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A review by serendipitysbooks
Awu's Story by Justine Mintsa
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Awu’s Story is a short, slender story with a simple, straightforward style but nevertheless packs a real punch. I was surprised at how this book managed to have such a big impact in so few words.
This Gabonese novel is the story of Awu, a seamstress, who becomes the second wife of Obame, a beloved schoolteacher, after he and his first wife were unable to conceive. The book follows Awu over the course of their marriage, especially looking at the impact and interaction of traditional Fang customs and beliefs with more modern ideas.
I will admit to being shocked by some of what I read. The birthing conditions in a local clinic and the attitudes of the midwife towards Awu’s young labouring niece were a shocking eye opener, while the horrific traditional treatment of Awu when she was widowed, struck me as abusive and barbaric. Modern practices, such as sending children away to boarding school were also shown to have negative effects. Watching Awu, navigate all this, deciding when and how to push back and when to just accept custom was fascinating, although I certainly wanted to cheer when she stood up firmly against that which she would not accept.
So far I’ve made this sound like a heavy book and in many ways it is. But it also has its humorous moments, most notably the farcical bureaucratic ineptitude involved in Obame attempting to claim his pension.
While the prose was mostly simple and straightforward I did really appreciate the use of embroidery as a metaphor for how Awu attempted to create her life. Comparisons between women’s fertility and land fertility were blunt and in some ways confronting, but did effectively communicate some pragmatic reasons why a man would seek a second wife.
Since I have little knowledge of Gabon and the Fang culture, I really appreciated the background information provided in the introduction which provided allowed me to place the book and it’s author in context and more fully appreciate my reading experience. I left the introduction to last and I’m glad I did since it gives away a lot of the story.
Definitely a book I’d recommend.
This Gabonese novel is the story of Awu, a seamstress, who becomes the second wife of Obame, a beloved schoolteacher, after he and his first wife were unable to conceive. The book follows Awu over the course of their marriage, especially looking at the impact and interaction of traditional Fang customs and beliefs with more modern ideas.
I will admit to being shocked by some of what I read. The birthing conditions in a local clinic and the attitudes of the midwife towards Awu’s young labouring niece were a shocking eye opener, while the horrific traditional treatment of Awu when she was widowed, struck me as abusive and barbaric. Modern practices, such as sending children away to boarding school were also shown to have negative effects. Watching Awu, navigate all this, deciding when and how to push back and when to just accept custom was fascinating, although I certainly wanted to cheer when she stood up firmly against that which she would not accept.
So far I’ve made this sound like a heavy book and in many ways it is. But it also has its humorous moments, most notably the farcical bureaucratic ineptitude involved in Obame attempting to claim his pension.
While the prose was mostly simple and straightforward I did really appreciate the use of embroidery as a metaphor for how Awu attempted to create her life. Comparisons between women’s fertility and land fertility were blunt and in some ways confronting, but did effectively communicate some pragmatic reasons why a man would seek a second wife.
Since I have little knowledge of Gabon and the Fang culture, I really appreciated the background information provided in the introduction which provided allowed me to place the book and it’s author in context and more fully appreciate my reading experience. I left the introduction to last and I’m glad I did since it gives away a lot of the story.
Definitely a book I’d recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual assault