A bedtime story
for adults
learning
.jpg)
In many African countries, people say 'I see you' instead of 'Hi' or 'Good Morning'. Imagine being seen and accepted without responding. Imagine what it feels to see everyone else beyond appearances.
I believe that we 'see' each other when we open to share our struggles. When we show up to cast a light over our darkness, people understand us better, we feel safe and belong.
I wrote this book to help men recognise their pains and women to 'see' them deeper because we must defeat the needless pandemic of loneliness that is increasingly dividing us.
We are born to be connected and to hold each other.
Download Chapter 1 of
THE BOOK OF ỌLÁ
Get your FREE pdf
How this book was born
This book began as a 24-page birthday present to my former partner - a heart-filled offering received with tears, because it also marked our parting.
A parting that existed right from the start, as we were born two continents away from each other, into different skin colours and widely distinctive backgrounds and cultures... but we did not care much for that!
We spent three years attached, trying to navigate our relationship stabbed by Covid and the distances between us - physical and emotional. We witnessed our best and our worst, and through it all, I came to understand how men hurt.
This book is a love letter to him, and to all the men who hide behind silence or shame.
It is also a message to women because there is always a why when men fall short of what we expect.
The Storyline
.jpg)
Amidst the vibrant chaos of Lagos, a nameless boy is born to a driven mother, an unyielding father, a pack of rebellious sisters, and one terribly obnoxious brother. Yet, a tiny cluster of warm strangers cannot resist his charms, for his smile is luscious.
Hemmed in a tapestry of Yorùbá yearnings and traditions, assaulted by the fears and determination of his family and elders, bruised again and again by those he loves, the boy carves commandments deep in his heart. Sent to England, he is given a chance to rewrite his story.
Will he find the courage to trust and open to kindness, unlocking the beauty of his soul? Or will he turn out, as a distant and love-averse adult?
_edited.png)
_edited.png)
9 IDEAS explored
in this story :
(click on each card to discover a question and Yorùbá word)
How much are you influenced by your culture?
How do you define courage?
What legacy are you building?
What makes you belong?
What dreams have you abandoned?
How do you cope with change?
How do you want to be loved and why?
Is vulnerability comforting or dangerous?
Are you an unconditional lover?
and many more...
Who is Carole?
* Story Healer * Poet * Speaker *
*Community Leader * Elder *
Carole Favre was born in Tours, France, in 1970. At twenty, she moved to Vilnius, Lithuania, and four years later relocated to Colchester, England. With a career rooted in teaching and consulting in Responsible Tourism, she worked across the globe — from Timor-Leste to Benin, Brazil to Cameroon, Haiti to Lesotho, and beyond. Her expertise culminated in her first book, Are you ready for Business: How to sell Excursions to UK Tour Operators (2013), which remains a seminal reference in the industry.
When the Covid-19 pandemic rendered her career redundant, Carole turned inward and rediscovered her lifelong passion for storytelling. Inspired by her video series Travel around my Bedroom, she embraced a new path as a Story Healer and Poet. The Book of Ọlá is her debut novel.
Since 2020, she has been based in Bali, where she writes and performs stories and poetry at open mics and festivals across Asia, while guiding men to embrace emotional courage and live with integrity.
What readers think
Yomi
Nigeria
If you were fortunate enough to have lived in Ola’s era, this read will resonate profoundly.
I recognised his view of the world as my own and saw flashbacks of the spirit of my youth in between the pages.
Carole crystallises the interwoven lives of the Nigerian diaspora passionately and authentically.
Claudine
Quebec
Reading Carole’s book is like stepping into another life — the descriptions are so vivid! I could feel all the emotions of the main character and see the world through his eyes too, even though - on the surface - he has nothing in common with me.
Kree
Jamaica
"The Book of Olá" is a mesmerizing beginning to a three-part journey that explores love, identity, and culture. In this first installment, we are transported to Nigeria, where Carole masterfully introduces us to the rich vibrancy of its traditions and the origin of Olá. Carole’s poetic and emotional writing style is nothing short of magical — she paints vivid, colorful pictures with her words, effortlessly blending humor, sharp insight, and charm. Her storytelling grips you, leaving you eager for the next chapters of this remarkable series.
A true masterpiece in the making!”
Carlos
USA
Your reading felt like something with depth from a different era. Fulfilling, inspiring, and definitely drawing everyone into a different world.
What I heard from your book was just awesome!
Inda
Indonesia
Carole, it was such an honour to hear your bedtime story. You made me feel closer to my father, who passed a while back. It was such a wonderful feeling. So thank you for being an earth angel through your incredible book.
Aske
Denmark
As someone deeply invested in men’s mental health and the gender debate, I find Carole’s work both powerful and necessary.
As a feminist, she brings rare courage to understand how the world shapes men through the intersecting forces of race, gender, and culture. I deeply admire how she writes not to judge, but to understand, offering readers a narrative that is about compassion and self-reflection. It's moving and inspiring.
Her work reminds us that storytelling can bridge divides and offer profound insights into identity, masculinity, and relationships.
I wholeheartedly recommend her book.
Natalie
United Kingdom
I loved the story, and your creative expression of immersing us with smells, sounds and relatability.
I am opening up to creating opportunities to connect with strangers in a much more interesting and deeper way post reading.
Bill
Pakistan
Carole's way of telling stories is inspiring. She has delivered a masterpiece easy to read and full of fun but expect betrayals, traps of hope and mighty cultural battles too! I couldn't put this book down!
Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend... They will love you for that.
Naa
Ghana
The Book of Ola by Carole Favre is not what you expect at all! There are so many gems.
The most precious to me as a mother of boys is the intricate detail about the unintentional influence and impact of a mother on her son, and the kind of man and partner he can become if he does not have an opportunity to express his feelings about experiences with his mother.
Some profound insights told in a beautiful way.
Chiara
Australia
As I heard this book, I quickly realized this wasn’t just a simple tale — it was far more than that. Carole's writing is so rich and captivating that you immediately feel sucked into a serious novel. At every page, I wanted to know more, to dive deeper into a culture I did not know at all, and yet, I really saw in Ola a lot of men I know.
Val
UK
It was such fun to read this book! I love the writing style because it is so unusual.
My daughter offered it to my son-in-law, who is Yoruba Nigerian and he loved it. It also helped her connect with his culture in a very unique way.
Highly recommended reading!!!
