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A review by theebookfrnd
The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
5.0
An excellently written story, this novel tells the life story of Nnu Ego, a woman who lives her whole life in servitude to the men in her life, her father, her husband even down to her sons, and her zeal to make something out of her children with hopes that they'll be able to cater for her in her old age. All her struggles leaves her with nothing but weariness, pain and despair.
Because at the end, I can't even say she enjoyed the fruit of her labour.
This book describes the overwhelming demands placed on women. The pressures placed on wives to have sons, as daughters were seen as nothing more than commodities and were only valuable for their bride price.
Buchi Emecheta explores the misery and difficulty women, most especially poor women, face in a patriarchal society, and in a polygamous culture. Moving through rural to urban colonial Nigeria, this novel delves deep into the igbo culture, set in the 1930s/40s.
There is a remarkable relationship as well as conflict between the old and the new, that is, the traditional and the foreign. The role played by world war II in Nigeria, is also established as Nnu Ego's husband is sent off to war in order to fight for the British who apparently "owns them".
I would say this book was exceptional and powerful. The first book ever written by the author that I've read and it'll definitely not be my last.
Because at the end, I can't even say she enjoyed the fruit of her labour.
This book describes the overwhelming demands placed on women. The pressures placed on wives to have sons, as daughters were seen as nothing more than commodities and were only valuable for their bride price.
Buchi Emecheta explores the misery and difficulty women, most especially poor women, face in a patriarchal society, and in a polygamous culture. Moving through rural to urban colonial Nigeria, this novel delves deep into the igbo culture, set in the 1930s/40s.
There is a remarkable relationship as well as conflict between the old and the new, that is, the traditional and the foreign. The role played by world war II in Nigeria, is also established as Nnu Ego's husband is sent off to war in order to fight for the British who apparently "owns them".
I would say this book was exceptional and powerful. The first book ever written by the author that I've read and it'll definitely not be my last.