Reviews

The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta

pvanheus's review against another edition

Also see Donna Harraway's essay: Reading Buchi Emecheta

theebookfrnd's review against another edition

5.0

An excellently written story, this novel tells the life story of Nnu Ego, a woman who lives her whole life in servitude to the men in her life, her father, her husband even down to her sons, and her zeal to make something out of her children with hopes that they'll be able to cater for her in her old age. All her struggles leaves her with nothing but weariness, pain and despair.
Because at the end, I can't even say she enjoyed the fruit of her labour.

This book describes the overwhelming demands placed on women. The pressures placed on wives to have sons, as daughters were seen as nothing more than commodities and were only valuable for their bride price.

Buchi Emecheta explores the misery and difficulty women, most especially poor women, face in a patriarchal society, and in a polygamous culture. Moving through rural to urban colonial Nigeria, this novel delves deep into the igbo culture, set in the 1930s/40s.

There is a remarkable relationship as well as conflict between the old and the new, that is, the traditional and the foreign. The role played by world war II in Nigeria, is also established as Nnu Ego's husband is sent off to war in order to fight for the British who apparently "owns them".

I would say this book was exceptional and powerful. The first book ever written by the author that I've read and it'll definitely not be my last.

shara_'s review against another edition

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? N/A

5.0

onemorebookpodcast's review against another edition

5.0

"God, when will you create a woman who will be fulfilled in herself, a full human being, not anybody’s appendage?"
A book first published in 1979 by a Nigerian author, scholar, wife (later divorced) & mother reveals a nuanced picture of motherhood that goes beyond the traditional narrative of joy & self-sacrifice that is shared in lots of cultures.

Right at the beginning of the book, we are introduced to Nnu Ego as she is literally running away from her life because fate has dealt her the worst hand possibly ever by taking away the one thing that gave her worth as a woman.

This book awakened in me a protectiveness for women & people born in female bodies that I never knew was lying dormant in me for so long. The 'age-old' conversation of idealizing 'Motherhood' as the pinnacle of female fulfillment is so needed in current times than ever especially in the current political & social climate. Motherhood is complex & not without its challenges so instead of forcing the never-ending harmful rhetorics on women, let us instead work on changing policies & perceptions sorrounding it as we seek to empower & stand in solidarity with women in whichever path in life they decide to take.

ekua33's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

chandramukhi's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

lcmilewski's review against another edition

4.0

The title of this classic Nigerian feminist novel is ironic; Nnu Ego goes through a lot of physical and emotional pain in her journey first to become a mother and then to care for her children. The Joys of Motherhood shows the changes in Nigerian society from the 1920s(maybe earlier?) through the 1970s through the perspective of a girl who grows up in a village beloved by her family and moves to Lagos as a young woman to find a society that is alien to her in many ways. Nnu Ego both sees the unfairness of society toward women while also upholding a lot of the beliefs and traditions that cause that inequality. The story is engaging and I wanted to know what would happen to Nnu Ego and her family, but the book drags at times until it speeds through the last part of the book in a way that was somewhat unsatisfying, so four stars for me.

superjanelee's review

4.0

This was described to me as the woman's version of Things Fall Apart. I haven't read that to date, but in any case, I Loved this story. So many things about it seemed universal as struggles women across the world face. Engaging writing, universal story though it is site specific. Highly recommend this book.

lelalendo's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.5

zachlittrell's review against another edition

4.0

I came to this thinking it would just be a book about a Nigerian mother. From chapter 1, it becomes clear that this is an emotional roller coaster. There were times I had to put the book down, because life can't let Nnu Ego, a woman who struggles against adverse conditions, be happy for five minutes.

I'm unashamed to say that my eyes were watering at the ending. Be prepared.