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seawarrior's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Son of the House is a story of the survival and lasting hope of two Nigerian women with vastly different upbringings. The novel begins and ends with their kidnapping in 2011, encircling the stories they relate to each other about their younger years throughout the majority of the book. Nwabulu and Julie encountered differing forms of misogyny from their family and community living through late 1900's Nigeria, but they both know the price of prioritizing "the son of the house" and how the devaluation of women can easily upend one's life. However, their similar experiences go deeper than they know, and both women eventually realize that the defining event of their life has tragically and miraculously been shared.
Onyemelukwe-Onuobia's straightforward writing style led the book along at an engaging pace, and allowed me to feel engrossed enough in the story that I often forgot it was fiction and started to genuinely worry about the characters. Though many periods of the book were tragic and unflinchingly depicted misogynistic expectations and abuse, Nwabulu and Julie's stories are not devoid of hope. Ultimately I felt this novel was a rewarding read that urges us to remember that even in dire circumstances, people are never truly lost when they are courageous enough to seek out and accept love.
Onyemelukwe-Onuobia's straightforward writing style led the book along at an engaging pace, and allowed me to feel engrossed enough in the story that I often forgot it was fiction and started to genuinely worry about the characters. Though many periods of the book were tragic and unflinchingly depicted misogynistic expectations and abuse, Nwabulu and Julie's stories are not devoid of hope. Ultimately I felt this novel was a rewarding read that urges us to remember that even in dire circumstances, people are never truly lost when they are courageous enough to seek out and accept love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, and War
prairieraven's review
Struggled personally with the content. Triggered traumatic lived personal experience. Need to exercise extreme self care when I pick this up again. Well written book so far. Heart wrenching.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Trafficking
Minor: Pregnancy