Losing the Plot 🖤

By Derek Owusu.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Make sure you off your light. Last night I had to come and close it for you. You know it’s only me paying electricity, if you like try and pay."

Losing the Plot by Derek Owusu is an unusual and deeply introspective book that blends imagination, memory, and experimentation in ways that will likely divide readers.

Driven by a desire to understand his mother’s life before he was born, Owusu constructs a narrative that moves between mother and son, exploring displacement, migration, and identity.

As his mother journeys from Ghana to the UK and navigates parenthood in an unfamiliar and often isolating environment, the emotional impact of that experience ripples across generations. The premise itself is compelling, particularly for readers drawn to stories about family, heritage, and perspective.

This is very much a book that demands patience. At times, I found myself feeling as though it was a book I needed to read twice to fully grasp. The structure and shifting styles create a reading experience that is intentionally disorienting, but for me this occasionally tipped into confusion rather than intrigue. I often felt slightly unsure of what was happening or how the pieces were meant to fit together.

That said, there were aspects I genuinely appreciated. The sections centred on his mother’s story were touching and evocative, and I felt most emotionally engaged during those moments.

The interview with his mother towards the end was particularly striking, grounding the book in something deeply personal and authentic. It served as a reminder that this is ultimately her story as much as his, and perhaps one that remains difficult to fully articulate.

The use of footnotes was interesting but did not entirely work for me. While I enjoyed glimpses of Owusu’s perspective, the contrast in writing styles felt jarring. The shifts between poetic, almost lyrical prose and more conversational, everyday language disrupted the flow of the book. At times, the conversational sections felt less like crafted writing and more like direct speech, which made the transitions harder to digest.

Losing the Plot is an ambitious and experimental book with moments of emotional depth, but the stylistic contrasts and fragmented structure made it a challenging read for my personal taste.

Readers who enjoy unconventional narratives and formally inventive storytelling may find much more to admire here.

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Buy the E-Book here.