A review by Lynette Lisk in Royal African Society:
More hereThe pace of Sefi Atta’s latest novel, A Bit of Difference is leisurely; it’s deliberately understated in style, but do resist the impulse to dismiss it for a more incendiary read; the story is told entirely from protagonist Deola Bello’s point of view, and Deola has a tendency to digress; these digressions do prove crucial, for its Deola’s meandering but incisive commentary which elevates this simple story from enjoyable to enlightening.
The deviations from the central plot give depth to the narrative which ranges over several pivotal months in the life of a single woman who after years away from Nigeria, the country she still calls home, has to decide whether she is ready to return.
There’s potent and biting critique of the charity sector and those who make their living in it, in Deola’s thoughts on her job as an accountant who audits an international charity’s projects. Her first observations of a soon to be colleague Graham illustrate the wit which permeates the novel.
