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A review by katykelly
Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah
4.0
Multi-issue story, emotional and honest, upsetting and heartfelt.
4.5 stars.
It might have been a 5-star read for me, but I was actually quite angry at the end, the denouement was quite shattering after everything that had gone before, and I was upset with the author for choosing as she did. But that does not make it badly written, wrong or anything of the sort - I knew what ending I wanted, and I didn't get it (don't worry, no spoilers).
Before this however, the story of one couple and their family was riveting. With bookmarks in the present, a marriage is clearly in trouble as Sam desperately tries to make contact with his wife Efe, overseas and refusing to come home to him and their daughter. What has happened and can it be resolved? We then move backwards to them meeting as sixth formers nearly two decades earlier, where Sam and Efe are drawn to each other as friends instantly. They have ideas about their futures, though Efe's family are putting pressure on her to take a certain direction. Both need the non-judgemental friendship to make it through the early days of adulthood, of first relationships, university and jobs.
Eventually ending up a couple, the reader is taken through the heartbreak of several life-changing events, including Efe's childhood bullying, post-natal depression and working through the early days of parenthood as a couple, family illness. Until we reach the point the book began at.
I felt rather closer to Efe than Sam, I could empathise very strongly with her views on motherhood, and could see the cracks in their relationship stemming from miscommunications and a failure to see each other's wants and needs.
Seeing their lives through the lens of Ghanaian culture, with family emphasis on academics and lots of babies was also an eye-opener for someone like me, allowed free rein over my own life choices.
Some very moving scenes and situations, and a well-portrayed marriage.
This was an audio read for me, vacillating between two authentic voices of our characters, it felt seamless and worked as a dual narrative, the story flowed nicely despite movement in time periods without needing to see it written down.
It may affect readers quite deeply as it doesn't hold back in some very upsetting areas and does leave its mark on you.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.
4.5 stars.
It might have been a 5-star read for me, but I was actually quite angry at the end, the denouement was quite shattering after everything that had gone before, and I was upset with the author for choosing as she did. But that does not make it badly written, wrong or anything of the sort - I knew what ending I wanted, and I didn't get it (don't worry, no spoilers).
Before this however, the story of one couple and their family was riveting. With bookmarks in the present, a marriage is clearly in trouble as Sam desperately tries to make contact with his wife Efe, overseas and refusing to come home to him and their daughter. What has happened and can it be resolved? We then move backwards to them meeting as sixth formers nearly two decades earlier, where Sam and Efe are drawn to each other as friends instantly. They have ideas about their futures, though Efe's family are putting pressure on her to take a certain direction. Both need the non-judgemental friendship to make it through the early days of adulthood, of first relationships, university and jobs.
Eventually ending up a couple, the reader is taken through the heartbreak of several life-changing events, including Efe's childhood bullying, post-natal depression and working through the early days of parenthood as a couple, family illness. Until we reach the point the book began at.
I felt rather closer to Efe than Sam, I could empathise very strongly with her views on motherhood, and could see the cracks in their relationship stemming from miscommunications and a failure to see each other's wants and needs.
Seeing their lives through the lens of Ghanaian culture, with family emphasis on academics and lots of babies was also an eye-opener for someone like me, allowed free rein over my own life choices.
Some very moving scenes and situations, and a well-portrayed marriage.
This was an audio read for me, vacillating between two authentic voices of our characters, it felt seamless and worked as a dual narrative, the story flowed nicely despite movement in time periods without needing to see it written down.
It may affect readers quite deeply as it doesn't hold back in some very upsetting areas and does leave its mark on you.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.