Patience Is a Subtle Thief: A Novel Paperback – May 9, 2023

Buy this book. Now. Patience Is a Subtle Thief starts off so strongly--and ends stronger. Honestly, by the last hundred pages or so I was addicted, flying through each page to see how the story ended. And while I tend to only read books set in the present and prefer books where I can see myself in the main character, Ishola-Ayodeji drew me into this story from the first page despite neither of those things being true. The chapters are short, the writing is sharp, and the structure of the plot kept me in suspense, wondering what would happen next. Nothing in the book felt like "filler"--each chapter holding significance and propelling the story forward. Perhaps most importantly, I felt like I knew Patience from the onset. The writing here is so immersive and encapsulating that this fictional character seems like she could have been my sister, my best friend, or my neighbor. Patience's story is enthralling--and the setting of Nigeria in the 90s so unique from everything I've read recently. Every detail served as a small geography or history lesson, which only added to the enjoyment. This book achieves the rare feat of being an "easy" read while covering sobering topics that highlight the inequalities of class and the complexities of politics. I highly, highly recommend!

I loved the plot of this book. Patience and Chike's struggle for identity and independence was engaging. Nigeria in the 90's isn't a place that I know that much about and I was fascinated by the political history and cultural differences. There's so much nuance in the difference between my experience as an American college student in the late 2000's compared to Patience's experience in a country eager to retain tradition and striving for change. However, I think my ability to grasp some of those nuances was hindered by the writing style. The prose is stilted and the speech is full of slang that I didn't understand and had no context for. That being said, I think it's an excellent addition to the library of anyone looking for more BIPOC work in their personal libraries.

This could have been a by-the-numbers novelization of Nigeria’s storied 1993 election, but Ishola-Ayodeji deftly makes the political personal, allowing the reader to live, breathe, and move through the insulated and insular communities of the affluent, as well as the neglected, dilapidating districts of the poor. We feel the pulsating hustle of both circumstances: The determination of the rich to maintain their high class and the desperation of the poor to get out from under the boot of poverty and a rigged system.

I hadn’t read in a while and with so many distractions in life (2 young kids) , I needed a book that could really keep my attention. I loved reading Patience is a Subtle Thief.I finally found this feeling again of being lost in a story living through characters that feel real.

This Author grabs you into the story from the first page where you meet the main character Patience.Although I've never visited Nigeria, I pictured the streets as if I was there. I truly enjoyed this read and I'm looking for more from Abi Ishola-Ayodeyi.

I selected this book for our book club and it was an excellent choice. Patience longs to go to America to find her mother, against the backdrop of MKO Abiola's presidential campaign and subsequent election/annulment. Through the novel, the author invites us to consider what it means to work for democracy and opportunity. We laud patience as a virtue but the powerful call the powerless to be patient in their wait for change. Much to consider here in a captivating story of family love.

This is one of the few books that left me in tears at its end. Stunning story of Patience and her journey to find herself by finding her mom in America. I was fully engulfed by all of the characters and their enter play with Patience. The intense lows Patience endures to the very last word, are so palpable and bitter sweet. You are rooting for her and the other characters to achieve their dreams in a harsh environment of 1990s Nigeria while also rooting for the country to realize political change with the pending elections and then everything changes. This isa must read!

If you are looking for a book that will keep you engaged, entertained and intrigued look no further! This book is filled with love, symbolism, family dynamic, action and drama. It is written so intentionally well and is filled with twists and surprises. I Highly recommend.

Patience Is a Subtle Thiefby Abi Ishola-AyodejiJune 12 1993 - MKO Abiola - if you were living in Nigeria at this time, you will remember where you were when you heard the news of the annulment of the election results.We follow Patience, an eighteen year old daughter of a rich and influential politician in Ibadan as she tries to make her way in a politically unstable Nigeria. Her search for her mother and belonging is a consistent thread throughout the book.Characters from different works of life, politicians, area boys, students and fraudsters, so well written that I found myself understanding their motivations.An easy and enjoyable read which I enjoyed even more because it is partly set in the area of Lagos I grew up in.