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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
I didn’t know how much I needed to read a book that reminded me so much of my own personal story. I had to put the book down a couple of times in the beginning because the intense amount of pressure Maame felt mirrored my own (as a fellow Maame). Now that I’m done reading it however, I feel lighter and hopeful.
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:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this book! I love Jessica George's writing style; I was immediately hooked once I read the first few pages. As a fellow late bloomer, I relate a lot to Maddie's struggles, particularly as it pertains to her self concept and how she navigates her interpersonal relationships. I was touched by her journey and couldn’t help but to see myself in her. The middle portion of the book was slightly slow paced to me, but the story quickly picked back up. Great book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent
Maddie leads a sheltered life for a woman in her mid twenties. She still lives at her parent's house with her Dad, who has Parkinsons. Her mom returns to Ghana to run a family business most of the year, and Maddie's brother left the family years ago as well. This fractured family further exposes their wounds through the story, despite the Mom's best efforts to keep family matters private.
I loved how unsensational this story is. The things that Maddie experiences are common but traumatic for her with her unstable foundation. I also loved how she got to know herself throughout the novel. Self-reflection and awareness are core values for me, so I felt deeply connected to that.
I loved how unsensational this story is. The things that Maddie experiences are common but traumatic for her with her unstable foundation. I also loved how she got to know herself throughout the novel. Self-reflection and awareness are core values for me, so I felt deeply connected to that.
This would have been fun to read in my late twenties. Anxiety is kind of the worst and so annoying to have to deal with! I liked how the book incorporated that very present internal dialogue that plays out in your head.
JESSICA GEORGE!!!! THAT WOMAN THAT YOU ARE!!! WOW WOW WOW.
This book is so good omg. Wow.
This is beautifully written and relatable. I often forgot that this book is considered fiction because of how well written it is. I laughed, I cried, and at times I felt a bit triggered.
As a 25 year old Nigerian woman I resonated and can understand what the character Maddie was experiencing.
Everything happens for a reason and I am so grateful for how I stumbled upon this book. I was on a trip in London and finished the book I brought on the trip. So I went into a bookstore in Shoreditch and this book was on one of the shelves in the entrance and immediately caught my attention. Being at the stage of my life right now that I am, I feel like there was a lot of lessons and gems various character stated and dropped that I had to bookmarked and note for myself to remember.
So thank you, Jessica George for gracing us with amazing novel that so many people like myself, NEEDED.
Now I said this often with every book that I loveeeee so much… I do hope this becomes a cute HBO max or Netflix series or movie for me to one day enjoy!
This book is so good omg. Wow.
This is beautifully written and relatable. I often forgot that this book is considered fiction because of how well written it is. I laughed, I cried, and at times I felt a bit triggered.
As a 25 year old Nigerian woman I resonated and can understand what the character Maddie was experiencing.
Everything happens for a reason and I am so grateful for how I stumbled upon this book. I was on a trip in London and finished the book I brought on the trip. So I went into a bookstore in Shoreditch and this book was on one of the shelves in the entrance and immediately caught my attention. Being at the stage of my life right now that I am, I feel like there was a lot of lessons and gems various character stated and dropped that I had to bookmarked and note for myself to remember.
So thank you, Jessica George for gracing us with amazing novel that so many people like myself, NEEDED.
Now I said this often with every book that I loveeeee so much… I do hope this becomes a cute HBO max or Netflix series or movie for me to one day enjoy!
Really enjoyed a look into a Ghanaian coming of age in London.
4.5
Maame is the story of Maddie (nicknamed Maame by her family in the Ghanaian tradition), a first-generation Londoner of Ghanaian descent., and her journey of self-discovery as she makes her way through her mid-twenties.
Maddie is the caregiver for her father, whose Alzheimer's means she feels like a stranger in her own home. Her mom is away in Ghana for years at a time, and her brother is useless, as older brothers sometimes are. Maddie has had to grow up before she's ready, but when she finally moves out and tries to stretch her wings, she encounters one obstacle after another.
I loved this honest, raw, and thoughtful portrait of grief, what it means to be an "adult," and life as a Black woman living in present-day London. I don't know that I've ever read such a perfect portrait of what it feels like to have a panic attack. George's depiction of depression and anxiety is spot-on, and she has created such a wonderful character in Maddie. Maame hits shelves on January 31. I highly recommend the excellent narration by Heather Agyepong on audio as well!
Thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Maame is the story of Maddie (nicknamed Maame by her family in the Ghanaian tradition), a first-generation Londoner of Ghanaian descent., and her journey of self-discovery as she makes her way through her mid-twenties.
Maddie is the caregiver for her father, whose Alzheimer's means she feels like a stranger in her own home. Her mom is away in Ghana for years at a time, and her brother is useless, as older brothers sometimes are. Maddie has had to grow up before she's ready, but when she finally moves out and tries to stretch her wings, she encounters one obstacle after another.
I loved this honest, raw, and thoughtful portrait of grief, what it means to be an "adult," and life as a Black woman living in present-day London. I don't know that I've ever read such a perfect portrait of what it feels like to have a panic attack. George's depiction of depression and anxiety is spot-on, and she has created such a wonderful character in Maddie. Maame hits shelves on January 31. I highly recommend the excellent narration by Heather Agyepong on audio as well!
Thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fine story - just fine. I can not for the life of me figure out why it was selected as a featured read on Jenna's list though, as it was just a "fine" coming of age story. Of course, I can appreciate the dynamics of the main character coming into her own and the associated family challenges, but there really wasn't much to the story. Personally, I enjoyed the mentions of all of the London places because it reminded me of my trip to the city and the fact I was in most of the areas she mentioned -- but other than that it was kind of an everyday story without much depth. Given that it was a featured Jenna pick, I kept thinking I was missing something or that my age (54) was too far removed from the struggles of a twenty-something. I don't know. Kudos to the author though for having her first novel garner so much attention.
