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2.98 AVERAGE
2.98 AVERAGE
Hold is a moving, funny, and sad novel about friendship, shame, forgiveness, and growing up, that is set between Ghana and London. The protagonist is Belinda, a housegirl who moved from her village to Kumasi when the chance came. She works alongside Mary, a spirited eleven-year-old who became the sister Belinda never had, until Belinda is summoned to London to try and bring Amma out of her shell. Amma is a straight-A student who lives in south London with her Ghanian parents, but recently she has started to seem different to them, moody and uncommunicative. They hope that Belinda will be a good example on Amma, but Amma doesn’t want to be friends at first. And when they do start to get along, their own secrets might pull them apart again.
Belinda’s perspective is distinctive and holds the novel together as she discovers new ways to think and thinks back on the past. Donkor combines this with smaller parts from Amma’s perspective, which shows the differences in their lives and points of view and also how their friendship grows slowly. The way Donkor writes their friendship—how it is forced upon them, but also becomes more natural, something of a give and take—is crucial to the novel, which is full of different comparisons.
This is a multi-faceted novel with engaging and memorable characters, and vivid locations including a recognisably local south London centred around Brixton, Herne Hill, and Streatham. It is a story about growing up and coming of age across different cultures and positions in society, but also in relation to shame, sexuality, and grief. Hold is an exciting debut that combines gripping characters with vivid description to create a coming-of-age story with fresh perspectives.
Belinda’s perspective is distinctive and holds the novel together as she discovers new ways to think and thinks back on the past. Donkor combines this with smaller parts from Amma’s perspective, which shows the differences in their lives and points of view and also how their friendship grows slowly. The way Donkor writes their friendship—how it is forced upon them, but also becomes more natural, something of a give and take—is crucial to the novel, which is full of different comparisons.
This is a multi-faceted novel with engaging and memorable characters, and vivid locations including a recognisably local south London centred around Brixton, Herne Hill, and Streatham. It is a story about growing up and coming of age across different cultures and positions in society, but also in relation to shame, sexuality, and grief. Hold is an exciting debut that combines gripping characters with vivid description to create a coming-of-age story with fresh perspectives.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
unclear as to whether or not this book actually had a plot or resolution
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
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
Alright. I read this book ~9 months ago and it’s still weighing on me. Because of how bad it was. This book was pretty disappointing. It left me with a horrible headache and I had to stop reading fiction for months. I actually just stopped reading for awhile full stop. I am literally rebuilding my relationship with reading because of how much this book turned me off. You’ve been warned.
Finally finished and I am left thinking and? We are left with her sitting in the back of the taxi heading home but why?
This book was very bizarre. I struggled to get into the book but was intrigued with the characters of Be, Amma and Mary. But honestly how do they connect? We are left with no conclusion to either story apart from Mary. So what exactly is this book about? I have no idea.
At the end of the book I now have an understanding of how things work in African nations and how different it can be to move from cultures.
But growing up is the same for all I feel. We all have to battle against preconceptions handed down from elders. Its the way things change, we batter against their rules and change the world.
Dealing with grief is hard no matter how old and you should never let anyone tell you how to react or feel.
Always be your own person!
This book was very bizarre. I struggled to get into the book but was intrigued with the characters of Be, Amma and Mary. But honestly how do they connect? We are left with no conclusion to either story apart from Mary. So what exactly is this book about? I have no idea.
At the end of the book I now have an understanding of how things work in African nations and how different it can be to move from cultures.
But growing up is the same for all I feel. We all have to battle against preconceptions handed down from elders. Its the way things change, we batter against their rules and change the world.
Dealing with grief is hard no matter how old and you should never let anyone tell you how to react or feel.
Always be your own person!
I listened to this on audio, and parts of it were kind of messy and hard to follow. But, I think this story had so much heart. The friendship between Belinda and Amma was really beautiful to read about (apart from one thing, which gets sort-of resolved later on), as was that between Belinda and Mary. It was so nice to read about such different female characters creating lasting bonds.
This story begins with Belinda- a housegirl working for an affluent Black family in Ghana who is then transferred to work for a Black family in London who need less of her house making skills and more of her people skills to break the depression and antics that are coming from their teenage daughter. This story is rich with themes of family, class, race, mental health, LGBTQ, death and forgiveness.
A beautifully written book that ambled along with no clear direction. Mostly about coming of age and adjusting to change, but also about burgeoning teenage sexuality, and loss. Struggled to finish, and glad to be moving on to the next read.
This is the story of Belinda, a Ghanaian housegirl, who is transported to England with instructions to befriend and be a role model for Amma, a rebellious teenage girl.
Whilst both characters share the same cultural roots, they have led very different lives, with Amma growing up in London and excelling academically whereas Belinda has lived in poverty and has no control over her future.
~
I really enjoying reading this book, and felt emotionally connected to the characters Donkor has created. The plot is cleverly constructed and I couldn’t second-guess where the story would lead (which is very refreshing!)
~
As far as I can tell this is Michael Donkor’s only published book but I will keep my eyes peeled for any future works as I’m definitely a fan!
Whilst both characters share the same cultural roots, they have led very different lives, with Amma growing up in London and excelling academically whereas Belinda has lived in poverty and has no control over her future.
~
I really enjoying reading this book, and felt emotionally connected to the characters Donkor has created. The plot is cleverly constructed and I couldn’t second-guess where the story would lead (which is very refreshing!)
~
As far as I can tell this is Michael Donkor’s only published book but I will keep my eyes peeled for any future works as I’m definitely a fan!
emotional
reflective
medium-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