In Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabinelli, Eve is mourning the loss of her husband. One day, a new friend who is more of a casual acquaintance buys Eve beef and black bean arepas. The food is both nourishing and comforting, exactly what Eve needs.
She takes me to the Lyric Square street market, buys me arepas stuffed with beef and black beans and says “eat” with an authority that does not leave space for argument. The food is hot, flavorful, and the first bite reignites an appetite I assumed to be beyond resuscitation. “You’re not having any?” I ask through a mouthful.
Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabinelli
“Nah. Would just make me miss my abuela.”
“Where is she?”
“Back home.” I don’t press her on it. She watches me until I finish. “Feel better?”
Surprisingly, I do. “Thank you.”
On New Year’s Eve, her husband commits suicide and Eve is the one to find him. What unfolds is a tableau of grief and memories as Eve and her family grapple with Quentin’s death. While beautifully written, Someday, Maybe is also incredibly heavy. Quentin’s suicide can be traumatic to read about and it’s heartwrenching to see his family try to make sense of his death.
Eve’s grief is understandably unrelenting. The book only spans about a year so the grief doesn’t really alleviate. But the beauty in this book for me was the very small moments such as a practical stranger buying Eve food and providing the sustenance she needed in the moment. To call it comfort seems too optimistic, but a brief relief from the overwhelming grief.
To recreate the meal Eve eats, I made fresh arepas, For the beef, I marinated overnight a roast in this mojo, pureed in the blender and then cooked it in the crockpot on low for 6-8 hours. The beef should shred beautifully.
I added beef, refried black beans, and queso fresco to my arepa.
If you enjoy books that rip out your heart, I fully recommend Someday, Maybe.
What’s the saddest book you’ve ever read?
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