Scan barcode
africanbookaddict's review against another edition
DNF. Life is too short to indulge in books that make you mad. I'm sure this novel probably gets better when the characters are in London, but I can't keep on reading to get to that point. The dialogue is a mockery/insult to Ghanaians. I'm sure the (clueless) white editors had a jolly ol' time fixing the dialogue to make the housegirl characters speak 'broken english', but its a terrible, terrible attempt. I really like Donkor, but this book ultimately gave me a headache and I can't come and die because of new release. Sorry.
As at now, I'll give this book a 1 star rating. But because I can't finish it, I will not rate the novel.
I'm all for supporting Ghanaian writers & their work, but this novel is a 'no' from me. I'd like to know how other readers of African/ Ghanaian descent feel once they get the chance to read 'Hold' (UK title) / 'Housegirl' (US title). But then again.... was this novel even written for the African/ Ghanaian audience?
As at now, I'll give this book a 1 star rating. But because I can't finish it, I will not rate the novel.
I'm all for supporting Ghanaian writers & their work, but this novel is a 'no' from me. I'd like to know how other readers of African/ Ghanaian descent feel once they get the chance to read 'Hold' (UK title) / 'Housegirl' (US title). But then again.... was this novel even written for the African/ Ghanaian audience?
moshalala's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
jessbedwards99's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
asreadbyaki's review against another edition
2.0
First of all, I think this book is named wrong - the alternative title of “Housegirl” makes a lot more sense.
Belinda is a 17 year old housegirl (domestic help) in Kumasi, Ghana, carrying with her shame about her situation in her home village, which is eventually explained well. The book opens showing the reader Belinda’s lovely relationship with her colleague, 11 year-old Mary, whose positive innocent outlook was even starting to rub off on cynical old me, as she says goodbye. Belinda is saying goodbye because her employers’ friends decide they want Belinda to return with them to the UK as a “friend” to their daughter Amma.
So Belinda moves to Brixton (she and Queenie may have travelled on the same bus at some point) and this is where the book lost me. Amma’s parents seem to want nothing from Belinda except for a way into their daughter’s head. They enrol her in college, and Belinda just cleans their house and cooks their food because… she wants to? My cynicism spidey-senses were on fire at this point.
The relationship between Amma and Belinda was difficult for me too. On the one hand, I can see that if Amma is struggling with her environment - a young Black woman surrounded by whiteness, and stifled by her Ghanaian culture, not speaking Twi (the language) etc - she might be open to building a friendship with another young woman. But she and Belinda had very little in common. Also, (no spoilers) Amma reaaaalllllllly read the room wrong when she did eventually open up to Belinda…
I wasn’t fully invested in the book’s conclusion either unfortunately. I’m not a fan of too many loose ends. I wanted more Mary.
On the plus side, the cover is stunning.
Belinda is a 17 year old housegirl (domestic help) in Kumasi, Ghana, carrying with her shame about her situation in her home village, which is eventually explained well. The book opens showing the reader Belinda’s lovely relationship with her colleague, 11 year-old Mary, whose positive innocent outlook was even starting to rub off on cynical old me, as she says goodbye. Belinda is saying goodbye because her employers’ friends decide they want Belinda to return with them to the UK as a “friend” to their daughter Amma.
So Belinda moves to Brixton (she and Queenie may have travelled on the same bus at some point) and this is where the book lost me. Amma’s parents seem to want nothing from Belinda except for a way into their daughter’s head. They enrol her in college, and Belinda just cleans their house and cooks their food because… she wants to? My cynicism spidey-senses were on fire at this point.
The relationship between Amma and Belinda was difficult for me too. On the one hand, I can see that if Amma is struggling with her environment - a young Black woman surrounded by whiteness, and stifled by her Ghanaian culture, not speaking Twi (the language) etc - she might be open to building a friendship with another young woman. But she and Belinda had very little in common. Also, (no spoilers) Amma reaaaalllllllly read the room wrong when she did eventually open up to Belinda…
I wasn’t fully invested in the book’s conclusion either unfortunately. I’m not a fan of too many loose ends. I wanted more Mary.
On the plus side, the cover is stunning.
kwubs's review against another edition
medium-paced
read en France, expecting a more lighthearted read this follows the journey of a child taken to work for a family in her own country who feels somewhat part of it, until she is sent to leave and start another job elsewhere
moselle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
kallispell's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ajh15's review against another edition
Couldn’t get into the book, didn’t enjoy the writing style and broken English
delightshitta's review against another edition
2.75
Lacked a plot had potential to be great with the topics it mentioned but it was underdeveloped.
lokroma's review against another edition
1.0
So much wrong with this book, but most egregiously, it is simply poorly written. Awkward grammar, inappropriate adjectives, pronouns without referents, confusing content...the characters are cartoonish and flat...I struggled to reach 100 pages and gave up at that point. It's a shame, because the basic premise is promising..