Review: My Sister, the Serial Killer

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This relatively short novel had been showing up on my recommended reading list from Amazon for a few days before I finally decided to give it a go. First and foremost, it was an easy read. I do think, however, that it would have been more enjoyable had I gone in with some understanding of the structure of Nigerian society and the social mores that support it. The contemporary references and modern themes did in the end resonate enough for me to find the book enjoyable.

The story revolves around two sisters—the stunningly beautiful Ayoola and her older less attractive sister, Korede. Ayoola systematically picks off each of the men she dates, whilst the perpetually single Korede does her best to (literally) mop up the messes Ayoola leaves behind. Each sister is developed as a stereotype, as the vapid beauty sweeps through life with the expectation of being untouchable, whilst the unattractive woman remains stalwart.

Whilst I fully appreciated the allusions and shout outs to millennial culture, the catalyst that shaped the actions of the two main characters (their abusive father’s cruelty) left me confused. Was his abuse borne of a dated patriarchal society that views women as possessions or was he just a sadistic prick? Was Korede’s allegiance to her sister one that grew from a cultural loyalty to family or was she so severely misguided that any sense of morality took second place to her sister’s needs? In the end, I was honestly left wondering whether Ayoola or Korede was more intrinsically flawed.

Definitely an interesting novel that ended both unexpectedly and uncomfortably. Best read as a parody of the genre, appreciated for its dark humor and accepted at face value without too much analysis.

View all my reviews