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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
Great story, but a bit too long, and the start was quite slow. Maddie was very relatable, but I wish we could have also delved a bit more into the other characters, they felt a bit flat.
“I’m well aware of the importance of names in our culture. In many ways, they’re given to us in an attempt to speak to our future. Growing up, I had many friends named Glory, Patience, Wisdom, Comfort. It seems there is a link between our names and our supposed destiny. We could apply that thinking to the name Maame: the responsible one. The woman. The mother. Often before her time.”
It is impossible not to root for Maddie. Growing up in London with Ghanaian parents, Maddie finds herself shouldering the burdens of her dysfunctional family. Despite being the youngest, she's the financial and emotional backbone, caring for her ailing father. Her life seems stuck in a rut, working an unsatisfactory job, an inexistent social life, and always tending to her dad's needs.
When her mother returns from Ghana, Maddie seizes the opportunity to break free and start anew. As we follow her journey, we witness her making decisions and learning from her mistakes in this relatable coming-of-age story.
“We grow up fast. Not by force, but because we are needed.” “I think sometimes we’re needed for the wrong reasons.”
What drew me to 'Maame' was Jessica George's writing style. While some readers have called it juvenile, I found it refreshing, as if Maddie, a 25-year-old navigating life's twists and turns, was confiding in a close friend. Her character is refreshingly honest, and you can't help but feel the raw emotions as she searches for her identity.
George skillfully weaves in themes of family, cultural traditions, religion, racism, grief, and friendship. She presents these complex issues in a fresh, funny, and engaging manner, making 'Maame' a book that resonates on many levels.
It is impossible not to root for Maddie. Growing up in London with Ghanaian parents, Maddie finds herself shouldering the burdens of her dysfunctional family. Despite being the youngest, she's the financial and emotional backbone, caring for her ailing father. Her life seems stuck in a rut, working an unsatisfactory job, an inexistent social life, and always tending to her dad's needs.
When her mother returns from Ghana, Maddie seizes the opportunity to break free and start anew. As we follow her journey, we witness her making decisions and learning from her mistakes in this relatable coming-of-age story.
“We grow up fast. Not by force, but because we are needed.” “I think sometimes we’re needed for the wrong reasons.”
What drew me to 'Maame' was Jessica George's writing style. While some readers have called it juvenile, I found it refreshing, as if Maddie, a 25-year-old navigating life's twists and turns, was confiding in a close friend. Her character is refreshingly honest, and you can't help but feel the raw emotions as she searches for her identity.
George skillfully weaves in themes of family, cultural traditions, religion, racism, grief, and friendship. She presents these complex issues in a fresh, funny, and engaging manner, making 'Maame' a book that resonates on many levels.
Here's just one more book I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to read. I loved this. Very much a coming-of-age story that tugged at my heartstrings and made me fall in love with Maddie.
This was an easy read that I would recommend to anyone trying to get back into reading.
What a moving novel. I can’t imagine anyone reading it and not being able to relate to some aspect of it. For me it was the combination of wanting to provide for family but also feeling obligated to do it, the role the only daughter plays (often, not always), and not being able to decide if you’re putting yourself last or if you’re being selfish (it can’t be both but it feels like it is). Her writing is engaging and natural. There’s a lot to think about too about microaggressions in (but not limited to) the workplace, and dating as a black woman. Great debut. Hope she keeps writing.
Maddie is a 25 year old, living in London taking care of her father who has Parkinson’s disease. She never got the college experience or much life experience outside of her parents.
Her mother, who stays in Ghana for a year at a time, returns and tells Maddie to get her own apartment and live her life. She experiences love, heartbreak, friendship, and learns new lessons.
I really liked Maddie and I enjoyed watching her grow out of her shell. The novel itself was funny, but also manages to be sad and heart felt at the time. Some of it was also relatable and I could find myself in Maddie with what she went through.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
3.5 rounded up
Her mother, who stays in Ghana for a year at a time, returns and tells Maddie to get her own apartment and live her life. She experiences love, heartbreak, friendship, and learns new lessons.
I really liked Maddie and I enjoyed watching her grow out of her shell. The novel itself was funny, but also manages to be sad and heart felt at the time. Some of it was also relatable and I could find myself in Maddie with what she went through.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
3.5 rounded up
Omg one of the best books I’ve read all year and maybe a top favorite ever. Just chef’s kiss perfection. All the feelings. All the important topics. I hope Jessica George is writing her next book as we speak.
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
I couldn’t find a way to engage with the main character. Although she seemed like a nice enough girl, her story was not particularly unique or engaging.
This book spoke to me in ways I did not anticipate. I cried, I laughed and I cried some more. It has been a minute since I have been able to not put down a book.
Madeleine (Maddie) is a character you cannot help but root for. She's a 25 y/o, first generation Ghanaian immigrant living in London with her dad who has Parkinson's, of whom she's the main caretaker for. Called 'Maame' by her mother, Maddie is selfless, humble, quirky and so real. A series of events leads to her embarking on living for the first time ever. This is a radiant/ heartfelt story of a young black woman navigating the arduousness of life, grief, self-discovery and love.
Fave quotes:
"I believe the difficulty of life has to do with understanding and then navigating how the people you love, both express and receive love themselves. It cannot be your burden or responsibility to reshape someone into someone you'd like them to be.
"You must either accept a person for who they are, how they behave, how they express themselves emotionally and find a healthy way to live with them or, let them go entirely. Either way, you must relieve yourself from that responsibility."
Madeleine (Maddie) is a character you cannot help but root for. She's a 25 y/o, first generation Ghanaian immigrant living in London with her dad who has Parkinson's, of whom she's the main caretaker for. Called 'Maame' by her mother, Maddie is selfless, humble, quirky and so real. A series of events leads to her embarking on living for the first time ever. This is a radiant/ heartfelt story of a young black woman navigating the arduousness of life, grief, self-discovery and love.
Fave quotes:
"I believe the difficulty of life has to do with understanding and then navigating how the people you love, both express and receive love themselves. It cannot be your burden or responsibility to reshape someone into someone you'd like them to be.
"You must either accept a person for who they are, how they behave, how they express themselves emotionally and find a healthy way to live with them or, let them go entirely. Either way, you must relieve yourself from that responsibility."