His Only Wife

Don't you just hate it when book reviews are misleading?

Wayetu Moore, author of The Dragons, the Giant, the Women, said His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie is "A hilarious, page-turning, sharply realized portrait of modern womanhood in the most infuriating of circumstances." Kirkus Reviews claimed that it is "A Crazy Rich Asians for West Africa." These are glowing reviews, which guided me towards Ghana to experience the unique marriage of Afi and Eli. Although reading their story was a unique experience, I felt like something was missing...

Afi's Husband

Young Afi Tekple agrees to marry Elikem Ganyo in absentia: While she is pledging to love him forever, his brother is making the same promise on his behalf. Even when she moves to Accra, Eli is not there. The reason behind his absence is another woman, one his family despises and the very reason the marriage between Afi and Eli was arranged. Afi is the only hope the Ganyo family has of upholding the image they like to project, but will she be able to see this marriage through?

I was drawn to this story because I thought the plot was unique and intriguing, and it definitely was! I found that Afi was a truly interesting character, and the family dynamics within the marriage were baffling and sometimes relatable, but I could not see the humour. I waited for the promised "hilarity" to hit me in the face and lighten my mood before I delve into the deep depressing topics that fill university education, but I could not find such moments. While the novel was well written and the story was gripping, I thought the promise of laughter was a bit misguiding.

I loved the story, but I felt like it was missing something to give it that 4-5 star glow, so only 3 stars from this Bookworm! If you have any comments or recommendations, please comment below, email me (theopinionatedbookworm@gmail.com) or follow me on Instagram (@theopinionatedbookworm1).

Comments

Kamila Knows Best

One of the biggest regrets I had during 2021 was that I let my blog slip through the cracks...which is a pity, because I like to blog. Therefore, I have decided to write once more (hopefully more than once), because I want to talk about Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron. You may recognize Heron's name from her previous works: The Chai Factor and Accidentally Engaged. Both of these novels were well written, humorous, and heartwarming, but I loved them all the more because they are set in Canada and written by a Canadian. Kamila Knows Best stays true to all of these points. Set in Toronto, this adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma was faithful to the original while adding twists and turns that are accurate for a modern retelling. Kamila is an accountant who loves her father, friends, dog and career deeply, but all of these things means she is too busy for a serious relationship -- or so she claims. Kamila also fancies herself a matchmaker, and takes pride in the fact th...

Arc of a Scythe

The end of a trilogy can either be a very frustrating event, or a very melancholy feeling. If the ending is not what you hoped, it can feel disappointing to have invested so much time. However, if the ending is satisfying, as was the case for The Toll by Neal Shusterman, then leaving a series behind can be a concoction of emotions. The Toll The Arc of a Scythe trilogy came to a dramatic, thrilling, wonderful close in the final installment, and while I can say that I enjoyed it, I find it interesting how my interests seemed to change from the story of Citra and Rowan, to Greyson's story. I loved how complex the world got, and the ending was perfectly written, even though I still wanted more. 4 stars from this Bookworm! The only reason it was not a five is because I loved the second one. Second books are great because there is still a build up of tension, fantastic characters, and an ending that does not conclude the whole series and make me wish I could start all over again... Oh w...

The End of the Reading Rut

This reading rut I was in was a painful experience that unexpectedly came to an end when I picked up Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. I was taken on an unexpected journey, torn open while reading about the love story of Eva and Shane. Now that the story is over, I wish it had never ended. 7 days to fall in love, 15 to forget Fifteen years after Eva and Shane first fell in love, they meet again during a writers panel hosted by a mutual friend. Although they had not spoken to each other since their love ended, they were forever in each other's thoughts when writing their respective novels, a fact that only they were aware of. Even after so many years, their feelings are still electrifying, but one question remains, can they overcome the events of the past? Sometimes, reading a romance novel can seem formulaic, but this story broke every formula I have ever experienced in my literary adventures. Each chapter told me something about Eva and Shane that I genuinely did not expect. On...

The Literary Adventures of an Opinionated Bookworm

Search This Blog