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sber8121's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
shewhoturnsallpages7834's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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? No
4.75
I absolutely love how quickly Bernice McFadden dives into a story and grabs your attention from the first sentence. Praise Song for the Butterflies tackles the topic of human trafficking Ukemby with a gentle touch that took my breath away. I appreciate the direct explanation of a trokosi, despite not understanding how Abeo’s eventual abandonment and healing would be linked it. The women of the novel were motivated by many things. For some religion, family expectations and shame limited their ability do take action. Other found purpose in seeking to serve and heal themselves by helping others. The fast pace of the novel kept me invested from start to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Pedophilia, Violence, Suicide, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Infertility, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Rape, Alcoholism, Animal death, Slavery, and Trafficking
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, and Trafficking
smilegena's review against another edition
5.0
I was gonna give this four stars but I was so blown away by the final page that I thought - Fuck it. This is a hard read based on real atrocities, but I appreciated that the book wasn’t needlessly explicit nor did it fall victim to trauma porn. Admittedly, the fact it’s a short novel leaves you feeling as if there’s a lot more the author could have done with so many of the characters and the narrative, but ultimately this was perfect for me. If I didn’t have to work I would have read this in an evening. Brilliant writing.
analenegrace's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was greatly looking forward to reading this because I know Bernice McFadden and was blown away by her writing style. It's written in a way that let me fly through it even with the difficult material within.
Abeo's journey ending inkilling Duma in her dream rather than forgiveness like many books choose made the book and its ending feel more authentic.
As many other reviewers have said and I am echoing, books like this are always more complicated when written by Americans, as seen in the American Savior plotline, but I believe that Abeo was still her own protagonist and had her own motivations and experiences that seperated this book from many others of its kind.
I look forward to reading more of McFadden's books this year and learning from them.
Abeo's journey ending in
As many other reviewers have said and I am echoing, books like this are always more complicated when written by Americans, as seen in the American Savior plotline, but I believe that Abeo was still her own protagonist and had her own motivations and experiences that seperated this book from many others of its kind.
I look forward to reading more of McFadden's books this year and learning from them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Child death, Confinement, Grief, Rape, Slavery, Death of parent, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Self harm, Suicide, and Violence
janeylouthecat's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 stars
Set in the fictional West African country of Ukemby, this book deals with the very real practice of ritual servitude.
Nine year old Abeo lives a happy, comfortable life in Ukemby with her father, a government official, her mother and her baby brother. But then her family's fortunes change, and her father takes her to a religious shrine, leaving her there as a sacrifice to atone for the family's sins and hopefully win back the favour of the gods. After fifteen years at the shrine, in which she suffers unimaginable horrors, Abeo is rescued, and must slowly piece herself back together.
I felt that this book really taught me something, as before reading it I was totally ignorant about the practice of ritual servitude. Although technically illegal, it is still practised in parts of Ghana, Togo and Benin. The 'sacrifices' are usually young virgin girls, like Abeo, who then become the property of the shrine and must work there without any form of remuneration. They are known as trokosi, or wives of the gods. Accordingly, they are often forced to have sex with the priests and elders of the shrine. After finishing Praise Song for the Butterflies, I have read several articles about trokosi and what is being done to stop this awful practice, so it certainly made me think.
I also really liked Abeo's character - she is such a spirited girl and I felt so much for her when her previously loving father abandons her at the shrine. It is also heartbreaking to watch her slowly lose her innocence as she realises what happens there, and I thought McFadden did this very well. I also liked Abeo as an adult, as she slowly rebuilds her life and comes to terms with her past. She kept me hooked into the story and reading until the end.
There were also a couple of things I didn't like, however - the rehabilitation centre that rescues Abeo is run by Americans, which kind of gave me a 'western saviour' vibe, which made me a bit uncomfortable. Also I felt that at times the author used odd words, like an unusual verb or adjective just for the sake of it, and that would pull me out of the story.
But overall I liked this book - it made me feel, it made me think, it made me more aware of the world around me.
Set in the fictional West African country of Ukemby, this book deals with the very real practice of ritual servitude.
Nine year old Abeo lives a happy, comfortable life in Ukemby with her father, a government official, her mother and her baby brother. But then her family's fortunes change, and her father takes her to a religious shrine, leaving her there as a sacrifice to atone for the family's sins and hopefully win back the favour of the gods. After fifteen years at the shrine, in which she suffers unimaginable horrors, Abeo is rescued, and must slowly piece herself back together.
I felt that this book really taught me something, as before reading it I was totally ignorant about the practice of ritual servitude. Although technically illegal, it is still practised in parts of Ghana, Togo and Benin. The 'sacrifices' are usually young virgin girls, like Abeo, who then become the property of the shrine and must work there without any form of remuneration. They are known as trokosi, or wives of the gods. Accordingly, they are often forced to have sex with the priests and elders of the shrine. After finishing Praise Song for the Butterflies, I have read several articles about trokosi and what is being done to stop this awful practice, so it certainly made me think.
I also really liked Abeo's character - she is such a spirited girl and I felt so much for her when her previously loving father abandons her at the shrine. It is also heartbreaking to watch her slowly lose her innocence as she realises what happens there, and I thought McFadden did this very well. I also liked Abeo as an adult, as she slowly rebuilds her life and comes to terms with her past. She kept me hooked into the story and reading until the end.
There were also a couple of things I didn't like, however - the rehabilitation centre that rescues Abeo is run by Americans, which kind of gave me a 'western saviour' vibe, which made me a bit uncomfortable. Also I felt that at times the author used odd words, like an unusual verb or adjective just for the sake of it, and that would pull me out of the story.
But overall I liked this book - it made me feel, it made me think, it made me more aware of the world around me.
bgg616's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't read Mc Fadden before and picked this up as it was on the Women's Prize 2019 list. It is set in a fictional African country, and like other readers, I wondered why the reason for not naming the country where the practice of trokosi, ritual servitude of girls and young women. It is more than servitude as the girls and women are also sexually exploited, and amounts to slavery. The book begins with good details of the setting and the family like of young Abeo before she is put into servitude by her father. The section of the book dealing with this life is mercifully lacking in too many descriptions of the abuse that takes place at the religious shrine where she is enslaved. There is enough for the reader to understand what a horror this part of Abeo's life is. It is the final section of the book that was unconvincing. I don't want to include too many details so as to avoid spoilers, but I feel that the deterioration of some characters, and the recovery of others was presented to the reader without any explanation. One character who has an estranged husband and doesn't seem to work, nor be independently wealthy spends money extravagantly.
This book did make me aware of the trokosi custom. Placing children in servitude is a custom that continues in some African countries, as well as Haiti. [b:Claire of the Sea Light|16280051|Claire of the Sea Light|Edwidge Danticat|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1367256761i/16280051._SX50_.jpg|22381420] by Edwidge Danticat is a compelling novel about the practice of restavek ("stay with") - child servitude- in Haiti.
This book did make me aware of the trokosi custom. Placing children in servitude is a custom that continues in some African countries, as well as Haiti. [b:Claire of the Sea Light|16280051|Claire of the Sea Light|Edwidge Danticat|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1367256761i/16280051._SX50_.jpg|22381420] by Edwidge Danticat is a compelling novel about the practice of restavek ("stay with") - child servitude- in Haiti.
sssnoo's review against another edition
4.0
Spare in prose yet deep in meaning. This book is about integrating discordance. Seeing the good and bad of the past and reconciling it into a whole present. The book does this on a cultural/historical level as it explores forced servitude of girls in the modern era and slavery of the past. It also explores the topic through individuals reconciling past trauma with the present. There is so much in this book. I listened to the audible version but I wanted the real book multiple times while I read. I wanted to go back and find passages already read - not very easy with audible.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
morganreadsoccasionally's review against another edition
5.0
This will haunt you.
I couldn't read this in a single sitting. It may be short but its contents are extremely heavy.
Abeo's tale is tragic and horrifying. And, although it may be fiction, this story portrays very real fates for hundreds if not thousands of children who fall victim to fetish priests.
Mrs. McFadden may give you happy moments but this is not a happy story.
This story will destroy you.
I couldn't read this in a single sitting. It may be short but its contents are extremely heavy.
Abeo's tale is tragic and horrifying. And, although it may be fiction, this story portrays very real fates for hundreds if not thousands of children who fall victim to fetish priests.
Mrs. McFadden may give you happy moments but this is not a happy story.
This story will destroy you.
hollymckie's review against another edition
5.0
MANY TEARS. This was heartbreakingly incredible.
I read this because Laura Jane Williams had recommended it on instagram and gushed about how good it was and that it had made the Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist, and I got it on next day delivery. Hands down the best thing I have read so far this year and probably will for the rest of 2019.
I read this because Laura Jane Williams had recommended it on instagram and gushed about how good it was and that it had made the Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist, and I got it on next day delivery. Hands down the best thing I have read so far this year and probably will for the rest of 2019.