Everything is Fine Here
by Iryn Tushabe
House of Anansi Press
320 pages
$25
Can women in societies dominated by oppressive religious conviction, homophobia, and misogyny ever find peace and equality? This is the question at the heart of Everything is Fine Here, the debut novel by Ugandan-Canadian author Iryn Tushabe. Set in present-day Uganda, the story follows 18-year-old Aine, who fears for her lesbian sister in a society where homosexual acts are brutally punished. Desperate to change her mother’s Christian conviction that her sister’s homosexuality is a grave sin, Aine seeks meaning amid the contradictions she witnesses all around her, longing to mend a family torn apart by irreconcilable difference.
Tushabe treats setting as a much-loved character within her story. Her vivid descriptions, from the “bosomy landscape rolled greenly, rising and falling toward Kibale Forest” to the crushing reality of inner-city existence—where beggars with “shaved heads grey with ringworms and scabs” live—create a visceral reading experience.
This author pulls us into a world where disparity is rampant, yet her female characters are intelligent and far from hopeless. Aine’s strength is tested when a tragic accident claims the life of her father, and it is at this point that Tushabe’s skill at showing her character’s emotional interiority really shines.
The crushing influence of religion in Aine’s life and her burgeoning sexual awareness create tremendous tension as she reflects on the male-dominated society she is a part of. The story’s themes of intolerance felt challenging to pinpoint, with distracting topics such as the wasteful fashion industry and the popular television show, Detectorists, mentioned briefly then forgotten. Like many coming-of-age novels, the main character experiences significant growth, yet Aine’s observations sometimes felt as though a much older voice had hit the page. For example, when discussing story with her sister’s partner, “Aine wondered about Achen’s life, how the membrane separating it from death seemed too porous.”
Nevertheless, I was intrigued by some of the insights put forth in this debut. One such moment occurs as Aine contemplates religion: “perhaps religious fanaticism magnified in people what had existed inside them all along.” This quote will stay with me for a long time.
The novel ends on a powerful note, ultimately answering my initial question: how can peace and equality for women be achieved? Near the novel’s conclusion, Aine’s sister offers an interpretation of a Rukiga proverb: “Where many people walk, a new path will be cleared.” In Everything is Fine Here, Iryn Tushabe proves herself to be a talented and brave writer who isn’t afraid to tackle tough issues of our time.
