James Nwabueze brings a culturally rich story to the surface in “The Last Sin.” He spins a tale of religion and the importance of remembering where you came from. After reading the first few pages, I realized that this author is not afraid to speak his mind. He does not hold back, and does his best to bring important circumstances to light.
Religion is a touchy subject; this story delves deep into the heart of societies biggest problem:morality.
The characters face various issues and dilemmas while knowing in their hearts that God is still there to help them through it.
“The Last Sin” introduces a character whose life hangs in the balance. Eni is romantically involved with soemeone whom her family is not accepting of. They do their best to remind her constantly of her displaced loyalty to her people. Her family is strict and believe that she should remain among her own kind. Amongst the betrayal she is accused of, Eni must try to piece her life together one small step at a time.
“The Last Sin” provides inside into the Nigerian culture and Igbo tribal traditions. There are a few phrases that I needed to look up, but they were interesting to learn. Many of the morals and circumstances presented are ones we all experience at one time or another, regardless of our heritage. We are reminded that people of all religions and ethnic backgrounds suffer from the human condition. Everyone makes mistakes regardless of their beliefs.
Though this novel does have a strong religious base, it is not preachy. There is a variety of language used to help create a realistic flow to the story. The book is well written, I enjoyed the fast paced flow of the novel.
The Last Sin by James C. Nwabueze starts off with a very confusing opening scene. It is quite hard to follow. Yet, the reader can grasp that the devout Christian believers and those who oppose the idea of Heaven and Hell are at a point of intense conflict. One could say this isn’t a new occurrence, however, this is the core theme for Nwabueze’s story. One might even call it a war. This story is filled with pastors and bishops engaging in the exact sins they preach against day in and day out. Sexual escapades and affairs abound. At times the deeply faithful even begin to doubt their trust in God or in the things they have been taught. Throughout the story the characters face challenges around their own sexuality and sexual desires. They genuinely believe these feelings and desires make them sinners if they were not already sinners. They continue to ask for guidance and help from God to forgive them and support them in avoiding the temptations of the flesh. Nearly every character experiences deep turmoil to the point of weeping as they try to understand and balance their desires with their perceptions of God’s views about sex.
There is a strong theme within this story that sex, in almost any form, is a sin. The author places exceptionally strong Christian beliefs within the majority of the characters. The story line is a bit confusing at times while the secrets and apparent sins abound. In fact, there are points where it really seems as though there are two stories instead of just one. If the reader has the patience to stay with the story, they will discover how it all comes together in the end.
