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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book explored so much—racism, segregation, feelings of incompetency, self-doubt, abuse in marriage, and the fragile ego and insecurity of a man. I was so frustrated with the female character. It felt like she lost all the passion and confidence she once had, and I just wanted her to find it again. She was never someone who settled, but now, all of a sudden, she was just okay with whatever life handed her? I needed her to wake up, to want more, to fight for herself. And it took a while—too long, honestly. But eventually, she did.
Even then, I still feel like she was shortchanged. And the male character? He got off way too easy. For all the things he did, all the ways he acted, I wanted more consequences. I needed him to feel it.
The book also really explored what it’s like growing up in an African home—how women are treated like second-class citizens in their own marriages, their own families. It made my blood boil. The way society has decided that just because she’s a woman, her rights don’t matter as much? That she should settle for less? I loved that the book dove into this, but it was so frustrating to read.
And then there was the whole dynamic of a woman being the provider while the man refused to take responsibility. Just coasting through life, caring only about himself. It was crazy. And honestly, I was sad about the choices she made. She had dreams, she had plans, and it felt like life just took them away from her. I worried—would she ever get back to the person she wanted to be? Would she still have a shot at the life she dreamed of?
But one thing about her—she was so warm, so gentle. I feel like if she had the right environment, she would thrive. She would flourish. She would bloom.
This was such a good book. It made me mad at times, but I was hooked. I literally picked it up and finished it in less than a day—that’s how good it was. I definitely recommend it.
Even then, I still feel like she was shortchanged. And the male character? He got off way too easy. For all the things he did, all the ways he acted, I wanted more consequences. I needed him to feel it.
The book also really explored what it’s like growing up in an African home—how women are treated like second-class citizens in their own marriages, their own families. It made my blood boil. The way society has decided that just because she’s a woman, her rights don’t matter as much? That she should settle for less? I loved that the book dove into this, but it was so frustrating to read.
And then there was the whole dynamic of a woman being the provider while the man refused to take responsibility. Just coasting through life, caring only about himself. It was crazy. And honestly, I was sad about the choices she made. She had dreams, she had plans, and it felt like life just took them away from her. I worried—would she ever get back to the person she wanted to be? Would she still have a shot at the life she dreamed of?
But one thing about her—she was so warm, so gentle. I feel like if she had the right environment, she would thrive. She would flourish. She would bloom.
This was such a good book. It made me mad at times, but I was hooked. I literally picked it up and finished it in less than a day—that’s how good it was. I definitely recommend it.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Don't be fooled by the seeming simplicity and bubbling ease of Emecheta's language. Second Class Citizen courses with the baffling persistence of life. Amid all that's stultifying about capital-S Society and capital-C Culture, this novel and its protagonist Adah twist and grow.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t want to jinx myself but I would like to believe that Buchi saved me from my recent reading slump
As an autobiographical fiction, Second Class Citizen starts with Ada in Nigeria who strives to live her best which leads her to marry young so that she can achieve her dreams. However, her status London is no different from Nigeria, where she is treated as a sub-human because of her double status of being black and a woman.
Y'all! This book gave me all the feels. It is written in a straightforward but beautiful manner. Though she makes a lot of Biblical references to illustrate a number of issues, they are aptly inserted and easy to follow.
Since this book is shy of 200 pages, I won't add any more details. Second Citizen Class has a lot of fodder that I would highly recommend this book as one to be read as a black woman with your significant other, besties or significant other. I am going to a get a personal copy so that I can soak it all again.
Y'all! This book gave me all the feels. It is written in a straightforward but beautiful manner. Though she makes a lot of Biblical references to illustrate a number of issues, they are aptly inserted and easy to follow.
Since this book is shy of 200 pages, I won't add any more details. Second Citizen Class has a lot of fodder that I would highly recommend this book as one to be read as a black woman with your significant other, besties or significant other. I am going to a get a personal copy so that I can soak it all again.
Adah's struggles evoke such a strong sense of despair and desperation that this was a very emotional read for me. I had to stop and breathe because I got incredibly angry because of how she's treated throughout the story. It's a deep dive into how inequality, mistreatment and desperate circumstances affects a person and the stress that it creates. Adah was so realistic and human that it was impossible for me to put down this book until I reached the last page. My only complaint is that the ending didn't feel like a true stopping point. It left me numb and sad, and wanting to know more. That's not necessarily a bad thing, not every resolution to a story has to leave you feeling good. But I felt so much empathy for Adah that I wished to see a clear happy ending for her.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Our book group enjoyed it!