Written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Dream Count is a series of five interrelated novellas which explore the interconnecting lives of three privileged Nigerian women, Chiamaka, Zikora, Omelogor, and Chia’s childhood maid, Kadiatou. Set during the 2020 Covid lockdown, the novel explores the loneliness that each of these women grapple with that is a reflection of the isolated world around them. The fact that their friendships are so long distance further emphasizes the themes of loneliness and isolation. Though beautifully maximalist in its writing and revealing of life in Nigeria for the privileged class, I nonetheless had a difficult time connecting with these characters, who, try as they might, struggle and fail to have meaningful, long-lasting relationships with men. Perhaps the most interesting section is the one which tells Kadiatou’s story, based on the true account of Nafissatou Diallo who was raped in a hotel room by a guest and was subsequently emotionally ravaged in the process of bringing her plight to justice by a disbelieving system of lawyers and reporters and press. The novel circles back to this account at the end, and gives the novel its only real sense of closure when we learn that the case is dropped. Kadi and her daughter Binta are overjoyed because they no longer will have to suffer the excruciating exposure to a disbelieving world.