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jjjreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Ableism, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Vomit
mipa_jt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Infertility and Child death
Moderate: Abortion
livfansler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Death, Abortion, Child death, Infertility, Rape, and Fatphobia
pitsikakku's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Vomit, Abortion, Child death, Murder, Child abuse, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I really enjoyed The Secret Lives Of Baba Segi’s Wives. One of the things that stood out for me was fabulous storytelling which felt strongly linked to an oral storytelling tradition, something no doubt enhanced by my listening to the wonderful audiobook.
Baba Segi, his three wives, and their children live harmoniously, until he introduces a fourth wife to the household, one who is younger and college educated. The three other wives are resentful and determine to get rid of Bolanle, convinced that she thinks she is better than them, and that she is stealing their husband’s time and attention. Meanwhile she seems unable to conceive which is a problem because he values children above all else. As the novel unfolds we learn the backstories of all four women and get to the bottom of Bolanle’s infertility.
This is a story that covers a lot of very heavy topics - domestic abuse, rape, and the death of a child - yet it didn’t feel like an overly heavy read. The heaviness was balanced by humour, frank, sarcastic and sexually open conversations, and a general over-the-top, soap opera like vibe. I couldn’t help admiring the resourcefulness of the women as they sought to gain what they wanted and develop some agency in their lives, while at the same time abhorring some of their actions. Polygamous marriages are not common in the West and I think the author did a great job in portraying the reality, the good and the bad, and why women might consent to entering one.
The story was very much rooted in the Nigerian culture, yet many of its points regarding gender roles and male-female relationships are more universal. Overall this is surprisingly entertaining, while still leaving the reader with something to think about.
Graphic: Misogyny, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Rape
hkburke2's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Rape, Car accident, Gaslighting, Medical content, Abortion, Infertility, Infidelity, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief
tessareads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, and Rape
Moderate: Infertility and Body shaming
kaylamdean1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Abortion, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pregnancy, Medical content, Infertility, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, and Child death
translove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abortion, Fatphobia, Grief, Medical content, Rape, Sexual content, and Vomit
womanwill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Vomit, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abortion, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Murder