Book Review: Dreams and Assorted Nightmares by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim

By Annafelicia Onyekonwu

This book is a collection of short stories set in a town called Zango. The stories are interconnected and full of tragedies. However, there is a thread of humour in the storytelling that can best be described as surreal and dark.

It is amazing when you step into the world of a book and it feels very familiar like a childhood home. Every innuendo is as clear to you as someone in on an inside joke.

My favourite character was the man who lost his business in a fire and had to sell his beloved car “Sajah” in order to afford his wife’s surgery and fend for his family. It’s a story of determination, grit, love and sacrifice.

The characters in this book felt very real and familiar. You can almost recognise someone with a similar story and even though you know it’s most likely going to be an unhappy ending, you’re fascinated enough by the unfolding of events and keep turning the pages.

Another catchy aspect of this book is the cover. Oh, the cover is almost everything. If you look closely, you can see that the cover of the book has small details of all the stories. This, I consider, to be very impressive.

The problem with books like this is how they leave you wanting more. More on the lives of the characters and the story in general.

It’s an overall good book. A strong 8/10 and I believe fiction lovers who enjoy stories of urban legends will find this captivating.

Advice for Readers from ERC

This book has amazing stories and can be read at a fast or slow pace. However, to get more out of each story and fully digest its content, we advise that you pace yourself while reading this collection.

Let us know in the comment section what you think of Dreams and Assorted Nightmares by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim.