Questions for the wonderful author, Chinelo Okparanta

I am curious about the author, Chinelo Okparanta and would love to give her a seat at my dining room table so I had the wonderful privilege of getting to know the person who wrote this wonderful novel. Some things I would ask her: What pushed you in the direction of writing this particular book? What do you consider to be the author's messages to the reader? How much research did this require? Your knowledge of the Bible is quite amazing. How does the Bible fit into your own life? How did you have so much knowledge of the war and its effects in Nigeria? Any personal experiences? Say more about your quote: " War is the dying of the masses in exchange for the resurrection of one." Was the wide-spread disease of polio a part of the time frame in this book? How has your book been received by readers in Nigeria?....Ohh, so many things to share with her. Perhaps, I should plan on a week-end visit...!

I guess my biggest question would be: How much of what you write is part of your personal experience?
Also, whether it was difficult to find a publisher for this very fine story?

Great questions! I did some research on the author today and was surprised to learn that she was raised in a JehovahWitness religion where the Bible was studied intensely. She eventually began to question some of the content and their strict adherence to the literal meaning...much like she does in the book. "It all began with Adam and Eve." "Could it have been started with Eve and Eve?" She thinks in terms of questions and the "why nots". She and her family did live in Nigeria and she was exposed to frequent telling of folktales which have become a very part of her. I am now very interested in your question about finding a publisher. Keep me posted if you find any information. Yes, I thought this was a very fine story and it was her first attempt at writing a novel. She has written short stories but wanted to try her hand at novel writing. What a gift she gave to all of her readers. Her list of literary awards is amazing!

She is an amazing author and I will read anything she writes.

I AGREE...In fact, I have decided that our Book Club will tackle this book as our next selection. I can only hope that they enjoy it as much as I did. Kudos to this author....!

Her mastery of English is brilliant, and I particularly enjoyed the "pigeon English" and Nigerian inserts. I wondered how and when she learned English?

I liked your observation about her mastery of English. When I researched her biography, i noted that her education had been in the US...yet she speaks of the folktales and native culture that she experienced in Nigeria. When she comes for our group dinner, I hope you will ask her these questions....."-) Wouldn't that be a dream come true? I would Love to meet her and ask her all of our questions and talk about our observations. Until then, well.....we have one another....I admire this author so much and loved the book.I will definitely read her next book...Will you?