Olukorede Yishau’s debut work of fiction—’In The Name of Our Father’, was a massive revelation. An entertainingly confident saga, it dealt with themes of entrenched hypocrisy, authoritative oppression and fearless journalism. The novel garnered largely positive criticism, and titillated audiences enough to stoke high expectations for new writing from Yishau.
True to his signature wisdom, Yishau doles out sparkling insights on human nature through impeccable character descriptions. In “This Special Gift” he pronounces one immoral character as “…the perfect example of what success should not be.” Such solid wisdom is quite uncommon in contemporary writing, and can only be acquired by one who truly listens, truly observes ordinary lives.
Still, the truth can sometimes be a double-edged sword, breaking chains while also creating new wounds and graver problems. In the stories “My Mother’s Father Is My Father” and “Lydia’s World”, the narrator is burdened with a tormenting truth in the former, while the titular protagonist of the latter gradually unravels a disturbing mystery to a grand cost of seismic proportions. The truth, in this case, basically upends her known world, proving that it is more than just a bitter pill to swallow.
It is not all gloom and grime within the Vaults of Secrets. Amidst the uneven spread of sordid deeds and dark revelations, there are also positive bursts of optimism and deserved happiness. In “Letters From the Basement” a disgraced and imprisoned governor finds soulful redemption in acknowledging the importance of family. Perhaps the only story in this collection that contains a beneficial secret, “This Thing Called Love” ends positively and warmly with the grace of “second chances.