In The Praise Of Clichés: Eight Readers Talk About Their Favorite Fictional Tropes
By: Uchenna Emelife
T ropes refer to common or overused themes or devices in literature. They are recurring similarities in various art and literary works that such repeated features turn clichés.
Tropes can annoy sometimes. You pick up a new book expecting a different story, yet somehow you’re met with an old story only this time with different characters. Or you go see a film and you find familiarity in the unfolding of events and the characters echo in your mind because they already stroke a chord on a similar note.
Most lovers of art are curious people. We read to discover and can you discover what you already have? Can you still get the breath of fresh air a new story offers you? There is thus a natural derisiveness for clichés, and narratives where they’re found are often dismissed by some readers and considered poorly executed.
But recently on Twitter, I stumbled on a thread that was in the praise of tropes. The tweet had asked everyone to quote with their favorite romance trope and people did with so much excitement. You could read their joy in their tweets about clichéd romance stories and they probably forgot about its over usage.
The tweet caught my interest and I found it lovely to see clichés take a new face; enjoy admiration. So to mark Book O’clock’s third anniversary as well as World Book Day, we caught up with eight readers and asked them to share with us their favorite fictional tropes and oh I’m certain you will relate to a couple.
From Uchenna, Amyn and Ezioma who never tire from romance tropes to Princess who doesn’t mind reading the same social issues being discussed over and over again to Ebo Amutta who is immediately sold once the story has some historical elements albeit the repetitions, to Abena who is fascinated by African literature tropes, e.t.c. Find below:
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Uchenna Nnabugwu
My favourite fictional trope is the "strangers to friends to lovers" trope.
I honestly don’t mind because I personally love realistic stories and this trope is closer to it, in the sense that it allows for a slow build-up of romantic tension between the characters, giving me the time to gradually get invested in their relationship.
I don’t like when there’s a sudden rush of chemistry between two characters in a way that is unrealistic.
There’s the beauty of the two characters, starting as strangers and gradually becoming friends before realizing that they have deeper feelings for one another.
It gives room for character development as the two characters get to know each other and their friendship deepens.
And in general, it resonates with me and I’m sure most readers do too.
— Uchenna Nnabugwu is a Nigerian-based book and lifestyle content creator, who’s passionate about creating content that inspires, informs, and entertains his community.
Ezioma Kalu
Well, my favorite trope is romance. I’ll elaborate.
You see all these enemies to friends trope, or bestie to lovers trope? No matter how much they’ve been used, I still giggle and face-palm while reading them.
I’m a sucker for love and romance. I love reading about love in any form I can get it. I don’t mind if it’s overused, just give me sweet characters that meet and fall in love with themselves and I’ll come undone.
Give me Kiki and Kai from Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola, any day. I already know how most of these stories would end, but that doesn’t take a thing out of the butterflies I’d feel in my tummy. I just love living vicariously through the lovers. And like Nigerians always say, imagination go wan kill me anytime I read them.
So yes. My favorite trope is romance. The good ole 'boy meets girl, falls in love and live happily' ever after stories. Please inject them in my veins.
— Ezioma Kalu is a fast rising Nigerian writer and book blogger.
She runs a book blog, Bookish Pixie, where she writes amazing reviews on books.
She is a flash fiction editor and mentor at Writers Space Africa, the assistant coordinator of Writers Space Africa (Nigerian chapter), and a 2022 Best of the net award nominee.
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Princess Paul Ufe
My favorite fictional trope is social realism.
Social realism is a genre that is often used to explore important societal issues such as poverty, inequality, and social injustice.
I chose social realism because it serves as a valuable tool for exploring these issues, giving voice to marginalized groups, and inspiring social change.
I’ve read a couple of books which tend to focus on the same social issues, and they often portray similar characters and settings such as: A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum, Second Class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta, On Black Sisters Streets by Chika Unigwe, Tomorrow I Become a Woman by Aiwanose Odafen, Ogadinma by Ukamaka Olisakwe, and The Son of The House by Cheluchi Onyemelukwe.
These are books which explore the themes of gender, self discovery, identity, poverty, and domestic violence.
Overall, while social realism may be an overused trope at times, it remains an important and influential genre that has made significant contributions to literature and to society. It serves as a means of exposing readers to the struggles faced by individuals who exist on the fringes of society, giving them a voice and humanizing their experiences.
— Princess Paul Ufe is a multifaceted individual who possesses a deep passion for literature, photography and community building.
She is the founder and facilitator of Book Afrique, a rapidly-growing community for writers and readers.
Abena Maryann
Mother-Daughter Trope: Mothers and daughters have complicated relationships: from best friends-Moms to the worst enemies-Moms, from absent mothers to grieving over dead mothers, from living up to mothers' expectations to family secrets. The books I read about mother-daughter relationships never get old - they always present new complexities and multi-layers that change my perspective. These books always make me re-examine my relationship with my mother. Maybe that’s why I enjoy them so much. There’s always something new to talk about. Here are a few recommendations: Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi, Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi, Conjure Women by Afia Atakora and Tomorrow I Become A Woman by Aiwanose Odafen and Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah
Absent Mothers: Patience is a Subtle Thief by Abi Ishola-Ayodeji, Ogadinma by Ukamaka Olisawe and The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubaga Makumbi.
Grieving over Dead Mothers: Of Women and Frogs by Bisi Adjapon, Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner and Legendborn by Tracy Deonn.
The Marriage Trope: Let me grab a cup of tea because marriages in books are the best fictional cliches to give any reader. Love is a beautiful thing and marriage is a beautiful thing. But just like mother-daughter relationships, marriages are complex. I love reading about marriages and their complexities. From broken marriages, marriages of convenience, arranged marriages, sexless marriages, obnoxious in-laws, happily married, domestic abuse, family secrets, rich vs poor, and polygamy. I could go on and on. Books that centre on marriage provide a glimpse into different marriages. Here are a few recommendations:
Broken Marriages: Tomorrow I Become A Woman by Aiwanose Odafen, His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie, Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo, Ogadinma by Ukamaka Olisawe, The Second-Class Citizen by Buchi Emechita, Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Arranged Marriages: His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie.
Domestic Abuse: Tomorrow I Become A Woman by Aiwanose Odafen and Ogadinma by Ukamaka Olisawe.
Polygamy: The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin
Romance Tropes: I am not heavy on romance novels. Romance novels are my go-to novels after I read books on heavy themes. It’s like a breath of fresh air. From friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, second chance, forced proximity, fake dating, forbidden love and impossible love. Let’s just say I love messy and chaotic love choices hence my favourite love tropes are enemies to lovers, fake dating and love triangles.
Enemies to Lovers: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Fake Dating: Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
Love Triangle: You Made A Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
In today’s world, books have proven to be more than just tropes. Some books have a storyline that contains various tropes. When tropes are done well with an original storyline, it becomes a beautiful piece of art.
— Abena Maryann is writer, a book influencer, a podcaster, a literary event organizer, and the creator of the #ReadGhanaianChallenge.
Her social media handles and podcast celebrate the art of storytelling and literature by Africans and Black authors past and present.Read Also: A Poet as a Patriot and a Sage: A Conversation with Ayeyemi Taofeek (Aswagaawy)
Ebo Amutta
Historical Fictional Trope
Historical fiction marries fiction and historical facts. The blending of past real life events and made up ones result in what I would describe as a bittersweet sensation. It presents the reader with two perspectives as one. Reminding the reader that a particular life could have possibly gone through these occurrences.
In the book, The Girl You Left Behind, how Jojo Moyes brought two different women and two different times into one piece was mind blowing and emotionally daunting for the reader. Another writer, Elif Shafak does so well in merging historical events from a Turkish background with fiction in her books. Her books like The Bastard of Instanbul, 40 Rues of Love and The Architect’s Apprentice, provide a pathway for the reader to know more about Turkish ways and other related histories. I only got to know about Armenian genocide when I read one of her books. Dan Brown has done so well with this trope too and it is always thriling to drop a book and research further so as to understand and relate to your fictional character. I would lastly say The Last Duty by Isidore Okpewho is another perfect example of the usage of historical trope which in this case, illustrates the aftermath of war.
Historical trope always thrills me as it broadens my knowledge on different occurrences in the world whilst keeping me entertained with its fictional side. It tugs my heart most times that those fictional characters might as well have been someone else’s life in that time, making me see life in different shades and perspective. The use of historical trope has made its way into many genres of books and stories such as love stories, war stories, crime, thriller and even comic storylines as it blends so well which ever way it is written. The recurring use of historical times to write books is one I won’t get tired of reading anytime soon.
— Ebo Amutta is a doctor who loves books.
Chinonso Nzeh
Family Feud Trope
I like to think that my favorite fictional trope is the family feud trope. I love familial relationships, the way they are bound together, and most importantly, how they are pulled apart.
— Chinonso Nzeh is first Igbo. His works have been published in Evergreen Review, Agbowó, The Shallow Tales, Isele Magazine, Black Boy Review, Ibadan Arts, and elsewhere. He is a prose reader at Beaver Magazine, and he was shortlisted for the 2023 Isele prize for nonfiction. He is a law student at the University of Lagos.
Camcam
Friends to Lovers Trope
Here to defend the honour of the “friends to lovers” trope.
I think the most amazing thing is the ease. In many situations, the “friend”, is the emotionally intelligent person, this friend knows you for all of your pretty and ugly but there’s an acceptance from both sides. A good case is in Lauren Layne’s Marriage on Madison Avenue.
This trope makes me giddy because it appreciates the beauty of the ordinary- there’s no instant, quick burn or “everything everywhere all at once” link up. It is being steeped in daily routine, the careless laughters, the fallouts and reconciliations, the hugs that encapsulate the ease of friendship, the memories over the years that scream “it’s the million little things” ? I had a beautiful time enjoying this in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
These people aren’t always perfect but it has made me realise friendship is an important factor in romance. To love isn’t enough, there are days where the romantic love won’t be there, that’s where friendship carries.
— Camcam is navigating adulthood and enjoys appreciating art in its variety.
Amyn Bawa-Allah
Fake Relationship Trope
My favourite cliche in books is the fake relationship. I have no other reason for enjoying this aside from the amount of joy it brings me. I guess I enjoy watching the dynamics change from a fake relationship to real one, just like in Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert.
— Amyn is a Beyoncé fan, copy editor, and community manager, in that exact order. In 2020, she launched The Something Bookish Podcast, a show where she hosts unfiltered conversations with herself or a guest about all things related to books and reading.
Now you don’t hate these clichés anymore, do you? Tropes may not offer new air, but they give you comfort, these repeated stories provide a leveled space which lessens anxiety, they teach emphasis and sustain our entertainment since there are stories we already know, they feed our fantasies and accommodate our escapes, and much more.
So, in the spirit of the defense of clichés, let us know in the comment what your own favorite fictional trope(s) is/are.
