Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing New Voice
Review: Abani is one of the most exciting new voices on the global literary scene today and a superb addition to the emerging corpus of works by young African writers. Abani avoids simple conclusions, complicating instead the tenuous links between postcolonial Africa and the African Diaspora in Europe and the United States.
Rating: 
Summary: An Interesting Portrayal of a Nigerian Life
Review: Abani's novel was deeply disturbing as it was fascinating. The characters are richly drawn and by the book's end one feels well acquainted with them, especially Elvis. As a fellow African - I was born in South Africa - I found it very interesting to read about life in a different African country - a country that is not very favorably looked upon by other African countries.
I would recommend this - it's a compelling and refreshing story, it has humor and intense sadness, and it is very well written.
Rating: 
Summary: Too many stories for one book
Review: Bringing African literature to a US audience is no small task, if just because so little common knowledge exists between the two. To give readers a sense of place and people and still let characters carry a plot may be more than one novel can accomplish. In this case, I think that task is beyond GraceLand's reach.Abani weaves a story of vast threads, drawn between time and place in a manner that at times feels directionless. Where detail and background are given in one instance, they are completely lacking in another. While some characters are given life, others form and disappear, leaving a constant struggle to grasp whose story--whose struggle is being told. Everyone's struggle, I suppose, is the answer. But GraceLand stumbles over its own fast-moving feet. Maybe the story falls apart as a parallel to the lives of its characters, but wooden reporting and a leaping plot do little to encourage such a reading. The end-chapter recipes, chapter-opening description and then unpacking of ritual, only highlight the author's distraction. Still an intriguing and startling book, which shows great promise for Abani. Worth reading, but quite simply not worth the 5-star reviews it's received so far, if it can be fairly read in a Western light.
Rating: 
Summary: Dreadful book, horribly written, unrealistic and depressing!
Review: Having read all the favourable reviews by amazon.com readers, I decided to buy the book. I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it....alas, I think I shall have to visit the dentist to rectify the case of serious rot that has set in.
Firstly and foremost, I cannot understand what drew the other readers to the book. I kept thinking, as I read it, that this is going to get better, it MUST get better, after all isn't the author a recipient of the Lannan Literary Fellowsip, etc., etc.
The problem with this books is that it is so disjointed and confusing. Mr Abani also fails miserly to bring the characters to life. I cannot sympathize with the main character, Elvis, mainly because I couldn't understand him. I think the best books are ones where you can either root for or boo the main character, you see the world through that person's eyes, you feel the pain and anguish, the anger, the happiness...you laugh out loud, cry, and wish the book would never end. This book fails to do all this. In short, it's a horrible bore.
There is no sense of continuity, events are mentioned in passing which are never, never described in the book, yet these events are important and I feel that they should have been included in the narrative. I also hate the poor way the author switches back and forth from one time period to another. A more competent writer would be able to do this wonderfully. Not Mr Abani.
Some things beggar belief. If you have ever lived in Africa and if you are familiar with Indian communties there, you know that there is no way on this earth an Indian girl, educated at Oxford, chaperoned by her BMW-driving big brother, would EVER make out with an African boys from a slum! For crying out loud! (By the way, this unbelievable occurance is mentioned as a mere aside. It is one of those important yet unimportant details that the author does not dwell on).
The only good thing about the book (other than it came to an end), is the Nigerian recipes offered. I have never come across a Nigerian cookbook, so this will have to suffice. I also like his explanations of the traditional herbs and plants used in Nigeria. Taking a look at the author's picture at the back, it is quite apparent that he is a connoisseur of things of a culinary nature. Which brings me to a point which has nothing to do with the contents of the book: Mr Abani's photo. Sir, were you blindfolded when you selected that picture?! I have never met Mr Abani, but I must say that this is the most unflattering photo I have seen of an author to date...bar none!
I suppose I will be the only one to give this book One Star, all you others rave on until you are blue in the face. I stick to my guns and say that this book is awful!
I love African writers and as and African myself, I take great pride in the great writers Africa has produced. Unfortunately, after reading this book, I must conclude that Mr Abani is not included in this revered group!
Rating: 
Summary: Wanted To Love It - Couldn't
Review: I love Nigerian literature and music, so I approached this book with a sense of excitement. And "GraceLand" almost worked, but I couldn't connect with the characters. Elvis, his father, the King of Beggars... all of them were colorful, but none of them rang true.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: I loved this book from the first page to the last. It pulled me in, enthralled me, and didn't let me go until I had finished it. The author has managed to write a gripping book that explores larger themes, important and profound ones, but never in a way you'd find intrusive. There are moments of hilarity here too, amidst the chaos and the noise and the violence of the protagonist's life in Lagos. And there are memorable characters whom you will continue to think about long after you've put the book down. Abani is clearly a major talent and I can't wait to read his next book.
Rating:
Summary: Well-written, sad and hard to put down
Review: I read a review of this book in the local paper and decided to read it. Once again I was lucky to get hold of a book that I couldn't wait to finish. I've never even heard of the author but he shows great promise. There are scenes in the book that made me laugh, feel dread and set my teeth on edge. It must put a writer's teeth on edge to set such thoughts down on paper but to me this is what good writing is about. Having had a few years of contact with this particular culture, I could understand most of the things the author referred to and knew what some of the recipes tasted like, like moi moi, fufu and bitter leaf soup. The part about organ donors is true and can be verified by reading "Princess" or its next sequel, "Daughters of Arabia", I forget which. This must stop..but anyway this book would make a great movie. I totally recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A Richly Textured Portrait of Nigeria
Review: I think GRACELAND is one of the most remarkable novels I've read in a long time and one of the most surprising things about it, for me, at least, was the fact that Nigeria has adopted so many things usually thought of as "quintessentially American." Even though the teenaged protagonist is named Elvis, this doesn't seem at all unusual in Lagos. Elvis was born in the town of Afikpo, but his mother, Beatrice, died while he was still quite young. Elvis is being brought up by his father, Sunday, an alcoholic who prefers to let his girlfriend in Lagos support him rather than work himself, all of which leaves Elvis at loose ends in Maroko, one of the poorest areas of Lagos. GRACELAND shifts back and forth between Elvis' early childhood in Afikpo where his father was a civic leader with something of a good future to look forward to, and Elvis' teenaged exploits in Lagos. I thought the author did a very good job with the transitions and I liked them. Elvis doesn't have much going for him externally, so it's not surprising when he's drawn into low-level criminal activity by his friend, Redemption. Yet, even as Elvis is drawn into the crime that seems to fill every corner of Lagos, it's impossible not to like him and care about him deeply. For one thing, he's sweet and good-hearted. He tries to do the "right" thing, though that's not always possible. Surprisingly, Elvis also likes books. (This was surprising to me because quality books aren't easy to come by in Lagos, especially for someone as poor as Elvis. Elvis, however, reads everything and doesn't demand quality, even though quality is what he prefers.) Ever since the success of LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, I've despised seeing a recipe in a novel, but GRACELAND's narrative is scattered with recipes and bits of folklore from one of Beatrice's notebooks. Strangely, I didn't resent this in GRACELAND. The recipes seem to "fit" instead of being thrown in simply to be "in fashion." In fact, they made Beatrice come alive; they made her seem more of a presence in Elvis' life. One of the best things about GRACELAND is its rich and complex portrayal of Lagos, itself. Abani really makes the city come alive with vividly descriptive prose. GRACELAND is a rich and complex book about Nigeria as much as it is a rich and complex character study of Elvis. GRACELAND is a book that's both sad and joyful, tragic and beautiful and richly textured, just as is Africa, herself. It's a wonderful literary achievement that deserves a much wider readership. I would certainly recommend GRACELAND highly to anyone interested in African fiction or anyone who simply loves well-written literary fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I think GRACELAND is one of the most remarkable novels I?ve read in a long time and one of the most surprising things about it, for me, at least, was the fact that Nigeria has adopted so many things usually thought of as ?quintessentially American.? Even though the teenaged protagonist is named Elvis, this doesn?t seem at all unusual in Lagos. Elvis was born in the town of Afikpo, but his mother, Beatrice, died while he was still quite young. Elvis is being brought up by his father, Sunday, an alcoholic who prefers to let his girlfriend in Lagos support him rather than work himself, all of which leaves Elvis at loose ends in Maroko, one of the poorest areas of Lagos. GRACELAND shifts back and forth between Elvis? early childhood in Afikpo where his father was a civic leader with something of a good future to look forward to, and Elvis? teenaged exploits in Lagos. I thought the author did a very good job with the transitions and I liked them. Elvis doesn?t have much going for him externally, so it?s not surprising when he?s drawn into low-level criminal activity by his friend, Redemption. Yet, even as Elvis is drawn into the crime that seems to fill every corner of Lagos, it?s impossible not to like him and care about him deeply. For one thing, he?s sweet and good-hearted. He tries to do the ?right? thing, though that?s not always possible. Surprisingly, Elvis also likes books. (This was surprising to me because quality books aren?t easy to come by in Lagos, especially for someone as poor as Elvis. Elvis, however, reads everything and doesn?t demand quality, even though quality is what he prefers.) Ever since the success of LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, I?ve despised seeing a recipe in a novel, but GRACELAND?s narrative is scattered with recipes and bits of folklore from one of Beatrice?s notebooks. Strangely, I didn?t resent this in GRACELAND. The recipes seem to ?fit? instead of being thrown in simply to be ?in fashion.? In fact, they made Beatrice come alive; they made her seem more of a presence in Elvis? life. One of the best things about GRACELAND is its rich and complex portrayal of Lagos, itself. Abani really makes the city come alive with vividly descriptive prose. GRACELAND is a rich and complex book about Nigeria as much as it is a rich and complex character study of Elvis. GRACELAND is a book that?s both sad and joyful, tragic and beautiful and richly textured, just as is Africa, herself. It?s a wonderful literary achievement that deserves a much wider readership. I would certainly recommend GRACELAND highly to anyone interested in African fiction or anyone who simply loves well-written literary fiction.
Rating:
Summary: A n amazing story
Review: I was given Graceland as a present, and when I looked it over, I thought it would be a book in which the political statements would dominate in the entire the story. But I was wrong. In Graceland, the writer successfully avoided that with his rich characters, fascinating details, fast pace and the emotional expressions of the characters, especially the protagonist. The characters in the story stand very well for themselves. I think GRACELAND is one of the most remarkable novels I have read and surprising enough, it showed that Nigeria has adopted so many things usually thought of as essentially American. Just like DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, GRACELAND encompasses many rich themes. Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE
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