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A review by aline_monteiro
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed this book so much until the last couple of chapters. Although it mentioned some heavy things it made me laugh. But it got sad towards the end and my heart actually feels a bit heavy.
This is a story about trauma and the things people do because of it. Things that are not right but understandable to some degree.
Baba Segi can come off as a disgusting man sometimes. He is not gentle, but I don’t think he is a bad person. He is the product of the patriarchy, and he is a man in a world “ruled” by man and a lot man believe they need to play into those rules to get respect from other man. I thought it was so funny how he thought so highly of himself but his wives were smarter than him. But at the end, I felt sorry for him.
From all the wives, I feel more sympathy for Iya Segi, the first wife. I did not like her in the beginning. After reading her backstory I understood her so much more. Baba Segi owes his success and wealth to her. And I think she deserved an happier ending.
Iya Tope annoyed me. I understand she is kind of a simple minded woman. She doesn’t ask for too much but also, I wanted her to speak up more. But she was kind. And to me one of the funniest part of the book was when she ran to the meat man three days after giving birth. I was shocked. Was it that good?
Iya Femi is just evil and selfish. She went through a lot. And she thinks that because of that she is justified in the evil things that she did. And she uses God to do it.
Bolanle disappointed me a little bit. From all the wives, her reason to be with Baba Segi was a bit harder to get. But our traumas makes us see life in mess up ways sometimes. It was almost like she was punishing herself. What she said at the end of the book made me roll my eyes. She thinks she is better than them. But I don’t think she is.
My heart broke for Segi.
I remember watching a video that says that Nigerians are so poetic in the way they say simple things and this book gave a lot of examples of that. It was so dramatic and funny.
This was an enjoyable reading experience.
This is a story about trauma and the things people do because of it. Things that are not right but understandable to some degree.
Baba Segi can come off as a disgusting man sometimes. He is not gentle, but I don’t think he is a bad person. He is the product of the patriarchy, and he is a man in a world “ruled” by man and a lot man believe they need to play into those rules to get respect from other man. I thought it was so funny how he thought so highly of himself but his wives were smarter than him. But at the end, I felt sorry for him.
From all the wives, I feel more sympathy for Iya Segi, the first wife. I did not like her in the beginning. After reading her backstory I understood her so much more. Baba Segi owes his success and wealth to her. And I think she deserved an happier ending.
Iya Tope annoyed me. I understand she is kind of a simple minded woman. She doesn’t ask for too much but also, I wanted her to speak up more. But she was kind. And to me one of the funniest part of the book was when she ran to the meat man three days after giving birth. I was shocked. Was it that good?
Iya Femi is just evil and selfish. She went through a lot. And she thinks that because of that she is justified in the evil things that she did. And she uses God to do it.
Bolanle disappointed me a little bit. From all the wives, her reason to be with Baba Segi was a bit harder to get. But our traumas makes us see life in mess up ways sometimes. It was almost like she was punishing herself. What she said at the end of the book made me roll my eyes. She thinks she is better than them. But I don’t think she is.
My heart broke for Segi.
I remember watching a video that says that Nigerians are so poetic in the way they say simple things and this book gave a lot of examples of that. It was so dramatic and funny.
This was an enjoyable reading experience.