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Maniki_021's Reviews > Every Day Is for the Thief
Every Day Is for the Thief
by
by
These passages from the book really stood out to me and resonate deeply with the title Every Day is for the Thief. They capture the essence of the themes the title reflects—corruption, moral struggles, and the tension between survival and integrity.
“Near Akoka, on a road I know well, a police officer flags me down”
“Good afternoon, Officer.
—You know why I stopped you?
His certainty alarms me. No, I say evenly, I don’t know.
—What does that sign say?
He points to a sign behind us. Its upright element is bent, and the sign itself is partially obscured by a tree.
—Oh God. I didn’t see it. This road never used to be a one-way. It must be a new sign.
It’s a scam, of course. The sign has been deliberately concealed.”
“The sign is not for those who know, Oga. The sign is for those who don’t know. Your situation is unfortunate. But the reason the sign is there is for you. You have to come to the station with us.
Minutes are wasted. I don’t want to let go of my entire afternoon only to later pay a “fine” that will end up in someone’s pocket”
“So, what are we to do now, Officer? Maybe one thousand five hundred, so you can get yourself something to eat?
His opening bid is five thousand naira. I manage to hide my disgust, and bargain him down to two thousand five. I hand the money over, start the car. You people should know the law, he says. It doesn’t matter who you are, the law is not a respecter of persons.”
______________________________________
There are plenty of other passages in the book that I can't include in this review, as it would make it too long and tedious.
There’s a part where the protagonist talks about his brother’s sudden death, how he was just gone, and I connected with that so deeply. I lost a close friend earlier this year, and it’s been unimaginably hard and tragic for all of us. Each of us has been affected in our own way, but it’s so hard to talk about it.
“They’re overprotective, of course, but I understand. Even when I don’t want to be too careful, I have to think about them and I force myself to be careful. Just for them if for no other reason.”
This resonates with how we’ve all been so cautious, even though we just want to live freely. It’s amazing how a book can give words to feelings you didn’t know how to express. A life lived fully, but taken too soon. Since I’ve brought this up, I want to take a moment to honour my best friend, like family. 🕊️1986 – 2024.
The title Every Day is for the Thief carries a lot of symbolic weight. It evokes the idea that in a society where corruption and dishonesty are widespread, every day offers an opportunity for people to exploit others, much like a thief does. At the same time,I think the title also suggests the resilience of those who navigate this reality. It implies that, although every day presents an opportunity for "the thief" to thrive, there is also an opportunity for individuals to resist, to hold onto their values amidst the decay.
The book captures the experience of returning to Nigeria after years abroad. The protagonist, unnamed in the book, reflects on the complexities of homecoming, corruption, identity, and the clash between personal memories and current realities.
It's a quick read, and I really liked it.
“Near Akoka, on a road I know well, a police officer flags me down”
“Good afternoon, Officer.
—You know why I stopped you?
His certainty alarms me. No, I say evenly, I don’t know.
—What does that sign say?
He points to a sign behind us. Its upright element is bent, and the sign itself is partially obscured by a tree.
—Oh God. I didn’t see it. This road never used to be a one-way. It must be a new sign.
It’s a scam, of course. The sign has been deliberately concealed.”
“The sign is not for those who know, Oga. The sign is for those who don’t know. Your situation is unfortunate. But the reason the sign is there is for you. You have to come to the station with us.
Minutes are wasted. I don’t want to let go of my entire afternoon only to later pay a “fine” that will end up in someone’s pocket”
“So, what are we to do now, Officer? Maybe one thousand five hundred, so you can get yourself something to eat?
His opening bid is five thousand naira. I manage to hide my disgust, and bargain him down to two thousand five. I hand the money over, start the car. You people should know the law, he says. It doesn’t matter who you are, the law is not a respecter of persons.”
______________________________________
There are plenty of other passages in the book that I can't include in this review, as it would make it too long and tedious.
There’s a part where the protagonist talks about his brother’s sudden death, how he was just gone, and I connected with that so deeply. I lost a close friend earlier this year, and it’s been unimaginably hard and tragic for all of us. Each of us has been affected in our own way, but it’s so hard to talk about it.
“They’re overprotective, of course, but I understand. Even when I don’t want to be too careful, I have to think about them and I force myself to be careful. Just for them if for no other reason.”
This resonates with how we’ve all been so cautious, even though we just want to live freely. It’s amazing how a book can give words to feelings you didn’t know how to express. A life lived fully, but taken too soon. Since I’ve brought this up, I want to take a moment to honour my best friend, like family. 🕊️1986 – 2024.
The title Every Day is for the Thief carries a lot of symbolic weight. It evokes the idea that in a society where corruption and dishonesty are widespread, every day offers an opportunity for people to exploit others, much like a thief does. At the same time,I think the title also suggests the resilience of those who navigate this reality. It implies that, although every day presents an opportunity for "the thief" to thrive, there is also an opportunity for individuals to resist, to hold onto their values amidst the decay.
The book captures the experience of returning to Nigeria after years abroad. The protagonist, unnamed in the book, reflects on the complexities of homecoming, corruption, identity, and the clash between personal memories and current realities.
It's a quick read, and I really liked it.
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