holdvic's review against another edition
4.0
"it would take a while for me to realise that each of my children had given me as much as they took."
a series of tragic events written in a beautifully poetic way.
a series of tragic events written in a beautifully poetic way.
misspalah's review against another edition
5.0
Besides, what would be left of love without truth stretched beyond its limits, without those better versions of ourselves that we present as the only ones that exist?
- Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Stay with Me
.
.
I almost finished this book with one sitting. If i dont have to get back to my class and teach, i would just flip the pages so fast so that i could finish it because i would like to know how this story ends. This is one of the few books i came across this year that i could not predict the ending. Heck, i was even stumped with many of the plot twists throughout the book. Whatever Yejide went through in this book is just heart breaking - From Polygamy, pseudocyesis (false pregnancy symptoms), death of her kids and ultimately led to the depression. I think this might be the shortest review i have done because if i write more i might revealed some spoiler and i would like to avoid it. What can i say is i understand why this book was shortlisted women’s prize for fiction. The plot is gripping and intense. It was so surreal for every characters in the book. Be it for Yejide or Yejide’s husband Akinde perspective as it was narrated alternately in the book, everyone carried a secret. Suffice to say that not only the book was heart wrenching but it did ultimately raises few points on the motherhood bonding, the longevity of love especially on will it fade over time or will it get stronger over time, the grief and the mourning period especially on how does one get over losing someone that you know you can never meet them again and the fidelity and loyalty in marriage. Overall, a highly recommended book. If this is on your TBR, bumped it up to the next one you should be reading.
- Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Stay with Me
.
.
I almost finished this book with one sitting. If i dont have to get back to my class and teach, i would just flip the pages so fast so that i could finish it because i would like to know how this story ends. This is one of the few books i came across this year that i could not predict the ending. Heck, i was even stumped with many of the plot twists throughout the book. Whatever Yejide went through in this book is just heart breaking - From Polygamy, pseudocyesis (false pregnancy symptoms), death of her kids and ultimately led to the depression. I think this might be the shortest review i have done because if i write more i might revealed some spoiler and i would like to avoid it. What can i say is i understand why this book was shortlisted women’s prize for fiction. The plot is gripping and intense. It was so surreal for every characters in the book. Be it for Yejide or Yejide’s husband Akinde perspective as it was narrated alternately in the book, everyone carried a secret. Suffice to say that not only the book was heart wrenching but it did ultimately raises few points on the motherhood bonding, the longevity of love especially on will it fade over time or will it get stronger over time, the grief and the mourning period especially on how does one get over losing someone that you know you can never meet them again and the fidelity and loyalty in marriage. Overall, a highly recommended book. If this is on your TBR, bumped it up to the next one you should be reading.
monikapuff's review against another edition
5.0
This was a recommendation from a fellow bookstagrammer, and I inhaled this novel in five days, more or less.
I fell in love with Nigerian writing and culture thanks to Adichie and I was really happy that I found this debut novel. The way it is written from two points of view gives the complete picture of the events as we slowly read how they unfold, and the time skips left me waiting for the explanations. I found it heartbreaking that this is novel set less than forty years ago and that things like these still happen. Lives ruined becouse of the view that a woman is not a woman if she has no children and man not willing to admit his 'failiure' out of shame thanks to the norms. I love that Stay with me deals with feminist issues without pushing it into your face, and the societal norms are rotten. I understand that society is different in our culture and Nigeria, but even here, in so called western world, you can still hear the opinion that you need children to be a 'real' woman, a 'real' family. All the things Yejide and Akin did in order to fit, and the way someone, something punished them were heartbreaking.
And the addition of some political changes and issues just adds another layer to the story and reminds you that there is a world outside of the personal struggles and real life issues.
I fell in love with Nigerian writing and culture thanks to Adichie and I was really happy that I found this debut novel. The way it is written from two points of view gives the complete picture of the events as we slowly read how they unfold, and the time skips left me waiting for the explanations. I found it heartbreaking that this is novel set less than forty years ago and that things like these still happen. Lives ruined becouse of the view that a woman is not a woman if she has no children and man not willing to admit his 'failiure' out of shame thanks to the norms. I love that Stay with me deals with feminist issues without pushing it into your face, and the societal norms are rotten. I understand that society is different in our culture and Nigeria, but even here, in so called western world, you can still hear the opinion that you need children to be a 'real' woman, a 'real' family. All the things Yejide and Akin did in order to fit, and the way someone, something punished them were heartbreaking.
And the addition of some political changes and issues just adds another layer to the story and reminds you that there is a world outside of the personal struggles and real life issues.
izzy_a's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
juliash's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.75
kneely09's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. It was super interesting to read about a different culture and country I know next to nothing about. The story was heartbreaking. I loved that the story was told from both spouses points of view. Docking half a point because I wanted more at the end. But the writing was beautiful and moving. My favorite quote from the book:
"If the burden is too much and stays too long, even love bends, cracks, comes close to breaking and sometimes does break. But when it's in a thousand pieces around your feet, that doesn't mean it's no longer love."
"If the burden is too much and stays too long, even love bends, cracks, comes close to breaking and sometimes does break. But when it's in a thousand pieces around your feet, that doesn't mean it's no longer love."
kefowler's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: War and Murder
darsicle290's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sophie_paterson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infertility, and Death of parent
kuprina's review against another edition
5.0
A rare 5 star rating from me. Breathtaking story of a family, a relationship full of despair, love, culture. Sad and beautiful at the same time. Set in such a different for me setting (read: not in European/American culture), learning about the couple’s relationship, cultural customs and prejudices main characters live through has been a thought provoking experience. How long ways do two people go in order to have a child? How important is it to be a mother? What do we do to hold a family, a relationship together?
Told from both sides, it gives both us perspective of both sides, both partners in this marriage. And although at times I couldn’t follow the timeframe, I still enjoyed two view points.
I thoroughly enjoyed Audible version, voiced over by Adjoa Andoh
Told from both sides, it gives both us perspective of both sides, both partners in this marriage. And although at times I couldn’t follow the timeframe, I still enjoyed two view points.
I thoroughly enjoyed Audible version, voiced over by Adjoa Andoh