This novel didn't grab me at first. I read 100 pages then let the library loan expire. When it became available again I flew through it..
There is so much I’d like to write about Death of the Author but can’t for spoilers. The reader needs to experience it themselves. When I finished, I just sat there thinking, “wow”.
So, the basics: Zelu is the American born, second daughter to Nigerian parents, a legitimate princess through her mother, paraplegic since an early age, failed author, and recently fired adjunct professor of creative writing. Feeling especially down and self-pitying after the wedding of a sister, Zelu opens her laptop and rather than writing about normal people having normal problems, begins to write about something not human, rusted robots.
This is a story within a story. Zelu’s novel, Rusted Robots is narrated by Ankara, a Hume robot, i.e. has the shape of the human. In this world, the human race is no more. Ankara is a scholar and collects stories, something the Humes love since they can’t create any of their own.
The other half of the novel is Zelu’s personal story. Her life changes dramatically when Rusted Robots is embraced worldwide and she is suddenly worth millions and can finally become independent. But there is a price to fame, her family doesn’t approve and her fans think they own her. And her sudden rise to fame naturally leads to cancellation when an ill-advised comment on a talk show brings a backlish.
Death of the Author is a deep exploration of Nigerian culture and the place of some like Zelu within that culture. Zelu is loved by her family but because of her disability they see her as broken, someone who needs to be protected. Her success isn’t celebrated by her family who resist her attempts at independence and are frustrated by Zelu’s defiance and obstinacy.
For me, the themes are the power of stories, the need for stories, treatment of people with disabilities, generational communication, relationships, family, conflict between traditional culture and the generation one step removed from the culture,
Zelu isn’t particularly likeable and the reader might want to smack some sense in her but we still empathize and root for her. Likewise her family would drive me crazy but we see where her parents and siblings are coming from and can empathize with them as well.
This isn’t hammered but Zulu is clear that there are different rules for black authors. This ties in with a book I’m reading called How to Read Now by Elaine Costillo which explores, among other issues, that there is the expectation that writers of color are expected to educate white readers. I recommend Costillo’s book.
This is a well written and moving story that I enjoyed and I want to read more by the author. I also had a tear in my eye at the end.
On a lighter note, food plays a big role in the story and I really want to find a Nigerian restaurant and try jollof rice and pounded yam.
