Written by Chisom Igwe
Summary of the Book Diary of a Vagabond shares the narrator’s experiences as a journalist and his passion for football. Throughout his journey, he travels to different places to watch matches, meets different people, and experiences both funny and dangerous situations. One thing that stood out to me was that he had watched one thousand football games. This shows how passionate he is about sports.
My thoughts on the main character
I found the narrator interesting because he is adventurous, confident, and passionate about his work. I admired how he stood his ground and refused to accept ₦10,000 for a trip to Ilorin to cover a match against Kwara United because he felt the amount was insufficient. He stood his ground respectfully and succeeded in negotiating a better offer. I liked this because he knew his worth. However, I disagreed with Jack Moses when he suggested that being beaten was part of the hazards of journalism. In my opinion, journalists should be brave when carrying out their duties, but they should not have to risk their lives just to get a story. The author’s writing style The book is written in the first-person point of view, which makes the narrator’s experiences feel personal. The author also uses humour to make the stories entertaining. I noticed that the narrator sometimes tells a story and then says it is not really about what he has just described. This makes me curious because I keep wondering what the main story is actually about. Although I sometimes want him to get straight to the point, this style keeps me interested in what comes next.
Themes and messages One major theme is “passion and dedication”. The narrator’s achievement of watching 1,000 football games shows his love for sports. Another theme is the “challenges of journalism”. His experiences, including threats and dangerous encounters, show that journalists sometimes face risks while doing their jobs. Another theme in the book is “confidence and knowing one’s worth”, as seen when the narrator negotiates better payment for his trip to Ilorin.
Likes and dislikes
I enjoyed the humour in the book, especially the incident involving Gabriel’s BMW. When Gabriel said he “liked it from behind,” I laughed because I was not expecting that comment. I also found Ebimo’s statement in Cairo funny when he said, “Fun, fun, a place we can have fun.” It reminded me of how people sometimes use very simple English when speaking to someone they think may not understand them well. However, I disliked Jack Moses’s attitude towards the dangers of journalism. I believe that getting a story should not mean accepting unnecessary harm. I also sometimes became impatient when the narrator delayed getting to the main point of a story.
Recommendation
I would recommend Diary of a Vagabond to people who enjoy football, travelling, humour, sports. Personally, I found the book entertaining because some parts made me laugh, while others made me think about the risks journalists face.
Rating
I would rate the book 8 out of 10. I enjoyed the humour, the narrator’s experiences, and his passion for sports. Although I sometimes wanted him to get to the main point faster, the stories kept me curious and made the book interesting to read.
