Scan barcode
estherokunlola's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
bookrhythms's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
blessing_aj's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
Read this with a fresh pair of eyes, because it’s been over ten years since I read it for the first time. I’d always known I liked the book, but I could also remember having mixed feelings about it.
However, I am now of the opinion that this book is almost as perfect as a debut can be and powerful too. Completely bedazzled by everything Sefi said and didn’t say about the plight of women in Nigeria and about Nigerian politics.
However, I am now of the opinion that this book is almost as perfect as a debut can be and powerful too. Completely bedazzled by everything Sefi said and didn’t say about the plight of women in Nigeria and about Nigerian politics.
lobnaelgammal's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
sophiasunlitreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
manaledi's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for strong female characters standing up for themselves. And here we have a lawyer learning to be an activist! A story of everyday family life in Nigeria amongst coups.
amanda_nyanhongo's review against another edition
4.0
Halfway through this book - I was dead set on rating it 2/5. It was entirely disjointed, reading like a journal where every small task was diarised. I’ve never been one to stop reading books that I’ve picked up, so i continued reading.
What made the initial disjointedness frustrating was how the book had important issues such as: rape, African polygamy, feminism, infidelity amongst many others. Yet I felt, it desperately fell short of properly addressing these issues.
Luckily our feelings aren’t always entirely correct. As I made way towards the last part of the book, it felt like the scales were being lifted off my eyes. Like I was in a cinema and walked out into a bright and sunny day. Everything was falling into place & making much more sense.
All the parts were being weaved efficiently together. I felt my head nodding, my heart sinking with sadness and yet filled with pride and admiration, at so many of the parts towards the end. A few quotable lines will never part for me.
* “Hell and Lagos? Which is worse?” This made me think of my home country, Zimbabwe. Various societal activities have been deemed unjust & immoral. But when hell is no longer a religious concept of a destination where the punished and sinful go. And it is now instead your everyday reality, often very little choice is left.
* “Everyone must walk their own path unencumbered”. Often we are born into burdens that are placed on us, with very little choice in them. And as Africans I truly believe we have been dealt an unjust set of cards. Even decades later with our colonial & slavery past seemingly behind us. The systemic oppression and the system itself is a burden we are faced with very little choice. And our paths have been determined way before our births to be walked with whilst we are encumbered.
* “…but he wouldn’t have had to leave me to do what he wanted.” Often if not always women can never have it all. A gain must always be balanced with a sacrifice. Often society judges you for choosing yourself at the expense of old-age, patriarchal standards that need to be maintained. And this made me wonder how many of our women freedom fighters & activists; have had to make numerous sacrifices which often involved their families behind the scenes. Only to be erased from history’s pages.
It’s only as the book progressed and Enitan became older that much became clearer. Isn’t life often like that? Maybe we need to be disjointed, figuring out numerous things in our younger years, touching this and that. For us to start settling into our own skin, establishing our identity and purpose.
If you decide to read this book and you don’t instantly click with it. That’s okay. But if you decide to stick it out, I hope you find it’s beauty, especially within its last set of chapters.
What made the initial disjointedness frustrating was how the book had important issues such as: rape, African polygamy, feminism, infidelity amongst many others. Yet I felt, it desperately fell short of properly addressing these issues.
Luckily our feelings aren’t always entirely correct. As I made way towards the last part of the book, it felt like the scales were being lifted off my eyes. Like I was in a cinema and walked out into a bright and sunny day. Everything was falling into place & making much more sense.
All the parts were being weaved efficiently together. I felt my head nodding, my heart sinking with sadness and yet filled with pride and admiration, at so many of the parts towards the end. A few quotable lines will never part for me.
* “Hell and Lagos? Which is worse?” This made me think of my home country, Zimbabwe. Various societal activities have been deemed unjust & immoral. But when hell is no longer a religious concept of a destination where the punished and sinful go. And it is now instead your everyday reality, often very little choice is left.
* “Everyone must walk their own path unencumbered”. Often we are born into burdens that are placed on us, with very little choice in them. And as Africans I truly believe we have been dealt an unjust set of cards. Even decades later with our colonial & slavery past seemingly behind us. The systemic oppression and the system itself is a burden we are faced with very little choice. And our paths have been determined way before our births to be walked with whilst we are encumbered.
* “…but he wouldn’t have had to leave me to do what he wanted.” Often if not always women can never have it all. A gain must always be balanced with a sacrifice. Often society judges you for choosing yourself at the expense of old-age, patriarchal standards that need to be maintained. And this made me wonder how many of our women freedom fighters & activists; have had to make numerous sacrifices which often involved their families behind the scenes. Only to be erased from history’s pages.
It’s only as the book progressed and Enitan became older that much became clearer. Isn’t life often like that? Maybe we need to be disjointed, figuring out numerous things in our younger years, touching this and that. For us to start settling into our own skin, establishing our identity and purpose.
If you decide to read this book and you don’t instantly click with it. That’s okay. But if you decide to stick it out, I hope you find it’s beauty, especially within its last set of chapters.
socorrobaptista's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutamente fascinante. Cada vez gosto mais de autoras nigerianas. Nesta narrativa, é possível ver, ao mesmo tempo, a luta pessoal de uma mulher que nunca aceitou bem o papel de submissão que lhe era imposto, e diferentes visões e culturas de uma África ainda tão desconhecida, uma história com temas universais, como o amor, amizade, preconceitos, sobrevivência, política, e lealdades divididas. Maravilhosa.
obzy05's review against another edition
3.0
I don't really know what to make of Enitan. Probably the timing of the Military Regime. I can't say I understand her thoughts or her argument.
I liked the beginning, of the novel before it became an activist journey. All is well that ends well.
I liked the beginning, of the novel before it became an activist journey. All is well that ends well.