COMMENTS

14 responses to “Senior Planet Book Club: His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie”

1. As Cary commented above re the shift of the author at the end, I totally agree. This is a talented author and I appreciated reading the perspectives in the story re this area and culture.
   I will be driving on Thurs and regret that I will miss hearing responses.
   I do appreciate this group and the open environment created here w/ Rebecca leading us. I too would not have known of many of the titles chosen or proposed , so that is very valuable to me. Thanks to all involved.

   Reply to D. Wetz

2. This was the best bookclub discussion that I’ve been to so far. I appreciate being in this group led by Rebecca. Looking forward to more like this.

   Reply to Ellen

   1. Thank you so much for the kind words, Ellen. Hope to see you again next month :)

      Reply to Rebecca Altneu

3. Just finished this book, another really good selection…..

   It’s another book I probably would not have chosen on my own; really enjoyed it, thank you.

   Elaine

   Reply to elaine mercier

4. The story shows that no matter what continent one is on, family can be difficult. I just got the book from the library so need to catch up with everyone. Writing is quick paced with good character development, even if I don’t like the character like Uncle Pious.

   Reply to Diane

5. I enjoyed this book. It touches on many of the concern faced by women in third world countries. Afi grew up in poverty, experienced being essentially sold to appease families. The fact that she didn’t cower was refreshing.

   Reply to Sherri

6. Did anyone else besides me why no one seemed concerned about whether Afi carried the sickle cell trait? Since we know that Eli has it, there was a risk to the baby had afield had the trait to. I’m all for fairy tales (even when like this one they don’t work out), but it troubles me when serious realities are ignored.

   Reply to June Lazerus

   1. Great point, June!

      Reply to Rebecca Altneu

   2. To be born with sickle cell disease, a child has to inherit a copy of the sickle cell gene from both their parents. This usually happens when both parents are “carriers” of the sickle cell gene, also known as having the sickle cell trait. I don’t recall the author offering any evidence that Afi carried the trait; and Afi didn’t present as a sickly person, either in childhood or as an adult, throughout the novel.

      Reply to Petisia Adger

7. Thoroughly enjoyed the beginning, so much so that I kept reading and finished the book. Thank y’all, Rebecca and our book lovers group for the excellent recommendation.

   Reply to BERNADETTE SESSION

8. How/where do you get the book?

   Reply to Cary Elsten

   1. Hi Cary, this is a great question. I would first check your local library to see if they have it. If not you can either check bookshop (https://bookshop.org/), or you can order off of Amazon. Alternatively if you have an e-reader like a Nook or Kindle the book is available on those devices as well. Hope this helps and let us know if you have any questions.

      Reply to Rebecca Altneu

      1. Thank you, Rebecca. I found it on the library app called Libby, and finished the book last night. I really enjoyed it. However, the author seemed to shift gears toward the end…almost as if she had a deadline to meet and had to wrap it up. That, or she was ready to move on to another project. I do appreciate the fact that she intentionally steered the story away from any domestic violence narrative, but it definitely felt like she lost interest in it toward the end.

9. I don’t like arranged marriages and this one was terrible. How can another man stand in for the groom? The men are all jerks especially Uncle Pious and Aunty so far seems okay. I actually have read the entire book and felt so bad for AFI. Only happy ending was for ELI and MUNA. So glad that AFI always had MAWUSI. Aunty turned out horrible too and her weak Sons were jerks. I liked Claudia and Sarah. Glad AFI ended up a strong Woman able to make decisions for her and SELORM. Bad read!

   Reply to Judith Ann Dezarn