853 Results with the "Fiction" genre


    • Chapter

      Manifest

      Manifest Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist, a 26-year-old woman, discovering her first pimple and fixating on its presence. As she examines the blemish, her mother unexpectedly calls her "Agnes," a name that does not belong to her. This unsettling moment occurs during a mundane activity of sorting beans, where the protagonist takes pleasure in removing and killing weevils, drawing a parallel to societal exclusion. The mother's sudden use of the name Agnes, followed by her silent retreat, introduces an air of…
    • Chapter

      Breastmilk

      Breastmilk Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist's raw and conflicted emotions after childbirth as she holds her newborn son for the first time. She describes the baby as a "warm, slimy creature," reflecting her detachment, while hospital staff interact with her in a patronizing manner. Her husband, Timi, attempts to participate but is sidelined by the traditional hospital protocols, mirroring the protagonist's own unspoken tensions in their marriage. The physical exhaustion of labor contrasts with her observational…
    • Chapter

      Contributions

      Contributions Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter describes a tight-knit group of women who practice "esusu," a traditional rotating savings system where members contribute money monthly, and each takes turns receiving the pooled funds. The system relies on strict rules and mutual trust, with severe consequences for those who fail to meet their obligations. The women pride themselves on self-sufficiency, rejecting banks and loans, and enforcing order through collective discipline. Past incidents, such as seizing a generator or temporarily…
    • Chapter

      The Hollow

      The Hollow Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Arit, a young architect, arrives at Madam Oni's house for a renovation assignment. The house strikes her as unattractive, with its chaotic roofs and peeling pink walls. Greeted by Lucky, a teenage gatekeeper, she learns Madam Oni is absent but proceeds to measure the property. The compound feels oppressive, with overgrown gardens and looming fences. As a junior at her firm, Arit is tasked with the groundwork, her mind already analyzing the space despite her limited role. She reflects on her uncle’s…
    • Imagine Me Carrying You Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist returning from a weekend getaway to learn about her mother's involvement in a fatal car accident. While staying at a friend's mansion to avoid her mother's scrutiny, she receives a call from her father, who reveals that her mother hit and killed a young woman during a heavy rainstorm on the Ibadan Expressway. The family of the deceased has chosen not to involve the police, and her mother, though financially compensating them, is emotionally shattered. The protagonist…
    • 24, Alhaji Williams Street Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a vivid depiction of Alhaji Williams Street, a place steeped in history and community ties. The narrator, the only son in his family, reflects on his deep familiarity with the street’s every detail, from the sound of Mr. Joro’s car horn to the Obozos’ aggressive Rottweiler. The street’s tranquility is shattered when a mysterious fever begins claiming the lives of the youngest sons in each household, starting with Ade, the only child of Ms. Williams. The grief-stricken…
    • Masquerade Season Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Pauly, a disobedient but imaginative boy, routinely ignores his mother's warnings to stick to major roads on his way home from his cousins' house. Preferring quieter, scenic routes, he often takes a shortcut through the Alele Estate, where the guards recognize him. One day, after staying late playing with his cousins, Pauly encounters three mysterious masquerades blocking his path in the bush. Despite their eerie presence and out-of-season appearance, Pauly politely addresses them, intrigued by their vivid…
    • Story

      Parade

      Parade Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Rachel Cusk's Parade is a sharp meditation on performance, identity, and art. Following a renowned theater director, the novel explores the blurred lines between reality and illusion as she navigates creative ambition and personal disillusionment. With Cusk’s signature precision, Parade questions the roles we play in life.
    • Chapter

      The Spy

      The Spy Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a group of characters—Julia, Mauro, David, and Betsy—concluding a meal and preparing to leave. Betsy, struggling with mobility, leans on David for support, remarking on his steadiness despite his drinking. Their farewell is tinged with a sense of transience, encapsulated by Betsy’s comment: “If it only happened once, it didn’t happen at all.” The scene shifts to a contemplative observation of the courtyard, where the remnants of the evening—elongated shadows, bare…
    • II. Moctezuma’s Nap Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the ritual precision of Moctezuma’s afternoon nap—an act of imperial discipline that momentarily suspends the entire machinery of the Aztec empire. The silence demanded by his sleep is profound, yet its cessation, marked by the ringing of a silver bell, sends ripples through Tenochtitlan like a stone dropped in water. This carefully orchestrated pause becomes a metaphor for the fragile calm before historical upheaval, as the emperor’s rest coincides with the Spaniards’ uneasy…
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