 400 pages of compelling meditations on subjects on forms of child abuse(including rape, street trade, early marriage and virginal tear-VVF), sickle cell anaemia, hard drug trade, prostitution, and pornography. How did she manage to do this? Ngozi wrote. She wrote the way a novelist, a fictional writer who wants to bring attention to particular socio-cultural taboos contrives the element that would do so without veiling or excusing such unacceptable conducts? That is, her point of view was very clear.
On theme;
Parenting, work and life of children crisscross as Ngozi uses the issues surrounding the characters as inspiration to try to get a grasp on why some people turn out the way they are- that is, sometimes perfect-like me, at other times just good or gravitationally, damaged.
Ngozi’s characterization reaches the status of icon when she is able to make them transcend the environment in which they originate to symbolize something deeper, as seen when they're able to reflect, after the death of Kubie, on the truth about their childhood, the way they had lived after, their hopes and dreams. All of which I strongly believe may help some readers realise the possibilities in live when one faces reality.
There is a message here...the Knots Of Karma... is a testament to the power of fictional writing, to the strength, comfort and hope of what heroes and heroines in fiction can offer us, and a reminder that no matter our background, even as adults all is not lost. But, more importantly to me is the way each character can easy be identified by their speech; for instance, it one cannot mistake .............’s dad or Ibong for any other and odd nuances.
On plotting, Ngozi has tried to wrench the rich from their rooted vantage point to the reality that abuse is not limited to impoverished children only. The rich damaged girl child may ordinarily have been impelled by the structure of most books that identify with heroes or heroine that makes the abuse child come from poor homes. In such books, what ordinarily should have been essentially a simple act of identification when the reader of the story is from a poor background becomes a tangle of contradictions when the reader is from a rich home. In such book, the rich girl is co-opted into participating in an experience from which she is explicitly ruled out; made to identify with a selfhood that defines itself in exclusion of her.
Still on plot, the way each of the girl’s story links to another marvelously captures the way a good story teller tells her tale; i.e. the account is left to run on a little, letting the next story fester before properly getting into it while always keeping the thematic narration connected. I’m not very big fan of flash back –anyone who’s heard me on 92.9Kapitalfm knows that-however, when properly handled, as is the case here, it’s a thing of beauty. Her flash back techniques goes backwards into time giving exposition about all aspects of the girls’ lives but beyond the reflection however, the story shows flashes of what goes on in the parlour where the girls were and, that helps for effectiveness, clarity and keeps the story in the present.
The settings: The focus is mainly Owerri and Lagos with odd mention of other places. So, the use of familiar names reinforces realism. But then again, the blend of the character to have different cultural background helps to reinforce such reality and further transform the social setting beyond the physical locations.
Ngozi is big on description. I love that. Here, I particularly like this...’the labored sound of a motor engine called my attention to the approaching bus. I ran after it and jumped in just before it gathers momentum’ – beautiful description, picturesque scene. I believe every writer should Endeavour, always to give specific concrete details in their writing because without concretely rich evocation, writing fails to interest. However, be careful- finely measured, it is good. Over stretched, it becomes laborious.
Every good reader has, over a life time come across book or would, for those who may not yet have. You knew such book relates to you the very first time you read it. A book you can turn to when you need perspective, inspiration, conviction or reassurance. A book that makes you realise for instance that you have become quite at ease with situations; be it sexual harassments, abuses or other forms of cultural nuances that should outrage you but which over time you have casually given in to due to over familiarity. But on reading ‘this book,’... with each page you open, you find something absorbing, intriguing, and, or awakening. For me, I find The Knots of Karma, a chilling symbolic echo of realities which our children – daily, are exposed to. - a book, which the aroma of deep sadness arises - from each damaged girl’s telltale.
It is - highly recommended.
Ngozi, thank you. To everyone, keep writing and reading. Thank you all.
So, what are the questions at the heart of The Knots of Karma?
Ask almost any parent about love, and they'll probably describe to you of the ultimate love sacrifices by them to their children like, the skilfully crafted sacrificial, all suffering love of Romeo to Juliet or, - vice versa depending on your side of the divide. But their kids, sometimes, particularly, as in these instances, often, have different views. So, the questions are; do these parents know that by their very idealistic love, insistent on channelled paths to ‘ideal proper life style’ etc, that these children may get affected unhelpfully? As Kubie is dead, your answer, is in the game played out in the stories the other five girls told of their teenage years arising from misguided parental misconceptions, ignorance, overzealous love, faulty upbringing, psychotic conceptions and, of course, the beautiful strokes of Ngozi’s imprinted words.
Thematic ideas of loved, suicide, solitude and secrets lead six characters to very confused adulthood, and propelling Ngozi to create over 400 pages of compelling meditations on subjects on forms of child abuse(including rape, street trade, early marriage and virginal tear-VVF), sickle cell anaemia, hard drug trade, prostitution, and pornography. How did she manage to do this? Ngozi wrote. She wrote the way a novelist, a fictional writer who wants to bring attention to particular socio-cultural taboos contrives the element that would do so without veiling or excusing such unacceptable conducts? That is, her point of view was very clear.
On theme;
Parenting, work and life of children crisscross as Ngozi uses the issues surrounding the characters as inspiration to try to get a grasp on why some people turn out the way they are- that is, sometimes perfect-like me, at other times just good or gravitationally, damaged.
Ngozi’s characterization reaches the status of icon when she is able to make them transcend the environment in which they originate to symbolize something deeper, as seen when they're able to reflect, after the death of Kubie, on the truth about their childhood, the way they had lived after, their hopes and dreams. All of which I strongly believe may help some readers realise the possibilities in live when one faces reality.
There is a message here...the Knots Of Karma... is a testament to the power of fictional writing, to the strength, comfort and hope of what heroes and heroines in fiction can offer us, and a reminder that no matter our background, even as adults all is not lost. But, more importantly to me is the way each character can easy be identified by their speech; for instance, it one cannot mistake .............’s dad or Ibong for any other and odd nuances.
On plotting, Ngozi has tried to wrench the rich from their rooted vantage point to the reality that abuse is not limited to impoverished children only. The rich damaged girl child may ordinarily have been impelled by the structure of most books that identify with heroes or heroine that makes the abuse child come from poor homes. In such books, what ordinarily should have been essentially a simple act of identification when the reader of the story is from a poor background becomes a tangle of contradictions when the reader is from a rich home. In such book, the rich girl is co-opted into participating in an experience from which she is explicitly ruled out; made to identify with a selfhood that defines itself in exclusion of her.
Still on plot, the way each of the girl’s story links to another marvelously captures the way a good story teller tells her tale; i.e. the account is left to run on a little, letting the next story fester before properly getting into it while always keeping the thematic narration connected. I’m not very big fan of flash back –anyone who’s heard me on 92.9Kapitalfm knows that-however, when properly handled, as is the case here, it’s a thing of beauty. Her flash back techniques goes backwards into time giving exposition about all aspects of the girls’ lives but beyond the reflection however, the story shows flashes of what goes on in the parlour where the girls were and, that helps for effectiveness, clarity and keeps the story in the present.
The settings: The focus is mainly Owerri and Lagos with odd mention of other places. So, the use of familiar names reinforces realism. But then again, the blend of the character to have different cultural background helps to reinforce such reality and further transform the social setting beyond the physical locations.
Ngozi is big on description. I love that. Here, I particularly like this...’the labored sound of a motor engine called my attention to the approaching bus. I ran after it and jumped in just before it gathers momentum’ – beautiful description, picturesque scene. I believe every writer should Endeavour, always to give specific concrete details in their writing because without concretely rich evocation, writing fails to interest. However, be careful- finely measured, it is good. Over stretched, it becomes laborious.
Every good reader has, over a life time come across book or would, for those who may not yet have. You knew such book relates to you the very first time you read it. A book you can turn to when you need perspective, inspiration, conviction or reassurance. A book that makes you realise for instance that you have become quite at ease with situations; be it sexual harassments, abuses or other forms of cultural nuances that should outrage you but which over time you have casually given in to due to over familiarity. But on reading ‘this book,’... with each page you open, you find something absorbing, intriguing, and, or awakening. For me, I find The Knots of Karma, a chilling symbolic echo of realities which our children – daily, are exposed to. - a book, which the aroma of deep sadness arises - from each damaged girl’s telltale.
It is - highly recommended.
Ngozi, thank you. To everyone, keep writing and reading. Thank you all.
Comments