Scan barcode
A review by year23
Lucky Girl by Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Strong for a debut novel - the writing is engaging - direct, flows well, and there were moments of deep resonance regarding themes like fraught mother/daughter relationships, managing big life decisions (unwanted pregnancy) and race & identity (particularly among African Americans and Africans, perceptions, etc.).
At the same time, it felt a bit uneven in terms of pacing and focus throughout - the last 30 pages were chock full of quick resolutions that didn't feel earned by the prior characterizations of relationships. The middle section dragged a bit, leading up to a traumatic historical event that shifted the tension and emotional intensity in the story.
I also don't think a lot of the themes or threads around the main character were resolved, especially re: her mental health. One of her partners also seemed to belong in a romance novel, not a literary fiction, due to his portrayal, very one-dimensional, near perfection type guy that just, honestly, doesn't exist so it didn't feel real.
I think I liked most the first part of the book that explored the differing experiences and perceptions of race and racism from a privileged Kenyan woman vs. African American middle class or working class people, and the mother/daughter and family dynamics of the MC and her mom. The latter half felt like a truncated coming of age story, figuring out boyfriends, career, etc., but didn't have the character growth to go along with it if that makes sense - so when things resolved as they did in the end, it didn't resonate.
I will be reading more from this author - there's good stuff here and I'm curious to see how their writing continues to evolve.
At the same time, it felt a bit uneven in terms of pacing and focus throughout - the last 30 pages were chock full of quick resolutions that didn't feel earned by the prior characterizations of relationships. The middle section dragged a bit, leading up to a traumatic historical event that shifted the tension and emotional intensity in the story.
I also don't think a lot of the themes or threads around the main character were resolved, especially re: her mental health. One of her partners also seemed to belong in a romance novel, not a literary fiction, due to his portrayal, very one-dimensional, near perfection type guy that just, honestly, doesn't exist so it didn't feel real.
I think I liked most the first part of the book that explored the differing experiences and perceptions of race and racism from a privileged Kenyan woman vs. African American middle class or working class people, and the mother/daughter and family dynamics of the MC and her mom. The latter half felt like a truncated coming of age story, figuring out boyfriends, career, etc., but didn't have the character growth to go along with it if that makes sense - so when things resolved as they did in the end, it didn't resonate.
I will be reading more from this author - there's good stuff here and I'm curious to see how their writing continues to evolve.