His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie

"Elikem married me in absentia; he did not come to our wedding."  When I read those words, I thought surely this novel was set in the past because who does that in the present. While the book is set in the past, it's not in the distant past, it's 2014. 

The bride, Afi, has been given a mission by the family of her betrothed - force the break up of your husband and his girlfriend and return him to the family fold. That's not a small order, is it? But it seems a small price to pay for all Aunty Faustina Ganyo has done for Afi and her mother. And it's a win-win for Afi. She gets to leave her small town for Accra and an opportunity to study fashion design. Indeed, a small price to pay for marrying someone you've only met in passing and never with the intention of marrying him.

Initially I thought His Only Wife might be reminiscent of Lola Shoneyin's The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives, but that notion is quickly disavowed with Afi's arrival in Accra. While the author's description of Afi's life back in her home town is full of family members and detailed descriptions of their personalities, their backgrounds, etc., giving readers a chance to get to know them, descriptions of the people she meets in Accra tend to be more superficial. I never really felt like I got to know them so I had difficulty determining if their motives were sincere.

I think I expected more of His Only Wife than the author was able to give. Afi reads more like an impressionable early teen than an adult woman. Her story line is steady in some parts and rushed in others. It's the rushed parts that needed more detail and consistency to give the book some balance.

Disclaimer: Copy of book received from publisher but in no way influenced my review.

 

#BookReview: The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives - Lola Shoneyin

Let me start by saying I loved this book.  I wasn't sure what to expect even though I had read author interviews and reviews by others.  I was worried that though Lola Shoneyin is a respected poet, the transition to author might be a difficult one.  I was pleasantly surprised that she made a seamless transition.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives is set in present day Nigeria and centers on wealthy businessman, Baba Segi, and his four wives.  Each wife is unique and brings something different to the Segi household.  There's the oldest wife, Iya Segi, who's the mother of two, as well as a shrewd business woman.  She entered the household with wealth and plans to leave the same way.  There's the quiet Iya Tope, who just wants to get along with everyone while raising her three daughters.  The conniving Iya Femi is content to be the youngest and prettiest of Baba Segi's wife.  She has a schemer's heart and stops at nothing to make sure her two sons receive the best of everything.

The three wives have grown comfortable with each other and their roles over the years., but the house is thrown into a world wind of turmoil when Baba Segi brings the college educated Bolanle into their household.  Like the other wives, Bolanle has come to the marriage to escape her former life.  Each of the wives has secrets, but it's through Bolanle's struggles that they're all brought to light.

What did you like about this book?
The author does a great job of describing her characters, so much so that I was able to envision what not only major characters, but minor characters looked like, as well as their mannerisms.  I found myself really liking, and cheering for some characters, while despising others and that can be credited to great writing.

What didn't you like about this book?
Not a thing. Every character had a story to be told and the author did a good job of telling them.


What could the author do to improve this book?
Write a sequel, even better would be a series.

288pp
Published June 2010

See what others are saying about it:
Brown Girl Speaks
Color Online
Lotus Reads


ANOTHERLOVERHOLENYOHEAD Live 1986
Theme: Anotherloverholenyohead by Prince