Scan barcode
bookwormcat's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Body shaming, Cancer, Bullying, Abandonment, Grief, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
amberinpieces's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Medical content, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, War, Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Car accident, Body shaming, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Bullying, Islamophobia, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Blood, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
mikaclapson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Colonisation, Body shaming, Miscarriage, War, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Kidnapping, and Trafficking
zara89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Cancer, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Infidelity, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
Minor: Infertility and War
emzireads's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Colonisation, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry
my_plant_library's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Infidelity and Miscarriage
Minor: Rape
micaela11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Sexism, Misogyny, and Abandonment
Moderate: Rape, War, and Trafficking
jackelz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexism, and Misogyny
Minor: Abandonment, Cancer, and Death
achingallover'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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Cancer, Car accident, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Racism, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, War, and Violence
beckyjc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This looked to be another absorbing family saga set against an historical and cultural backdrop I know little about - and I have enjoyed a few of those this year. This one started a bit slowly for me and it took a while for it to grip me, but I did enjoy it more as the story progressed. I think part of this is because there was a magical realism element, which I'm usually quite sceptical of. Kirabo 'flies' out of her body, particularly at times of emotional stress, and I still wasn't convinced about this by the end of the book.
The conversations that Kirabo has with village 'witch' Nsutta about womanhood and her discoveries of motherhood in all its incarnations are the parts I enjoyed the most. They are touching, wise and imbued with a wry humour. This is a novel defined by the relationships between the female characters; friends, mothers and daughters, aunts and nieces, grandmothers and granddaughters. All are drawn in their full complexity and humanity. The mythology around the 'first woman' is an undercurrent that resurfaces at various points of the narrative, and I always find it interesting to read about origin myths and national stories or worldviews from other countries and cultures. Part of Kirabo's journey is about testing the boundaries of these myths and exploring how well they stand up and can provide teachings in a fast changing world.
I learned more about Ugandan tradition, the impact of Idi Amin's regime, and the societal upheavals brought about by British colonialism and the arrival of Christianity. The contrasting definitions of wealth, family and power according to views of the villagers, Kampala residents and the West are explored. But it's the definition of what makes a woman and a mother that drives the novel.
Lively and profound.
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Slavery, Violence, and War