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dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Written by Lola Shoneyin, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives tells the story of polygamist Ishola Alao and his four wives-Iya Segi, Iya Tope, Iya Femi, and his fourth wife-as well as educated graduate -Bolanle, who has yet to fall pregnant.
Told from the perspective of each character, the story provides an intimate look into the Segi household. Shoneyin grips you from the first page as she delves into the histories of each wife and the surrounding factors that lead them to their marriages.
I'm not a fan of polygamy in the slightest, especially in countries that have made their patriarchal values clear, and Shoneyin does a good job of displaying this. She also represents the less-known ways in which subservient first wives hold and display power, both among their sister wives and even their husbands.
I guessed the book's plot twist pretty early on, and, as most chapters were told from the wives’ or other characters’ points of view, it took me a while to figure out which character was speaking. I also didn't like any of the many characters, especially the first three wives, who chose to perpetuate misogyny due to their own inferiority complexes about having an 'educated' woman in the house.
The ending definitely felt anticlimactic, but overall, I liked the book.
Told from the perspective of each character, the story provides an intimate look into the Segi household. Shoneyin grips you from the first page as she delves into the histories of each wife and the surrounding factors that lead them to their marriages.
I'm not a fan of polygamy in the slightest, especially in countries that have made their patriarchal values clear, and Shoneyin does a good job of displaying this. She also represents the less-known ways in which subservient first wives hold and display power, both among their sister wives and even their husbands.
I guessed the book's plot twist pretty early on, and, as most chapters were told from the wives’ or other characters’ points of view, it took me a while to figure out which character was speaking. I also didn't like any of the many characters, especially the first three wives, who chose to perpetuate misogyny due to their own inferiority complexes about having an 'educated' woman in the house.
The ending definitely felt anticlimactic, but overall, I liked the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book explores a lot of deep things, and was not what I expected. The backdrop of it being set in Nigeria sets a certain cultural tone that shapes every characters lives. Bolanle is the newest wife and she is not treated well. Baba Segi is not necessary abusive but he is brutish, and a man who believes he owns the world due to simply being a man. The dynamics between the wives were interesting to follow, and it was hard reading how they treated Bolanle. Especially with how severe the consequences ended up. I understand why in the end they were so worried about her, and just how much her education was a threat to them. All the characters had secrets, and reading Bolanle’s backstory was really hard. It wasn’t necessarily triggering as it wasn’t a very explicit scene. It’s described from start to finish but it’s not written out if that makes sense. I think it’s an important aspect to her character. I was worried the author would make the fertility issues her fault as a result of the rape but it soon become clear the direction she was going in. And I was right. I’m glad I read this book, and it’s not one I would typically choose to read. The rating is mainly because of how indifferent I feel about it, and how I usually rate my books based on the emotional impact. It was a good book for sure but I just find it good and nothing more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Pregnancy
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Abortion
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a great debut novel. It covered so many topics, including patriarchy, gender politics, classism, generational curses, sexual violence, child abuse/neglect. Wives 1-3 (Iya Segi, Iya Tope, and Iya Femi) were an interesting bunch. They’ve been greatly hurt by patriarchy yet became its willing co-conspirators when they felt “threatened” by an outsider. Their desire to break another woman resulted in them losing almost everything they accumulated at the being is the novel. Meanwhile, the woman (Bolanle) they tried to make a victim walked away the victor. Baba Segi is an example of how patriarchy also hurts men because he was willing to hide his children’s true paternity to protect his manhood (side note: I wish men understood that using women as a c*m buckets or fathering fifty-leven children does not make you man). Baba Segi entire existence was about getting validation from other men. I’m glad Bolanle had the strength to walk away as she slowly regained her confidence. I have so many other thoughts that are hard to flesh out right now. This would definitely be a good book club read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Abortion
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Classism
Minor: Alcoholism
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I thought this book was so clever and well written. Lola Shoneyin managed to squeeze in all the important details whilst keeping the book concise (>300 pages). I loved the way we weaved from one wife to another and learning about how they viewed their situation and manipulated it to fit their own needs. Sometimes you didn’t realise this until we had seen the action unfold from another wife’s perspective. Bolanle was a breath of fresh air and following her made you route for her from the start.
I didn’t like Baba Segi but what happened towards the end made me 1) think he deserved it but also 2) made me feel for him (ever so slightly).
The book is an interesting insight into relationships and unconventional (for the uk) family environments. However. You are learning about humans and how they interact with one another, and that, is a universal experience we can all relate to.
I didn’t like Baba Segi but what happened towards the end made me 1) think he deserved it but also 2) made me feel for him (ever so slightly).
The book is an interesting insight into relationships and unconventional (for the uk) family environments. However. You are learning about humans and how they interact with one another, and that, is a universal experience we can all relate to.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Infertility, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
This book has some very dark moments, some comedic relief, and a satisfying resolution. Very interesting plot, well developed characters. I loved the multiple perspectives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion
Moderate: Physical abuse, Excrement, Vomit