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A review by mnicolec
Maame by Jessica George
5.0
Feels: Like Google: Is hope the going tradition?
Recommend: Yes! Sweet late-bloomer coming of age tale.
Highlights:
- Humor + heart + humanity = trifecta; the protagonist, Maddie, immediately charmed me with her tender emotions, fierce loyalty and amusing self-talk as she strives to make sense of her life and the world around her
- George weaves in many resonant and poignant themes - experiencing life as a person of color, dealing with anxiety and depression, cycling through the stages of grief, caring for an ill loved one, balancing expectations from family, friends and self, navigating new life milestones (sex, alcohol, therapy, independence)
- Bravo, Heather Agyepong! Her narration galvanizes the story and breathes life into it. I loved her portrayal of the characters like Maddie’s mum.
- Worth repeating, thank you to the authors who normalize talking about mental health issues! The therapy sessions are a treat.
Lowlights:
- While Maddie is naturally a homebody, which is exacerbated by her need to be home to provide care for her father, there is a sense she’s been trapped in the dark ages; as a fellow late-bloomer, her naivety is relatable in ways, but absurdly exaggerated in others
- The upfront sex scenes are so spotty that it isn’t clear if she is a willing participant or taken advantage of… which then repeats
- I found the Google searches funny initially… but like all funny things, too much ruins a good thing
Insights:
- George’s debut novel is her sixth book manuscript - and the first of this style, where she claims she found her own voice
- Like the protagonist, Maddie, George was raised in the UK by Ghanaian immigrant parents, identifies as an introvert, worked at a literary agency and theater and helped care for her father as he declined from Parkinson’s disease - so this fictional story is very close to hers
Summary: After serving as the primary caregiver for her Ghanaian father during his decline from Parkinson’s disease, a young British Black woman experiences emotional turmoil while she redefines her life.
Why I read it: To read a Black author in observance of Black History Month (February)
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 4.6
Book about books: Wah, yeah. The protagonist lands a new job at a publishing company, provides creative sparks for their cook books and has even bigger writing ambitions.
Recommend: Yes! Sweet late-bloomer coming of age tale.
Highlights:
- Humor + heart + humanity = trifecta; the protagonist, Maddie, immediately charmed me with her tender emotions, fierce loyalty and amusing self-talk as she strives to make sense of her life and the world around her
- George weaves in many resonant and poignant themes - experiencing life as a person of color, dealing with anxiety and depression, cycling through the stages of grief, caring for an ill loved one, balancing expectations from family, friends and self, navigating new life milestones (sex, alcohol, therapy, independence)
- Bravo, Heather Agyepong! Her narration galvanizes the story and breathes life into it. I loved her portrayal of the characters like Maddie’s mum.
- Worth repeating, thank you to the authors who normalize talking about mental health issues! The therapy sessions are a treat.
Lowlights:
- While Maddie is naturally a homebody, which is exacerbated by her need to be home to provide care for her father, there is a sense she’s been trapped in the dark ages; as a fellow late-bloomer, her naivety is relatable in ways, but absurdly exaggerated in others
- The upfront sex scenes are so spotty that it isn’t clear if she is a willing participant or taken advantage of… which then repeats
- I found the Google searches funny initially… but like all funny things, too much ruins a good thing
Insights:
- George’s debut novel is her sixth book manuscript - and the first of this style, where she claims she found her own voice
- Like the protagonist, Maddie, George was raised in the UK by Ghanaian immigrant parents, identifies as an introvert, worked at a literary agency and theater and helped care for her father as he declined from Parkinson’s disease - so this fictional story is very close to hers
Summary: After serving as the primary caregiver for her Ghanaian father during his decline from Parkinson’s disease, a young British Black woman experiences emotional turmoil while she redefines her life.
Why I read it: To read a Black author in observance of Black History Month (February)
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 4.6
Book about books: Wah, yeah. The protagonist lands a new job at a publishing company, provides creative sparks for their cook books and has even bigger writing ambitions.