On The Subject of Family and Father’s Love ~ A Review of Father-Time Continuum by Tosin Akomolafe

One of the first aspects that drew me to this book was the theme of fatherhood and father-son relationships. Parental relationships in fiction have always interested me, and in this book: Father-Time Continuum, we meet Akande, who has two fathers.
In the early chapters, we witness an excited, impressionable young child rushing to buy his favourite ice cream flavour, but what follows is a detailed history of how the boy came to be. Tosin takes us through this whirlwind of the past with a delicate voice that doesn’t dictate what to think

We learn about Akande’s mother and the history of her own family, and how grief and betrayal shaped her life, ultimately leading to the birth of Akande. Through Akande’s eyes, we witness how unfulfilled dreams can at times stifle a mother, but we also see how they can be overcome with resilience. We see how difficult it can be for mothers, especially single mothers, to choose themselves and their children all at once.

The book reaches its peak when Akande decides to study in the UK. This decision follows a series of sharp and painful events where he experiences multiple losses of loved ones. As a child, he has always worn his feelings on his sleeve, and the grief of losing several people, understanding the relentless finality of death, and realizing he was more alone than ever, compels him to evaluate his life choices. So, he makes the decision and goes with it.

Time plays a crucial role in this book, and I admire how the book is structured around acts. These acts represent different crucial phases in Akande’s life, from childhood to adolescence, adulthood, fatherhood, and finally, the continuum.

In the UK, things are not as easy as they’re supposed to be, but Akande rises to the challenge. It felt like he aged significantly as he arrived in the UK, facing one adult problem after another. This part of the book aptly falls under Act IV: Adulthood. It’s all narrated with a contemplative honesty that disarms and draws you in.

Adulthood was one of my favorite acts because I personally feel that I am in that stage of my life, and it’s fascinating how nothing, absolutely nothing, prepares you for the challenges you’ll face as an adult. No two people are the same, so when individuals experience adulthood and its challenges, it’s unique to each person.

I believe this book also exemplifies this concept. Akande’s problems were so complex that I personally feared for him. However, as he tackles these issues one after another, we also gain insight into the struggles faced by young Nigerian immigrants in the UK.

Personally, one of the most prominent themes in this book is family and grief. Throughout Akande’s life, we witness how grief is nearly unknowable, and how loss can disarm, disrupt, and even unite even the worst of friends.

A few things didn’t work for me and one of them was how the mother sort of disappeared a little bit to the background after Akende went to the UK. Also, the relationship between Akande and his step-brothers felt a little bit brushed over. But in a sense, they weren’t that important i guess.

In conclusion, Father-Time Continuum is an interesting exploration of complicated relationships and a long family history. It dives into the intricate web of emotions that connect generations, demonstrating how grief can either make or unmake a person and how this (difficult) impact is transferred from one generation to another.

I will recommend this book to people who enjoy exploring complicated relationships and the past through the lenses of fiction.
To those fascinated by the influence of grief on our lives, and to those curious about the intergenerational dynamics that shape our destinies.

I will also recommend it to people who are interested in complicated family trees like having two fathers and having to call a total stranger brother because one day, your father comes home and says, this is your brother.

About The Writer:  Nnaemeka Nnam is a Nigerian writer and bookstagrammer. He has been published or forthcoming at Nnọkọ Stories, W&S UK, and Isele Magazine. He is an alum of Sprin NG Writer’s Fellowship 2023 and Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop 2023. Nnaemeka wants you to embrace love, sadness and joy as they come. When he’s not obsessing over books on Instagram, they are wishing upon a star.

Father-Time Continuum is available here for NGN 10,000