Oufoula Sindede obsesses over the most minor minutiae, a fitting characteristic for his position as diplomat to an African country that is never named. He is constantly haunted by the death of his mother, who grieved the suicide of her lover after her arranged marriage with Oufoula’s father.

Oufoula matures under the tutelage of missionaries and grows to love European literature. His rise to prominence is, in part, a result of his fluency in several languages. He marries Nerida, the daughter of the African king he represents. Together, Nerida and Oufoula have wealth, respect, one child and another on the way. That is when Oufoula first learns of Marguerite, a Jamaican-born artist through Catherine, a fellow diplomat’s wife. Catherine explains that Marguerite is her best friend living in New York. When Catherine makes a plea to Oufoula to keep her son in the midst of her divorce, Oufoula seizes the opportunity to meet Marguerite and forge a relationship with her, and in this way Oufoula is intrpoduced to black literature and art and the love of his life.

Oufoula grapples with the idea of multiple wives and juggling his relationships until Marguerite accepts the reality that Oufoula is indeed married. Oufoula returns home and pines for Marguerite for more than 10 years. When they meet again, Marguerite initially resists Oufoula, but Nunez reiterates again and again that Oufoula and Marguerite have always loved each other.

Ultimately, Oufoula is forced to choose between the two women. His credibility as a diplomat is maintaining a precarious balance between European and Christian values and African traditions. Although Nunez convincingly maneuvers through this narrative without losing the consistency of Oufoula’s voice, it is not easy to empathize with a character whose dilemma is choosing between a talented young artist and a dedicated wife and children who are part of a package of wealth and considerable reputation.

Although such situations happen in real life, sometimes with Jerry Springer-like repercussions, it is a struggle to identify with Oufoula and his dilema. Nunez’s ability to sustain a narrative in this man’s voice is impressive and speaks to her willingness to step into a character who is unlike herself. Everyone can relate to losing a love that cracks the shell of the selves we used to be. However, this prolonged stream of conscious novel fails to inspire. Hopefully the deft writing of Elizabeth Nunez will take a different turn in her upcoming work.