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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
tense
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:
N/A
"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.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
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.
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.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
I'm unashamed to say that my eyes were watering at the ending. Be prepared.
challenging
emotional
sad
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:
Yes
This story was great. It was heart breaking, but joyful.