₦airaland Forum

I think a thing or two is missing from that story, but then it could be my imagination. We should also read the other story in the book about an arranged marriage.


I'd say it's a great book. I especially loved the concept of writing in the second person singular and how life in the America is portrayed from the view point of a poor n helpless girl without bias, who was eager to test all she'd heard about the country only to find a lot of things wrong with the people and her struggle to come to terms with all the contrast in their worlds.

When her uncle said America was all give and take, i interpreted it to mean a person wanting to survive will need to let go of their dignity, pride and in some cases identity. More or less he believes you'll have to remold yourself to fit in, become an errand boy/puppet/sycophant if need be and get whatever benefits would come from it. What we like to term 'scratch my back n I'll scratch yours'.

After she left her uncle's home, there was the feeling of insecurity, anxiety, fear and loneliness from our protagonist. A feeling that made her want to disappear, right until she met olive eyed boy. He made all the fear go away...almost. He made her laugh effortlessly which was something she hadn't done in a long time. She's also wary of white people...maybe the feeling of inferiority? But she feels comfy with olive eyes because he's different and maybe she's a little scared she'll always be alone.

However i don't think she's coming back to him. Their rship attracts a lot of drama and she'sss beginning to see just how different they really are. She hugs him like she's sayin goodbye forever.

Does this i have to read it again? I'll just write from memory for now.

I liked how the writer eased into the story and the really nice love picture panted.
However i think Ada n Sam's love life was based more on attraction than any real deeply rooted feelings for each other; she was charmed by his aura and he had her physical attributes.
Basically there was no ground work set for their relationship.

The story ended abruptly though. You would imagine that if you found the love of your life had a child, after the initial hurt, you'd still give him a chance to explain and apologise and on the part of the man, that he'd come after her to plead. That's how love should work.
So basically, it was a bit too dramatic, but an interesting read all the same.

My school had a library filled with both, but Enid was an all time favourite .
Read a couple of African writers too though could hardly pronounce half the names there.

I'm in!! Good thing i just read Lost Symbol of recent.

I like The thing around your neck. I've got the book