The Palm-Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola
I read this in a collection along with My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. For some inexplicable reason, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts was printed first in that collection; if you take anything away from my review, please let it be that The Palm-Wine Drinkard should definitely be read first!
Rating: ★★★
Tutuola's writing style definitely takes some getting used to, but part of this book's charm is how utterly unique it is. From the narrative structure (or, maybe, lack thereof) to use of language, this book stands apart from any other I've read. The story's introduction actually helped me a lot with understanding the style's eccentricities (for example, the sometimes tiring use of repetition) as an adaption of the medium of "folk operas". It also provided really useful context for Amos Tutuola's personal relationship with both Christianity and Yoruba tradition, which added a lot of depth to the dynamic of those two beliefs in this story.
My personal favorite vignette was the tale of the Complete Gentleman; I'm a sucker for wordplay and unexpected twists. And in general, the myths and folklore never ceased to surprise and intrigue me throughout. Though, honestly, my favorite part of this book was the introduction.
Recommendations:
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola. I know it's a bit cheap to recommend a book by the same author, but, in all honesty, if you loved The Palm-Wine Drinkard there is no better follow up. My Life in the Bush of Ghosts continues in the same world, and is in many ways a heightening of the Palm-Wine Drinkard. A deeper dive into Yoruba folklore, an even more experimental narrative structure, and even more stylistic prose style. To be totally honest, this one was a bit too stylistic and experimental for me, but if that's what you like, this is the book for you.
Where the Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda. If an interest in folklore was what drew you to My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (as it did me), I recommend this compilation of short, modern retellings of Japanese folklore stories. The writing is compelling and accessible, and the translation by Polly Barton maintains a lot of voice and character.