When Cultures Collide
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Speak No Evil
by Uzodinma Iweala
Harper. 215 pages, $26.99

UZODINMA IWEALA’S powerful, timely novel, Speak No Evil, tells two interrelated stories, told from each of the main characters’ point of view. The first concerns a young man of Nigerian descent grappling with his homosexuality while growing up in a culture that condemns it and tries to “cure” him. The second details his white female friend, who tries her best to help him navigate this complicated world but instead sets events in motion that lead to tragedy. It is a sad reminder that, for all our progress, there are still places and families that have real problems accepting nonconforming sexualities.