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blessing_aj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Whew! 💆🏽‍♀️ Where to start with this one… 🥺
The first thing to note about this book is that it is supposedly a feminist retelling of the Greek myth of Hades and Pesphorone, in which amongst other things Hades abducted Pesphorone and tricked her into marrying him and then loving him. Stating this outright because IMO, it’s gives necessary context to the framework of the story and I realized that the synopsis on my copy doesn’t mention it at all.
In The Middle Daughter, Chika Unigwe flips the script and makes everything much more intense. We meet Nani, a young woman who in the course of mourning for her father and resenting her family for moving on too soon, falls into the hands of Ephraim, a wicked preacher who will go on to unleash an untold acts of violence and oppression on her, after he tricks her into a sham marriage.
Irrespective of however anyone feels about this book, I think that one thing we can all agree on is the fact that her talent at putting together beautifully crafted prose, speaks for itself. While reading this book, I encountered a good number of such passages and sentences and I just had to reread before moving on, for the sheer pleasure of it. The Udodi, Chorus interludes, had a lot of these.
Unfortunately as heartbreaking and emotionally grueling as Nani’s story turned out to be, I was unable to suspend disbelief enough to feel fully submerged into her reality. This is a big deal for me because even though this is a retelling, it is also literary fiction and the major thing that endears most readers - myself included - to this genre is its proximity to real life as can be obtained from fiction. This is not to say that a young Nigerian woman cannot be deceived by a man in similar circumstances as Nani was, but in many scenarios, the actions of a lot of characters as developed in this book, did not come across to me - as a Nigerian and an Igbo woman - like what one would expect from them in real life.
If I hadn’t felt so exasperated by the actions and inactions of all the major living characters in this book, I probably would have better appreciated what the author was trying to do. But irrespective of whatever I feel about it, I think it’s one of those cautionary tales new adults and women in general need to read to beware of manipulative people and to learn empathy for the women who may have become victims of such abuse.
The first thing to note about this book is that it is supposedly a feminist retelling of the Greek myth of Hades and Pesphorone, in which amongst other things Hades abducted Pesphorone and tricked her into marrying him and then loving him. Stating this outright because IMO, it’s gives necessary context to the framework of the story and I realized that the synopsis on my copy doesn’t mention it at all.
In The Middle Daughter, Chika Unigwe flips the script and makes everything much more intense. We meet Nani, a young woman who in the course of mourning for her father and resenting her family for moving on too soon, falls into the hands of Ephraim, a wicked preacher who will go on to unleash an untold acts of violence and oppression on her, after he tricks her into a sham marriage.
Irrespective of however anyone feels about this book, I think that one thing we can all agree on is the fact that her talent at putting together beautifully crafted prose, speaks for itself. While reading this book, I encountered a good number of such passages and sentences and I just had to reread before moving on, for the sheer pleasure of it. The Udodi, Chorus interludes, had a lot of these.
Unfortunately as heartbreaking and emotionally grueling as Nani’s story turned out to be, I was unable to suspend disbelief enough to feel fully submerged into her reality. This is a big deal for me because even though this is a retelling, it is also literary fiction and the major thing that endears most readers - myself included - to this genre is its proximity to real life as can be obtained from fiction. This is not to say that a young Nigerian woman cannot be deceived by a man in similar circumstances as Nani was, but in many scenarios, the actions of a lot of characters as developed in this book, did not come across to me - as a Nigerian and an Igbo woman - like what one would expect from them in real life.
If I hadn’t felt so exasperated by the actions and inactions of all the major living characters in this book, I probably would have better appreciated what the author was trying to do. But irrespective of whatever I feel about it, I think it’s one of those cautionary tales new adults and women in general need to read to beware of manipulative people and to learn empathy for the women who may have become victims of such abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, Bullying, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
chapstickdealer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Classism, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Pregnancy
Minor: Lesbophobia and Police brutality
kirstym25's review against another edition
dark
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Pregnancy
annie26's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Devoured this book, absolutely devoured it. This is such an interesting one because it’s subject matter is objectively difficult to read (grief, abuse, domestic violence) but the way it’s structured - short chapters, varying POVs and a really compelling story makes it so very readable. Fans of Tomorrow I Become a Woman will want to read this, thank you to Canongate for my copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Religious bigotry
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Canongate for a copy of this book.
Aged 17 Nani loses her older sister, Udodi and shortly after her father.
The resulting grief leads her to find comfort with a preacher man, but she soon finds herself trapped in an abusive marriage.
This is a heart-breaking novel with gorgeous prose.
This is a story about finding strength and hope even in the darkest places.
Looking forward to reading more of Unigwe's work.
Aged 17 Nani loses her older sister, Udodi and shortly after her father.
The resulting grief leads her to find comfort with a preacher man, but she soon finds herself trapped in an abusive marriage.
This is a heart-breaking novel with gorgeous prose.
This is a story about finding strength and hope even in the darkest places.
Looking forward to reading more of Unigwe's work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Homophobia
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