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readingwithcoffee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-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
3.5
I think book covers pretty well why Afi has such a hard time thinking she deserves better then a marriage that makes her anxious and later miserable but while so many people love sub par partners we’re not really given strong reasons to understand what she sees in him beyond monetary security etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cursing, Chronic illness, Self harm, Sexism, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Classism
booksonadventures's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Afi Tekple is a young seamstress in rural Ghana who is offered the chance of a lifetime when a wealthy family from her village recruits her to marry their son. The catch? He already has a girlfriend. Everyone is counting on Afi to win his heart and reconnect the family, but how much is Afi willing to endure for the sake of her benefactors? Especially when her heart is on the line?
His Only Wife is a domestic drama that explores the lives of women, focused on the limits of both love and familial obligations in the rapidly changing landscape of contemporary Ghana. This work offers a subtle but undeniably feminist perspective on how the polygamous patriarchy in Ghana affects modern women. The writing itself is straightforward and simple overall, with rich descriptions of food and clothing that transport the reader through Accra and Ho.
Overall, I didn't find His Only Wife to be particularly engaging while reading, but I found myself reflecting on the novel's themes long after I closed the book. I greatly enjoyed the author's note at the end, as Medie provided a lot of context around her work and the goals of the novel. This would make a great book club pick, as there is a lot to discuss!
His Only Wife is a domestic drama that explores the lives of women, focused on the limits of both love and familial obligations in the rapidly changing landscape of contemporary Ghana. This work offers a subtle but undeniably feminist perspective on how the polygamous patriarchy in Ghana affects modern women. The writing itself is straightforward and simple overall, with rich descriptions of food and clothing that transport the reader through Accra and Ho.
Overall, I didn't find His Only Wife to be particularly engaging while reading, but I found myself reflecting on the novel's themes long after I closed the book. I greatly enjoyed the author's note at the end, as Medie provided a lot of context around her work and the goals of the novel. This would make a great book club pick, as there is a lot to discuss!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Minor: Domestic abuse
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