Scan barcode
A review by katykelly
Maame by Jessica George
5.0
Post-adolescent 'coming of age': family guilt, first relationships and getting to grips with life.
A mingling of issues for Maddie. A typical life of love life, work life and family life problems, with this young woman carrying burdens and emotional weight that gradually becomes unpicked.
Though many of us won't be able to say we understand what it's like to be a carer, we can look on with sympathy and worry as Maddie rushes from work to home to care for her Parkinson's-afflicted Ghanaian father. His daughter is 25, still living a home, a virgin, and left to care for her dad alone. Her brother is off enjoying life and occasionally sending money. Her mum is back in Ghana running a family care home, sending inspirational Bible quotes to keep her daughter on track. Maddie hates her admin job, hasn't had a date since she was at school and is clearly not coping well with her load.
I could really empathise with Maddie, a woman who worries about other people and puts herself second. Who feels awkward and unlovable and unable to push herself out of the rut she's in.
We follow Maddie as she attempts to make changes after being (unfairly) fired from a job, as she tries dating (yes you can imagine the contemporary hell this becomes), considers moving out, and constantly looks up the answers to all life's questions on Google.
This is one urban new adult with a lot of weight to bear as family tragedy and guilt also strike, and we also get a case study in grief.
It's very well played as an audiobook, Maddie's voice is clear in our heads as we are let into her thoughts and her overwhelming life. As this independent young women grapples with who she is and wants to be alongside everything else, the narrator brings vulnerability and charm to a person I wish I knew, she's wonderful. She's also inspirational, a good person trying to do right by others and not putting herself up there.
Loved the character, there are also some good minor players (Maddie's mum isn't as 'likeable' but I'm sure will strike some chords with readers) and I loved how so many different issues didn't overwhelm the story. Confidently handled.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
A mingling of issues for Maddie. A typical life of love life, work life and family life problems, with this young woman carrying burdens and emotional weight that gradually becomes unpicked.
Though many of us won't be able to say we understand what it's like to be a carer, we can look on with sympathy and worry as Maddie rushes from work to home to care for her Parkinson's-afflicted Ghanaian father. His daughter is 25, still living a home, a virgin, and left to care for her dad alone. Her brother is off enjoying life and occasionally sending money. Her mum is back in Ghana running a family care home, sending inspirational Bible quotes to keep her daughter on track. Maddie hates her admin job, hasn't had a date since she was at school and is clearly not coping well with her load.
I could really empathise with Maddie, a woman who worries about other people and puts herself second. Who feels awkward and unlovable and unable to push herself out of the rut she's in.
We follow Maddie as she attempts to make changes after being (unfairly) fired from a job, as she tries dating (yes you can imagine the contemporary hell this becomes), considers moving out, and constantly looks up the answers to all life's questions on Google.
This is one urban new adult with a lot of weight to bear as family tragedy and guilt also strike, and we also get a case study in grief.
It's very well played as an audiobook, Maddie's voice is clear in our heads as we are let into her thoughts and her overwhelming life. As this independent young women grapples with who she is and wants to be alongside everything else, the narrator brings vulnerability and charm to a person I wish I knew, she's wonderful. She's also inspirational, a good person trying to do right by others and not putting herself up there.
Loved the character, there are also some good minor players (Maddie's mum isn't as 'likeable' but I'm sure will strike some chords with readers) and I loved how so many different issues didn't overwhelm the story. Confidently handled.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.