Funny how I love reading but find it difficult to do a book review. I always get new books both E-books and hard copies and I have read a lot of them, but then doing a book review has been something I have been battling but I think this is a safe space to give it a try.
At the beginning of this year, I said to myself that I would be reading more African books. I have always been a lover of Western books. I love how the plot is written and most times it makes me feel away from home. Well, I decided to come back home and read more African books. Honestly, this has been a good idea, because I have been enjoying every bit of the books I have been reading.
Design by me Using Canva
The Middle Daughter is a book by Chika Unigwe published in 2018. Looking at how long this book has been published and I just came across it, I am pained. This Novel rotates around Domestic Fiction and showcases Family and Life.
SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL
The Novel centers on Nani a seventeen-year-old girl who is the middle daughter among her sisters who are Udodi and Ugo. The Novel is centered around the Eastern part of Nigeria. It starts with Nani living a great life not until the tragic loss of her Elder sister Udodi and her Father’s death within the space of a few years. The death brings about a dark cloud in her life as she can’t find herself anymore and can’t speak out cause she feels her mother and sister don’t understand the pain she feels.
This pain made her isolated and she slowly found solace in the company of a self-proclaimed man of God, who thinks his ways are holy and is nothing but a manipulative person. She realized this late as she got raped by him, due to her inability to speak to her mother and fear of what her mother would say, she found herself estranged from her family, and forcefully bound to this man whom she feels nothing but disgust towards.
Building a family with her abusive and manipulative husband and giving birth to children who she seems not to understand how she feels towards them. It took years before she tried to move away from this toxic marriage without losing her kids to this toxic person.
MY REVIEW AND RATING
I love the fact that this novel was centered around home, so I felt a deeper connection, more like I was sitting close to the writer as she told me all about this. The Characters in the book were all unique in their styles. I was made to realize that people mourn differently while reading this book and everyone has different coping mechanisms toward hard times.
In a way, I just couldn’t understand why Nani didn’t just leave at the onset and go back to her mother. Instead of staying with someone as terrible as her husband who despises everyone but sees himself as the only one fit for heaven.
It is funny how this book could be related to what goes on in most people’s lives. Also, I love the fact that since it was centered in the Eastern part of Nigeria, the characters tend to use the language that is spoken by people from that part of the country.
What I found intriguing is how the writer, wrote parts where Udodi who is dead could also speak from the other side and wish that her sister had a better life.
I loved the book and I will give it a 4.5/5 rating.
All images used are mine except otherwise stated
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