When Things Fall Apart, Heaven Sets Apart

In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, when Okonkwo's world crumbled, it shattered into a thousand pieces, never again to return to the old stable order. However, in Eunice Obidi's Set Apart, the disintegration of family and cherished values does not lead to utter disintegration, disharmony and dispersion. Instead, the author introduces a divine intervention – a Deus ex machina (God) – who reshuffles the narratives, scenes and personalities to set apart for His will those affected by societal hardships and its institutions.

Set Apart follows the story of Funke Adejumobi, a young undergraduate whose family life falls apart due to marital strife. As her parents become strangers, she longs for a different family where domestic violence is non-existent. When a divorce occurs, Funke suffers immensely, especially as her father disappears from her life, leaving her with only her mother's love. But when her mother dies, Funke begins to feel despondent and even contemplates suicide.

Following a series of unfortunate events, including her failing grades, a return to Christianity through the influence of friends, and a brief rebellious phase, Funke eventually returns to her faith. Her relationship with her son becomes the focus of her life, but she succumbs to secular music and indulges in a night of drinking and smoking. Later, Funke is kidnapped by ritualists, but Heaven uses her to rescue them and save souls.

Through the novel, Obidi emphasizes that God is present in our lives, whether we acknowledge or reject His reality. She highlights that He ultimately saves everyone, except those who stubbornly reject Him. Set Apart presents a well-crafted narrative that is neither overly complex nor filled with excessive literary devices. Obidi's prose is taut, elastic, and adaptable, allowing her to balance short, medium, and long sentences while maintaining clear dialogue scenes. However, there are minor issues with quotation marks and line formatting in future editions.