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kittykels's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Bittersweet and full of reflection.
I love getting a glimpse of how the author thinks about the world, as well as her commentary on the differences in how Ghanaian people use language versus English-speakers. That was interesting to keep in mind while reading this book which has been translated to English.
I know some others didn't enjoy the writing style of this novel, but I did. It kept me on my toes and thinking the whole time, and that's all I want from the books I read.
I love getting a glimpse of how the author thinks about the world, as well as her commentary on the differences in how Ghanaian people use language versus English-speakers. That was interesting to keep in mind while reading this book which has been translated to English.
I know some others didn't enjoy the writing style of this novel, but I did. It kept me on my toes and thinking the whole time, and that's all I want from the books I read.
marciavdzwan's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
annepw's review against another edition
3.0
A gentle, bittersweet story that goes deeper than you expect it to. Some people criticize Aidoo's writing for being too simplistic, but I appreciate its easy pleasantness and lack of pretension. And, of course, it's completely appropriate for a story of "lovers in Accra."
caileykh's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
hetauuu's review against another edition
2.0
This book had an incredibly promising premise, but I ultimately ended up wanting more from it. I felt like the time structure, with a lot of juvenile jumps in time with those "It had already been a year since..." type of lines that I despise, was just so off and constantly pulled me out of the story. Aidoo's women - Esi, Opukyua, Fusena - are charming, the men rather onedimensional and ones I did not care about at all. Could have been much, much better, but also much, much worse.
hanntastic's review against another edition
3.0
Global Read Challenge 108: Ghana
This was a pretty good book and I was definitely engaged. Esi was a really fully formed character and I was invested in her life. I felt like the second half of the book had some weird timing. The book was also overly expository. A character would do something and the other character would say something like "Of course that's not how we do it in Ghana" That kind of thing made it feel a little stilted.
This was a pretty good book and I was definitely engaged. Esi was a really fully formed character and I was invested in her life. I felt like the second half of the book had some weird timing. The book was also overly expository. A character would do something and the other character would say something like "Of course that's not how we do it in Ghana" That kind of thing made it feel a little stilted.
lejlab's review against another edition
2.0
Writing seemed a little young. It starts sad doesn't get better.