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sydneypedregon's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is about a young girl finding herself in a family(s) that sometimes don’t always fit together. It’s about hardship in leaving home, and finding an unexpected home, and talent that lies within tradition and culture. It’s also about land and internal fighting that comes when people take advantage of those with less. This book was a slow one for me, and I was determined to finish and I was glad I did. Blessing found herself, Ezekiel did not, and mama didn’t know life and knowledge without men and that’s sad. But blessing found herself, love, and a calling with grandma and that’s what made the book.
apol27's review against another edition
5.0
loved this book. beautifully written, weaving together topics such as the effects of the western oil companies on the environment and population of Nigeria, the strength and challenges of family, religion and interacial relations
judi_ly's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
samwisenewman's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I read this book because when my mom first read it, she was so impacted by the book that she waterlogged it with her tears. I can say it was warranted and if I could cry I would have been crying as well. Beautiful, complex and a pleasure to have read.
thereadinggoat's review against another edition
5.0
I came across think book in a recommendation on a Facebook book group and I am so glad I did.
A beautiful story, beautifully told and very eye opening.
Really moving. I will recommend this many many times now, it’s a must read.
A beautiful story, beautifully told and very eye opening.
Really moving. I will recommend this many many times now, it’s a must read.
_izzystoyanof's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Was a beautiful story overall. I definitely found some parts of the book to be a little slow but then it would pick up again. By the end of the novel I enjoyed it.
christinebeswick's review against another edition
4.0
Tragic, witty, beautifully written. A fascinating story about life in the Niger Delta - the poverty, violence, oil pollution, opposed by the strength, bravery and humour of the people.
nickymaund's review against another edition
4.0
I'll admit, this book took a while to pull me in.
It starts off with 12 year old Blessing, living a life of luxury and privilege with her brother, mum and dad. But then her mum finds out that her dad has been cheating on her and he leaves. With him goes their luxurious home, flushing toilets, running water and air conditioning. They move to live with her grandparents and their rag tag bunch of family in a remote village. No running water. No flushing toilets. No air conditioning. No fridge. And lots and lots of chores. And thus begins Blessing's coming of age tale.
There's adjusting to her new family (Gandma who never visited them in their old home, her grandfather and his weird obsession with Marmite, grandfather's junior wife and her unhealthy obsession with lycra to name a few), adjusting to school, modern inconveniences and her training to becoming a birth attendant like her Grandma. There's an education into the political woes of police and government officials and their corruption, the abuse suffered at the hands of western companies on the locals, their land, pollution, more corruption, and un-met promises, and militants.
It's not a happy, fluffy story. It's a hard life. But it's a coming of age tale for all; her mum admitting her own faults, Blessing's realisation that sometimes you only see what you want to see in the people you love, grandfather realising that Marmite doesn't cure all illnesses. I'd definitely recommend it.
It starts off with 12 year old Blessing, living a life of luxury and privilege with her brother, mum and dad. But then her mum finds out that her dad has been cheating on her and he leaves. With him goes their luxurious home, flushing toilets, running water and air conditioning. They move to live with her grandparents and their rag tag bunch of family in a remote village. No running water. No flushing toilets. No air conditioning. No fridge. And lots and lots of chores. And thus begins Blessing's coming of age tale.
There's adjusting to her new family (Gandma who never visited them in their old home, her grandfather and his weird obsession with Marmite, grandfather's junior wife and her unhealthy obsession with lycra to name a few), adjusting to school, modern inconveniences and her training to becoming a birth attendant like her Grandma. There's an education into the political woes of police and government officials and their corruption, the abuse suffered at the hands of western companies on the locals, their land, pollution, more corruption, and un-met promises, and militants.
It's not a happy, fluffy story. It's a hard life. But it's a coming of age tale for all; her mum admitting her own faults, Blessing's realisation that sometimes you only see what you want to see in the people you love, grandfather realising that Marmite doesn't cure all illnesses. I'd definitely recommend it.
idamaria's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
joyful24's review against another edition
3.0
It was very predictable story about Ijaw Nigerians from the Delta by an European.