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kirstym25's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Child abuse
crazytourists_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have so many questions about what I just read... Is it an account of contemporary Nigeria? Do things like those described in the book happen in real life today? Or is it something that happened in the past? I was horrified and deeply saddened by what I read, about how it is to live in Nigeria, and I sure hope that the author exaggerated about things that don't happen anymore. Adébáyó also leaves something unanswered for us to answer as we please and a part of me likes that (not everything needs to be resolved) but another part is afraid that it's not answered because the resolution given wouldn't be one that I would like.
(3.5 stars, because it was far too long)
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
katharina90's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
The pace was confusing. Painfully slow for at least half the book, then started to pick up and by the end it felt rushed.
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Classism
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Amongst the main players are,
a woman who is a doctor who is being pressured by family to marry the man she has been dating,
his father who is a politician,
her mother who is trying to hold a family together,
the woman she buys her handmade dresses from,
a boy who works in the tailoring shop,
his family and their hopes and financial struggles that have been immense since his father was laid off by government funding cuts for schools.
These disparate characters seem to have little in common except locality. Each has their own history, drives and challenges. The pace is slow and half way through I was feeling a little lost when it came to understanding the significance of some things. Although frustrating, this is part of the point of the book. Without a big picture of what is going on, it is easy to ignore small things that contribute to a problem. This is a major theme of the story, but it takes a back seat to the unfolding interplay of characters.
As a backdrop we see a country that lives with shortage of medical and teaching staff (caused in part by the exodus of graduate students), and a divide between rich and poor that leaves those who are destitute or disabled begging on the streets. There is also some disability narrative with a mother who is terrified that her children will be Dyslexic, because she feels that her personal survival was only possible due to marrying a man with a good job.
Logical things happen but it still feels affronting. The last 5% of the book is a rollercoaster of tenseness and revelation, and emotional resonance that would only be possible with the time and love that the reader invests in the characters to this point. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes character driven stories, has a lot of patience, and an interest in Nigeria.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide, and Alcohol
happyknitter2020's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
It's absolutely tragic, Nigerian culture, the difference between the haves & have nots, political corruption, violence, domestic abuse, child criminal exploitation & depression.
Sparkled with sadness.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
bibliophile_nemo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gaslighting
katiemack's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
The two parts to this book read more like separate short stories, despite the way the two families come together at the end; this made the narrative flow tough for me to get through. Regardless, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ writes her many characters beautifully; the way she imbues each of them with a fleshed-out backstory is admirable and doesn't bog the story down--it made me want to read more about all of them. The sense of place and culture is equally impressive and rich.
As you may have surmised from the synopsis, this does not have a happy ending, but it's worth a read for the descriptions of Nigerian politics, culture, and socioeconomic interplay.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Murder
bookswithnicolee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
pomoevareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury