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Reading the Ceiling
Ayodele has just turned eighteen and has decided, having now reached womanhood, that the time is right to lose her virginity. She's drawn up a shortlist: Reuben, the fail safe; a long-admired school friend; abd Frederick Adams, the 42-year-old, soon-to-be-pot-bellied father of her best friend. What she doesn't know is that her choice of suitor will have a drastic effect on the rest of her life.
Three men. Three paths. One will send Ayodele to Europe, to university and to a very different life - but it will be a voyage strewn with heartache. Another will send her around the globe on an epic journey, transforming her beyond recognition but at the cost of an almost unbearable loss. And another will see her remain in Africa, a wife and mother caught in a polygamous marriage. Each will change her irrevocably - but which will she choose?
Three men. Three paths. One will send Ayodele to Europe, to university and to a very different life - but it will be a voyage strewn with heartache. Another will send her around the globe on an epic journey, transforming her beyond recognition but at the cost of an almost unbearable loss. And another will see her remain in Africa, a wife and mother caught in a polygamous marriage. Each will change her irrevocably - but which will she choose?
277 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2007
20 people are currently reading
1155 people want to read
About the author
Dayo Forster
2 books11 followersDayo Forster was born in Gambia and now lives in Kenya. She has published a short story in Kwani? and was one of 12 African writers selected as a participant at the 2006 Caine Prize Writer’s Workshop. The story produced as a result of the workshop was published in a Caine Prize anthology in July 2006. Her short story in Kwani? led her to write her first novel, which will be published early 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
December 9, 2020
Ayodele is turning 18 and is selecting a man to have sex with.
The voice in the writing is vivid and entertaining and it reads quickly. I like how details in the background that happen in one story happen again but not exactly the same and yet you need to know what came in the first version to understand the rest; this introduces a bit of complexity the author could have avoided with three distinct stories but I feel makes the reading experience better. The story is also very international as Dele has a Chinese friend, has travel possibilities that are wide-ranging (America, UK, or "just" Dakar....)
I don’t want to wait for this falling-in-love business, or aim for passion, even though everyone everywhere – books, films, magazines – makes it seem like the ultimate. I want to get this sex thing over and done with so my life can move on.The novel is written in three sections following what would happen if Dele follows three different scenarios. It's not quite choose your own adventure in feeling, although the consequences are at times surprisingly long-reaching. It's like a coming of age story combined with an exploration of all the contextual factors a young person might face in The Gambia - economics, education, religion, marriage, children, loss, relocation, class, etc.
The voice in the writing is vivid and entertaining and it reads quickly. I like how details in the background that happen in one story happen again but not exactly the same and yet you need to know what came in the first version to understand the rest; this introduces a bit of complexity the author could have avoided with three distinct stories but I feel makes the reading experience better. The story is also very international as Dele has a Chinese friend, has travel possibilities that are wide-ranging (America, UK, or "just" Dakar....)
April 3, 2012
This is a good book if you are doing one of those Around the World challenges and you are struggling to find a book from the Gambia (did you know it was THE Gambia?).
It's a perfect book for this sort of thing - a perfect mix of the exotic and the familiar, not too challenging, giving you just enough of insight into the culture without making you uncomfortable. It meshes the European with the African, the traditional with the modern and shows African women dancing on the fine line between the two.
The main character is Ayodele who on her 18th birthday decides that she would have someone pop her cherry. The emphasis is put on the fact it is her first very own choice and she will make the most of it. Organised as she is, she draws up a list of four potential candidates and gives herself till the evening to decide who to do 'the Deed' with.
Then the narrative splits in three and follows the consequences of each choice in different alternate universes. The weird thing about Adoyele is that she was so insistent on making this independent choice, yet that seems to be the only choice she ever makes. After that in all three stories she just lets life happen to her. The only other choice she seems to make is just the opposite of what her mother wants and she appears to be making it only to spite her mother.
Ayodele is a very frustrating first person narrator as she offers no insight into her thoughts and feelings. Her motives remains obscure to us and when grief strikes her we are taken aback because we had no idea she cared.
Only in the last story things seem to start taking shape, and I had a feeling it had less to do with Ayodele and more with Dayo Forster finally taking a better grip on her own writing.
I was struggling to nail the final conclusion this book was trying to make, but perhaps it is that if you had no daddy around when growing up, you're going to end up with an older dude.
It's a perfect book for this sort of thing - a perfect mix of the exotic and the familiar, not too challenging, giving you just enough of insight into the culture without making you uncomfortable. It meshes the European with the African, the traditional with the modern and shows African women dancing on the fine line between the two.
The main character is Ayodele who on her 18th birthday decides that she would have someone pop her cherry. The emphasis is put on the fact it is her first very own choice and she will make the most of it. Organised as she is, she draws up a list of four potential candidates and gives herself till the evening to decide who to do 'the Deed' with.
Then the narrative splits in three and follows the consequences of each choice in different alternate universes. The weird thing about Adoyele is that she was so insistent on making this independent choice, yet that seems to be the only choice she ever makes. After that in all three stories she just lets life happen to her. The only other choice she seems to make is just the opposite of what her mother wants and she appears to be making it only to spite her mother.
Ayodele is a very frustrating first person narrator as she offers no insight into her thoughts and feelings. Her motives remains obscure to us and when grief strikes her we are taken aback because we had no idea she cared.
Only in the last story things seem to start taking shape, and I had a feeling it had less to do with Ayodele and more with Dayo Forster finally taking a better grip on her own writing.
I was struggling to nail the final conclusion this book was trying to make, but perhaps it is that if you had no daddy around when growing up, you're going to end up with an older dude.
September 12, 2024
3 stars
Attention:: Finish the book first Laura!!
I read this book with two other people in a Buddy Read for a thread "Trip Around the World" The book was written by a The Gambia author and was also at least partly rooted in The Gambia.
It was a strange little book giving way to the possibility of three different tracks that life could take, for a young girl ready to become a woman. It alludes to sex all through the book, but never really goes into major detail, it just stays in that vibe. If taking this direction, what would life have offered? There are three timelines given.
I enjoyed the cultural aspects that were mentioned in this story. Some of which would never be offered to a woman in the United States. In retrospect, I think the author could see her mistakes in each of the mentioned pathways. How does the cross over between fate and choice make changes in our life? And which should be the true path?
Attention:: Finish the book first Laura!!
I read this book with two other people in a Buddy Read for a thread "Trip Around the World" The book was written by a The Gambia author and was also at least partly rooted in The Gambia.
It was a strange little book giving way to the possibility of three different tracks that life could take, for a young girl ready to become a woman. It alludes to sex all through the book, but never really goes into major detail, it just stays in that vibe. If taking this direction, what would life have offered? There are three timelines given.
I enjoyed the cultural aspects that were mentioned in this story. Some of which would never be offered to a woman in the United States. In retrospect, I think the author could see her mistakes in each of the mentioned pathways. How does the cross over between fate and choice make changes in our life? And which should be the true path?
March 14, 2018
I agree with the other reviews that this is a fine option if you are doing a world books challenge and need a book from the Gambia – this is why I read it, and it’s certainly readable – but there isn’t much to recommend it beyond that.
Reading the Ceiling has an interesting premise: the narrator, Ayodele, is turning 18 and determined to get initiated into the mysteries of sex, so she needs to choose a partner with whom to do the deed. The three sections of the book follow alternate versions of her life as it unfolds along three different trajectories depending on whom she chooses: Reuben, an awkward classmate who likes her much more than she likes him; Yuan, a friend of Chinese descent in whom she is interested; or Frederick, the sexually experienced father of her best friend.
I was curious to see how the different stories played out, and there is a sense of place, though oddly for African fiction, Ayodele lives a middle-class life in terms of both values and material comforts, and there’s not much of a sense that she and her classmates are better off than those around them. Tracking the similarities and differences among the stories and the different ways characters relate to each other based on different lives and choices was interesting, and the author does a good job of showing different sides of those events that occur in multiple stories, avoiding repetitive content. I didn’t always believe the author’s choices, though: a character will die in a motorcycle accident in multiple stories despite having lived two different adult lives, or Ayodele will get a scholarship for London in one story but only for Dakar in another even though she submitted the applications before making her choice.
More to the point, though, the book is on the dull side. Ayodele’s feelings about events are often left unclear; instead we get bland descriptions of her surroundings, lacking in emotional content. And she’s not a particularly interesting character or one who inspired much emotion in me. While a character doesn’t need to be pleasant to be compelling, Ayodele doesn’t balance her lack of resilience or less-than-admirable choices with a strong or complex personality to keep readers engaged. In two of the stories she folds emotionally at the first blow, allowing an early failure or tragedy to shape and define her life, while in the final one she chooses to carry an unexpected pregnancy to term, though it derails her life, apparently just to spite her mother. She doesn’t seem destined to be happy regardless of her choices, though it’s hard to tell when the last two end without reaching a conclusion, leaving readers wondering what happens next.
Overall, this isn’t one I would recommend, though if you too have reason to read a book from the Gambia, then go for it. I’ve certainly read worse.
Reading the Ceiling has an interesting premise: the narrator, Ayodele, is turning 18 and determined to get initiated into the mysteries of sex, so she needs to choose a partner with whom to do the deed. The three sections of the book follow alternate versions of her life as it unfolds along three different trajectories depending on whom she chooses: Reuben, an awkward classmate who likes her much more than she likes him; Yuan, a friend of Chinese descent in whom she is interested; or Frederick, the sexually experienced father of her best friend.
I was curious to see how the different stories played out, and there is a sense of place, though oddly for African fiction, Ayodele lives a middle-class life in terms of both values and material comforts, and there’s not much of a sense that she and her classmates are better off than those around them. Tracking the similarities and differences among the stories and the different ways characters relate to each other based on different lives and choices was interesting, and the author does a good job of showing different sides of those events that occur in multiple stories, avoiding repetitive content. I didn’t always believe the author’s choices, though: a character will die in a motorcycle accident in multiple stories despite having lived two different adult lives, or Ayodele will get a scholarship for London in one story but only for Dakar in another even though she submitted the applications before making her choice.
More to the point, though, the book is on the dull side. Ayodele’s feelings about events are often left unclear; instead we get bland descriptions of her surroundings, lacking in emotional content. And she’s not a particularly interesting character or one who inspired much emotion in me. While a character doesn’t need to be pleasant to be compelling, Ayodele doesn’t balance her lack of resilience or less-than-admirable choices with a strong or complex personality to keep readers engaged. In two of the stories she folds emotionally at the first blow, allowing an early failure or tragedy to shape and define her life, while in the final one she chooses to carry an unexpected pregnancy to term, though it derails her life, apparently just to spite her mother. She doesn’t seem destined to be happy regardless of her choices, though it’s hard to tell when the last two end without reaching a conclusion, leaving readers wondering what happens next.
Overall, this isn’t one I would recommend, though if you too have reason to read a book from the Gambia, then go for it. I’ve certainly read worse.
August 17, 2016
The author is Gambian!
Yes, that matters to me as much as the stories she has weaved together in Reading the Ceiling. Growing up and understanding the power of representation and writing our own stories has pushed me into a year of reading works from (female) African authors only for a year.
This book is one I wished I had read in my teenage years, as I struggled to place my feet on solid ground while navigating the pressures of growing up as a teenage African girl.
Ayodele's story mattered. Forster's craft is greatly appreciated, as she gives us THREE stories, each weaving a possibility of what Dele's life could be. A reality that many of us face. As a reader, I loved this breaking down of the plot, and appreciated the three stories as gifts that will keep on giving, each one sending its own meaning. The author's vocabulary is timeless! I've mentioned this twice in my Twitter thread on the book, so it's truly marked me.
Reading through the pages and recognizing familiar places in the land I call home made for an even better experience. My imaginative mind painted the pictures that brought these stories to life, making them more than just fiction, and planting them as the reality for me and many other young women I know who've walked that path.
I would recommend Reading The Ceiling for anyone looking for an easy, yet insightful read, guided by the beautiful craft of a Gambian woman writer. That matters.
My Twitter thread with favorite quotes and other comments: https://twitter.com/thejamajack/statu...
Yes, that matters to me as much as the stories she has weaved together in Reading the Ceiling. Growing up and understanding the power of representation and writing our own stories has pushed me into a year of reading works from (female) African authors only for a year.
This book is one I wished I had read in my teenage years, as I struggled to place my feet on solid ground while navigating the pressures of growing up as a teenage African girl.
Ayodele's story mattered. Forster's craft is greatly appreciated, as she gives us THREE stories, each weaving a possibility of what Dele's life could be. A reality that many of us face. As a reader, I loved this breaking down of the plot, and appreciated the three stories as gifts that will keep on giving, each one sending its own meaning. The author's vocabulary is timeless! I've mentioned this twice in my Twitter thread on the book, so it's truly marked me.
Reading through the pages and recognizing familiar places in the land I call home made for an even better experience. My imaginative mind painted the pictures that brought these stories to life, making them more than just fiction, and planting them as the reality for me and many other young women I know who've walked that path.
I would recommend Reading The Ceiling for anyone looking for an easy, yet insightful read, guided by the beautiful craft of a Gambian woman writer. That matters.
My Twitter thread with favorite quotes and other comments: https://twitter.com/thejamajack/statu...
May 20, 2022
On her 18th birthday, Ayodele decides to lose her virginity to a boy or a man of her choice. She has a short-list of three candidates, and her decision will determine the course of her future. The blurb makes it sound as if each choice is a linear outcome and that she will remain with the boy or man of the evening. However, each story unfolds in unexpected directions and although there is hardship. she also finds some satisfaction in her future. Beautifully written and structured, I found Ayodele an interesting character, sympathetically rendered.
February 14, 2018
The premise of the book was interesting. A girl turns 18 and decides to lose her virginity on that night. She has a list of 3 possible partners.
The book then tells her story in a Sliding Doors manner; what happens depended on which partner she went with.
The three parts of the story have some common threads but the writing is quite of a different standard. The last part "The un-Named" was probably the best written but by this time I had lost interest.
The book then tells her story in a Sliding Doors manner; what happens depended on which partner she went with.
The three parts of the story have some common threads but the writing is quite of a different standard. The last part "The un-Named" was probably the best written but by this time I had lost interest.
March 17, 2024
reading around the world one book at a time 2024: the gambia
This book is an interesting take on the sliding doors theory, where Ayodele, our protagonist, has the choice to have sex with three different people on the day of her eighteenth birthday: the novel is divided in three different parts, and each of them follows her life and the way it is then shaped by the choices she makes.
I feel like the protagonist didn't have a clear voice, and sometimes she disappeared behind the story, despite it being the story of her life - this happens especially in the third part/third short story.
I honestly found the consequences to her choices a bit random, and didn't fully appreciate the scope of the book (which is the saddest part, because I love postmodernism and the manipulation of multiple choices in books) but I did respect the author's intent in showing the different lives a Gambian woman can live, thus giving us a glimpse of the lives of the population of the whole country.
This book is an interesting take on the sliding doors theory, where Ayodele, our protagonist, has the choice to have sex with three different people on the day of her eighteenth birthday: the novel is divided in three different parts, and each of them follows her life and the way it is then shaped by the choices she makes.
I feel like the protagonist didn't have a clear voice, and sometimes she disappeared behind the story, despite it being the story of her life - this happens especially in the third part/third short story.
I honestly found the consequences to her choices a bit random, and didn't fully appreciate the scope of the book (which is the saddest part, because I love postmodernism and the manipulation of multiple choices in books) but I did respect the author's intent in showing the different lives a Gambian woman can live, thus giving us a glimpse of the lives of the population of the whole country.
March 7, 2022
In my Reading the World Quest - 90th Country 'Visited'.
Country - The Gambia
Ayodele has turned 18. Her thoughts are on the opposite sex. When and with whom?
The story divides into three possible outcomes: Reuben, Leon and The Un-named.
Enjoyed this debut novel and learning about Gambia. In the book the role of women and Gambian cuisine were addressed. In outside research, I learned about Gambian geography.
3 stars
Country - The Gambia
Ayodele has turned 18. Her thoughts are on the opposite sex. When and with whom?
The story divides into three possible outcomes: Reuben, Leon and The Un-named.
Enjoyed this debut novel and learning about Gambia. In the book the role of women and Gambian cuisine were addressed. In outside research, I learned about Gambian geography.
3 stars
September 22, 2024
I thought this book was beautifully written and spoke to experiences that are universal while also introducing me to a culture outside of my own. The concept of seeing a life play out differently based on one decision was intriguing. These quotes really spoke to me:
"I get used to the swaying and the lapping sounds against the boat. It starts to feel normal, and the memory of a ground that used to feel solid, that never once moved, fades."
"I feel sorry that my mother is vulnerable. I always imagined her strong, imperious, commanding -- right till the very end. That she was capable of fighting disease, and of pushing off death I had been in no doubt."
"I know better than anyone else the many times in the past when I could have shattered myself into tiny little pieces, unglueable, destroyed."
Ratings:
Writing 5
Story line 5
Characters 5
Impact/enjoyment 5
Overall rating 5
"I get used to the swaying and the lapping sounds against the boat. It starts to feel normal, and the memory of a ground that used to feel solid, that never once moved, fades."
"I feel sorry that my mother is vulnerable. I always imagined her strong, imperious, commanding -- right till the very end. That she was capable of fighting disease, and of pushing off death I had been in no doubt."
"I know better than anyone else the many times in the past when I could have shattered myself into tiny little pieces, unglueable, destroyed."
Ratings:
Writing 5
Story line 5
Characters 5
Impact/enjoyment 5
Overall rating 5
September 30, 2016
I had higher hopes but it is still an interesting read; we don't get so much fiction out of the African continent that we can afford to misprize it. As the book developed, so did the writing. I would expect growth as a writer in the future and look forward to reading more.
September 20, 2024
Reading the Ceiling took me to a reflective place - one where I marveled at the commonalities across women’s lives (the scene where the lead character and her siblings sort through their mothers belongings after her death, for example) juxtaposed against the cultural uniqueness of The Gambia. My world reading journey is so worthwhile.
I liked this book more than other readers. It is imperfectly written. Many transitions between segments of the story are too abrupt making the reading experience somewhat jerky. But the insights into women’s lives and decisions - the butterfly effect of those decisions - was interesting and well done.
I liked this book more than other readers. It is imperfectly written. Many transitions between segments of the story are too abrupt making the reading experience somewhat jerky. But the insights into women’s lives and decisions - the butterfly effect of those decisions - was interesting and well done.
August 25, 2011
On her eighteenth birthday, Ayodele decides, she will not only have a great party at the best disco in town, she will also choose a one-off mate to take her from childhood to womanhood. It is an empowering feeling and the choice is hers, not common in her society at that time. First-time Gambian novelist Dayo Forster has written a lively, fast paced and delightful novel built around an intriguing concept: three different scenarios unfold for her life, depending on the man she chooses for that fateful night...
As she runs through the list of potentials, the reader is given a first glimpse into her life and world. Ayodele, or Dele for short, lives in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, that small costal nation hugging the river Gambia and sandwiched in between Senegal. It is an English speaking country in the sea of francophone ones. Dele is an intelligent girl and has already decided to move on to university either in Dakar, Senegal or, if she can get a grant, to England or elsewhere. She is dreaming of the wonderful life as an adult. Maybe, even her strict mother will finally respect and recognize her for who she is. Her mother, abandoned by the father of her three girls, struggles to make ends meet. She is one of the constant characters in the three versions of Dele's life, very traditional in her outlook and a stark contrast to Dele's favourite aunt, the unconventional Aunt Kiki. The younger siblings have an important role to play as have Dele's circle of girlfriends. Their own future could also be affected by the heroine's actions.
Forster develops each of the three life options with great enthusiasm, imagining three different futures, each leading her to late middle age: She could marry the chosen one, settle down and struggle not to repeat her mother's life; she could pursue her studies abroad, see the world and become successful; she could deeply fall in love... or live through a combination of those and other options. As we follow the three life stories, we build a very rich picture of not only life in Gambia, but also learn of the many challenges young women all over Africa still face today.
Dele is, not surprisingly, the strongest developed character in this mosaic of people. From one scenario to the next, we come across other characters again and again, providing the novel a certain level of continuity and cohesion. Forster has a refreshing style full of fun images that are, while unusual, easy to understand. A very enjoyable read indeed.
As she runs through the list of potentials, the reader is given a first glimpse into her life and world. Ayodele, or Dele for short, lives in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, that small costal nation hugging the river Gambia and sandwiched in between Senegal. It is an English speaking country in the sea of francophone ones. Dele is an intelligent girl and has already decided to move on to university either in Dakar, Senegal or, if she can get a grant, to England or elsewhere. She is dreaming of the wonderful life as an adult. Maybe, even her strict mother will finally respect and recognize her for who she is. Her mother, abandoned by the father of her three girls, struggles to make ends meet. She is one of the constant characters in the three versions of Dele's life, very traditional in her outlook and a stark contrast to Dele's favourite aunt, the unconventional Aunt Kiki. The younger siblings have an important role to play as have Dele's circle of girlfriends. Their own future could also be affected by the heroine's actions.
Forster develops each of the three life options with great enthusiasm, imagining three different futures, each leading her to late middle age: She could marry the chosen one, settle down and struggle not to repeat her mother's life; she could pursue her studies abroad, see the world and become successful; she could deeply fall in love... or live through a combination of those and other options. As we follow the three life stories, we build a very rich picture of not only life in Gambia, but also learn of the many challenges young women all over Africa still face today.
Dele is, not surprisingly, the strongest developed character in this mosaic of people. From one scenario to the next, we come across other characters again and again, providing the novel a certain level of continuity and cohesion. Forster has a refreshing style full of fun images that are, while unusual, easy to understand. A very enjoyable read indeed.
May 11, 2022
I read this book as part of my quest to read a book written by an author from every country in the world. The author of this book is from The Gambia (yes, the name includes 'The').
Gambia is a country located in Western Africa - it is the smallest African country on the continent and it is bordered by Senegal on 3 sides and by the Atlantic Ocean on its 4th. It is a long narrow country running east to west, with the Gambia River splitting it lengthwise.
Ayodele is an 18-year-old-girl who lives in The Gambia with her mother and 2 sisters. She has decided that she wants to lose her virginity. She has 3 men in mind - Reuben - a teen she knows from school who 'fancies' her, Yuan Chen - another teen from school whose 'Chinese father came over to teach our farmers how to grow paddy rice', and lastly Frederick Adams, her best friend's father, 'forty-two years old with a pot-bellied future, a short full beard.
The book is separated into 3 parts, describing how Ayodele's life turns out if she chooses each of the 3 men. I love the author's writing - beautiful and easy to read but not too verbose. Ayodele seems to sort of drift along through life though. She seems to just marry men that come along in her life.
The title of the story refers to Ayodele's ruminations as she gazes at the ceilings above her and imagines what stories they tell. In her childhood bedroom, 'the ceiling's boards have been repainted white, but rainwater, eager to leave behind a memory of itself, has sploshed new stains on it'. Ayodele believes, 'all my fears, worries, traipsing across my ceiling, watching me watch them.'
Prior to moving to England for school, Aydodele 'look(s) up at the brown stains on the ceiling, diluted in the middle and sharply defined at their edges. They are making me promises about life, showing me how to allow the future to be.' - I'm not sure I understand what the stains mean to her.
As Ayodele is going through her mother's things after her death, she notices - 'there are the marks still on the ceiling, but there's less of a future to read now, less I need to know about what life could be.'
Gambia is a country located in Western Africa - it is the smallest African country on the continent and it is bordered by Senegal on 3 sides and by the Atlantic Ocean on its 4th. It is a long narrow country running east to west, with the Gambia River splitting it lengthwise.
Ayodele is an 18-year-old-girl who lives in The Gambia with her mother and 2 sisters. She has decided that she wants to lose her virginity. She has 3 men in mind - Reuben - a teen she knows from school who 'fancies' her, Yuan Chen - another teen from school whose 'Chinese father came over to teach our farmers how to grow paddy rice', and lastly Frederick Adams, her best friend's father, 'forty-two years old with a pot-bellied future, a short full beard.
The book is separated into 3 parts, describing how Ayodele's life turns out if she chooses each of the 3 men. I love the author's writing - beautiful and easy to read but not too verbose. Ayodele seems to sort of drift along through life though. She seems to just marry men that come along in her life.
The title of the story refers to Ayodele's ruminations as she gazes at the ceilings above her and imagines what stories they tell. In her childhood bedroom, 'the ceiling's boards have been repainted white, but rainwater, eager to leave behind a memory of itself, has sploshed new stains on it'. Ayodele believes, 'all my fears, worries, traipsing across my ceiling, watching me watch them.'
Prior to moving to England for school, Aydodele 'look(s) up at the brown stains on the ceiling, diluted in the middle and sharply defined at their edges. They are making me promises about life, showing me how to allow the future to be.' - I'm not sure I understand what the stains mean to her.
As Ayodele is going through her mother's things after her death, she notices - 'there are the marks still on the ceiling, but there's less of a future to read now, less I need to know about what life could be.'
October 13, 2024
Al comienzo, como se puede leer en los anticipos, Ayodele ha cumplido 18 años, y planea iniciar su actividad sexual. Es una joven urbana, liberal y cosmopolita que vive en Banjul, la capital de Gambia, pero no desconoce la persistencia de algunas tradiciones como la preeminencia del varón, la importancia de la dote o la poligamia.
Sus candidatos son sus amigos Reuben y Yuan Chen, y el atractivo padre de su mejor amiga. Por alguna razón está convencida de que la decisión sobre el elegido es un tema vital, ya que determinará su futuro y su vida.
Y como la escritora es científica, elige jugar a los escenarios de qué pasaría en cada caso, desarrollando tres historias o vidas paralelas, con un desarrollo bastante interesante de cada una de ellas. En algunos casos hay hechos que aparecen en más de una historia, con distinta relevancia en la vida de Ayodele según el camino que haya elegido.
Y, en una aplicación de la teoría de la incerteza, disruptiva con los escenarios, esta elección inicial finalmente no incide de manera relevante en el desarrollo de su vida, aunque sí, cada cada historia la llevará por caminos muy diferentes.
Una novela interesante y atractiva; tal vez se podría haber enriquecido un poco con más cruces entre las diferentes historias.
Gambia, pequeño país embutido en las fauces de cocodrilo de Senegal, fue uno de los primeros países africanos que conocí (por su nombre), ya que de ahí provenía Kunta Kinte, protagonista del best seller RAICES by ALEX HALEY que leí en mi adolescencia. Por lo que he sabido es un país sin hechos muy llamativos, lo cual para un país africano es una buena noticia. "No news, good news"
Dayo Forster nació en Gambia c. 1966. Es Científica Estadística, y como tal ha participado en trabajos de investigación en salud y actualmente se desempeña en organismos de cooperación, en especial en el área de salud. Esta es su primera novela.
Sus candidatos son sus amigos Reuben y Yuan Chen, y el atractivo padre de su mejor amiga. Por alguna razón está convencida de que la decisión sobre el elegido es un tema vital, ya que determinará su futuro y su vida.
Y como la escritora es científica, elige jugar a los escenarios de qué pasaría en cada caso, desarrollando tres historias o vidas paralelas, con un desarrollo bastante interesante de cada una de ellas. En algunos casos hay hechos que aparecen en más de una historia, con distinta relevancia en la vida de Ayodele según el camino que haya elegido.
Y, en una aplicación de la teoría de la incerteza, disruptiva con los escenarios, esta elección inicial finalmente no incide de manera relevante en el desarrollo de su vida, aunque sí, cada cada historia la llevará por caminos muy diferentes.
Una novela interesante y atractiva; tal vez se podría haber enriquecido un poco con más cruces entre las diferentes historias.
Gambia, pequeño país embutido en las fauces de cocodrilo de Senegal, fue uno de los primeros países africanos que conocí (por su nombre), ya que de ahí provenía Kunta Kinte, protagonista del best seller RAICES by ALEX HALEY que leí en mi adolescencia. Por lo que he sabido es un país sin hechos muy llamativos, lo cual para un país africano es una buena noticia. "No news, good news"
Dayo Forster nació en Gambia c. 1966. Es Científica Estadística, y como tal ha participado en trabajos de investigación en salud y actualmente se desempeña en organismos de cooperación, en especial en el área de salud. Esta es su primera novela.
October 31, 2020
My eyes play on the ceiling. I find myself picking out patterns, just as we used to when my sisters and I were little. My ceiling's boards have been repainted white, but rainwater, eager to leave behind a memory of itself, has sploshed new stains on it. I can see a bra, straps wriggling, with enormous cups. Also a leg, with well-toned thigh, bent at the knee, lying open, suggesting the other leg is also flung sideways, welcoming entry. A mouth in a grimace. An eye wide open in shock. All my fears, worries, traipsing across my ceiling, watching me watch them.
A life beginning has many paths before it; but older people women like my mother they can only see the one path that brought their lives to the now. Cats on my shoulder. I can choose to be the hunter or the lion. What will my story be?
March 15, 2019
Kan det virkelig være Dayo Forsters budskab, at det eneste valg, der for alvor er afgørende i livet for en ung kvinde, er, hvilken stodder hun lader blive den første? Jeg tror det ikke, men som læser af romanen er det ikke desto mindre det indtryk, jeg lades tilbage med. Og det er altså en temmelig kedsommelig tilgang at anlægge for en moderne roman.
Jeg kan anbefale romanens første kapitel. Læs det som en novelle med en åben slutning fuld af muligheder. Og læs så noget andet.
Jeg kan anbefale romanens første kapitel. Læs det som en novelle med en åben slutning fuld af muligheder. Og læs så noget andet.
September 24, 2019
A good read that gets you to think about all the different things that could happen in your life that hinges on that one choice
April 11, 2020
I love the different aspects of Gambian culture I was exposed to through this novel, this was especially important to me because I have a personal connection to The Gambia so I need to read more literature from there.
Reading The Ceiling gave me the perfect opportunity to dip my toes in, it gives us culture, versatile storytelling, beautiful prose and life lessons. The story is narrated in first person by Ayodele, a Krio Gambian young woman who just turned 18 and is eager to enter adulthood by finally losing her virginity and get the whole thing over and done with. The only hiccup is that Ayodele has a list of potential men and boys alike who are marginally suitable for the task. Each would lead to a completely different future and we get a peek into the potential trials and happiness that come with each choice she could end up making. We only know the path she chooses/falls into at the end. The ending was unexpected, I did not suspect her final decision until the answer neared.
Each story shows how unstoppable fate can be and how the choices we make can significantly frame our lives, fate and choice can either collide or complement each other. “Once you make some choices, they stick- you can’t shake them off. They cling and shape you.” One thing that remained constant is that no matter the path she took, Ayodele would end up being successful by virtue of her mental agility. Deaths were also unstoppable no matter what path she took. Home and the ties to family were unavoidable- all roads led back to home.
Through this story I also learnt about a new tribe I had no idea was in The Gambia, the Krio/Aku people, they make up about 2% of the population so no wonder I didn’t know. The author, Dayo Forster, is also Krio so I am happy she got to tell this story. I just wish she had more novels because she’s such a talented writer and there aren’t enough Gambian authors out here!
Reading The Ceiling gave me the perfect opportunity to dip my toes in, it gives us culture, versatile storytelling, beautiful prose and life lessons. The story is narrated in first person by Ayodele, a Krio Gambian young woman who just turned 18 and is eager to enter adulthood by finally losing her virginity and get the whole thing over and done with. The only hiccup is that Ayodele has a list of potential men and boys alike who are marginally suitable for the task. Each would lead to a completely different future and we get a peek into the potential trials and happiness that come with each choice she could end up making. We only know the path she chooses/falls into at the end. The ending was unexpected, I did not suspect her final decision until the answer neared.
Each story shows how unstoppable fate can be and how the choices we make can significantly frame our lives, fate and choice can either collide or complement each other. “Once you make some choices, they stick- you can’t shake them off. They cling and shape you.” One thing that remained constant is that no matter the path she took, Ayodele would end up being successful by virtue of her mental agility. Deaths were also unstoppable no matter what path she took. Home and the ties to family were unavoidable- all roads led back to home.
Through this story I also learnt about a new tribe I had no idea was in The Gambia, the Krio/Aku people, they make up about 2% of the population so no wonder I didn’t know. The author, Dayo Forster, is also Krio so I am happy she got to tell this story. I just wish she had more novels because she’s such a talented writer and there aren’t enough Gambian authors out here!
July 23, 2023
Generally seems the commentary follows two themes: the premise of this book is interesting; and the cultural insight for a modern person's life from the Gambia is good. I'm actually not so sure about the first - not that this is an issue with the book but I wouldn't have set it up around that, there are much better and more original 'parallel universe' books (especially The Wandering) and when not done quite so seamlessly, it actually felt slightly like the author couldn't decide which of the stories to develop. I know the mermaid story is perhaps supposed to symbolise this is all a 'pick your own destiny' but it fell a little short on that front (and again, the Wandering does it better) - although I do really like the mermaid story. It was just a little harder to keep up engagement with the three plots and dragged the whole piece out a bit too much.
On the second point, very much agree this is really valuable and a much more compelling reason to read the book. The foods listed in this book outnumbered those listed in any other I've read from other countries, and the parts where Dele navigates family tradition with wanted to live and control her own life, with marriage, religion, politics and her friends are all very interesting. Worth reading for this reason.
On the second point, very much agree this is really valuable and a much more compelling reason to read the book. The foods listed in this book outnumbered those listed in any other I've read from other countries, and the parts where Dele navigates family tradition with wanted to live and control her own life, with marriage, religion, politics and her friends are all very interesting. Worth reading for this reason.
May 17, 2012
I thought the idea for the book outshone the execution. The retelling of the story and the blandness of a lot of the narrative made one story mingle pretty much into the next retelling. Clearly Dayo Forster is a talented writer and a capable story teller but I simply found the style not to my personal taste. Lots of subjects were touched upon but I felt we never really got to explore the depths of any of the characters or the stories, which was a shame as it felt we were forever only skimming the surface.
Easy to read and undemanding, I would neither rave nor rant about this book. If you happen upon a copy and have nothing else in your TBR pile its not an unpleasant read.
Easy to read and undemanding, I would neither rave nor rant about this book. If you happen upon a copy and have nothing else in your TBR pile its not an unpleasant read.
July 29, 2011
Set in Gambia, this novel traces a young woman's choices through three alternative lives. The author catches the tone and attitudes of Ayodele as a teenager and then young and middle aged woman well. All of our choices determine both create and limit the subsequent paths of our lives. Forster explores this idea with rich characters and vivid writing.
April 23, 2010
I read it at a point in my life when I had to make life-changing decisions without the benefit of foresight....very influential....I like the books-in-book format.........took me back to Jeffrey Archer, RL Stine and the rest.
Should be made a recommended book for high school girls.....tackles scenarios with great sensitivity and grace.....a magnificent book.
Should be made a recommended book for high school girls.....tackles scenarios with great sensitivity and grace.....a magnificent book.
September 12, 2011
It is very interesting yet not deep enough. Dele's reactions in the second story are very overrated comparing to Dele of the first story, as if it were a different person. The third story is the best, I enjoyed it so much. As she said; the moral of the story is: If you want something don't half-want it, want it properly and get it.
May 31, 2024
Книга прочитана в рамках марафону "Книжки з усього світу написані жінками".
Авторка цієї книги родом з Гамбії. На жаль, мій вибір був невеликим, а точніше його не було зовсім, бо хоча на англійську було перекладено книжки всього трьох гамбійських письменниць, але придбати можна було лише "Reading the Ceiling". Читаючи книжки в рамках цього марафону, я завжди очікую доторкнутись до культури і традицій країни письменниці, дізнатись більше про побут, особливості виховання і т.ін. В цьому випадку мої очікування були такими самими, а от що я отримала мене абсолютно розчарувало.
1. В анотації мене підкупило те, що нам покажуть три шляхи, яким могло піти життя головної героїні Айодель в залежності від вибору, який вона зробила на своє 18-ліття. Я дуже люблю такі історії "А що, якби...". Але в цей раз мене не зачепила жодна з ліній розвитку подій. По-перше, для мене вони були всі сумні і якісь фаталістичні. Також мені не сподобалась тенденція, яку я для себе відмітила, а саме - життя Айодель ставало менш трагічним, коли в ньому з'являлись діти. Перша лінія максимально сумна, і ній у Айодель немає дітей, друга вже краще, у героїні з'являються прийомні діти, третя лінія, як на мене, найкраща і в ній Айодель народжує сина. І оця ниточка діти - нормальне життя (бо щасливим життя Айодель не назвеш в жодному з варіантів) мені не подобається. Можливо, я притягую це за вуха, але я об це тригернулась.
2. Що стосується традицій, культури, якихось особливостей життя гамбійської родини, то максимум, який ми отримуємо - це їжа, яку готує мати Айодель. Все. Більше нічого. Таке враження, що ми спостерігаємо за абсолютно середньостатистичною родиною і жінкою, які могли жити і народитися будь де на планеті. Я для себе не відмітила абсолютно нічого, що було в пов'язано безпосередньо з гамбійською культурою, окрім згадок про їжу і опису одягу на якихось урочистих подіях. Для мене цього виявилось замало.
3. Текст. Це написано дуже погано, текст примітивний, більшість подій просто створюють шум, вони не несуть ніякого сенсу, ніяк не впливають на сюжет, вони погано прописані. Можна легко викинути 60% тексту, і це ніяк не вплине на основний сюжет.
Я вважаю, що в кінці авторка дуже гарно підсумувала ідею, яку вона хотіла закласти в свою історію:
Авторка цієї книги родом з Гамбії. На жаль, мій вибір був невеликим, а точніше його не було зовсім, бо хоча на англійську було перекладено книжки всього трьох гамбійських письменниць, але придбати можна було лише "Reading the Ceiling". Читаючи книжки в рамках цього марафону, я завжди очікую доторкнутись до культури і традицій країни письменниці, дізнатись більше про побут, особливості виховання і т.ін. В цьому випадку мої очікування були такими самими, а от що я отримала мене абсолютно розчарувало.
1. В анотації мене підкупило те, що нам покажуть три шляхи, яким могло піти життя головної героїні Айодель в залежності від вибору, який вона зробила на своє 18-ліття. Я дуже люблю такі історії "А що, якби...". Але в цей раз мене не зачепила жодна з ліній розвитку подій. По-перше, для мене вони були всі сумні і якісь фаталістичні. Також мені не сподобалась тенденція, яку я для себе відмітила, а саме - життя Айодель ставало менш трагічним, коли в ньому з'являлись діти. Перша лінія максимально сумна, і ній у Айодель немає дітей, друга вже краще, у героїні з'являються прийомні діти, третя лінія, як на мене, найкраща і в ній Айодель народжує сина. І оця ниточка діти - нормальне життя (бо щасливим життя Айодель не назвеш в жодному з варіантів) мені не подобається. Можливо, я притягую це за вуха, але я об це тригернулась.
2. Що стосується традицій, культури, якихось особливостей життя гамбійської родини, то максимум, який ми отримуємо - це їжа, яку готує мати Айодель. Все. Більше нічого. Таке враження, що ми спостерігаємо за абсолютно середньостатистичною родиною і жінкою, які могли жити і народитися будь де на планеті. Я для себе не відмітила абсолютно нічого, що було в пов'язано безпосередньо з гамбійською культурою, окрім згадок про їжу і опису одягу на якихось урочистих подіях. Для мене цього виявилось замало.
3. Текст. Це написано дуже погано, текст примітивний, більшість подій просто створюють шум, вони не несуть ніякого сенсу, ніяк не впливають на сюжет, вони погано прописані. Можна легко викинути 60% тексту, і це ніяк не вплине на основний сюжет.
Я вважаю, що в кінці авторка дуже гарно підсумувала ідею, яку вона хотіла закласти в свою історію:
The moral of the story is, if you want something, don't halfwant it. Either want it propely and go and get it, or forget about it so you will not be drawn into someone else's magic and get the decision taken out of your hands.
February 23, 2020
On the morning she turns eighteen, Ayodele wakes up with one resolve: today is the day she loses her virginity. To whom, she hasn’t figured out yet. And how. Or what the consequences of that might be: all she knows is that by the time tomorrow dawns, she will be a virgin no more.
But what will happen as a result of the man Ayodele chooses for her first sexual experience will be something even she can’t foresee. At the party, three paths diverge, and the one she takes will decide where she ends up. Three possible consequences, three completely different paths her life can take. Played out, one after the other, in what basically amounts to three different novellas, each about the life of Ayodele from her eighteenth birthday onwards, till middle age. In each iteration, Ayodele eventually ends up back home and married (or at least once-married), and each iteration has many of the same characters—Ayodele’s mother, her twin sisters, family friends, and classmates she was at school with. But where each of the others ends up too is affected by whom Ayodele sleeps with on her 18th birthday.
By the time I finished this novel, I must admit I was a little confused about the storyline in each iteration: I was getting mixed up between what happened to the protagonist when she slept with so-and-so, as opposed to when she slept with the other guy, or the third. In each case, though, I thought the story was a fairly well-rounded one, tracing Ayodele’s life interestingly and at times poignantly (iteration #2, towards the beginning, gave me a lump in the throat and brought tears to my eyes). There are moments when Forster portrays human character and its nature really well, as in when she shows how an ageing woman is pretty much rendered invisible by a world obsessed with youth and beauty. Or the way two women—both married to the same man—are able to set aside their differences and become friends. Or how a woman, domestic help for forty years, is only intent on gathering up all she had been promised by her now-dead mistress, rather than mourning her.
The mythical story of the mermaid right at the end of Reading the Ceiling ties it all together really well and made me think.
A good book, and I learnt stuff I hadn’t known about Gambia (I hadn’t even known it was called The Gambia, for goodness’s sakes).
But what will happen as a result of the man Ayodele chooses for her first sexual experience will be something even she can’t foresee. At the party, three paths diverge, and the one she takes will decide where she ends up. Three possible consequences, three completely different paths her life can take. Played out, one after the other, in what basically amounts to three different novellas, each about the life of Ayodele from her eighteenth birthday onwards, till middle age. In each iteration, Ayodele eventually ends up back home and married (or at least once-married), and each iteration has many of the same characters—Ayodele’s mother, her twin sisters, family friends, and classmates she was at school with. But where each of the others ends up too is affected by whom Ayodele sleeps with on her 18th birthday.
By the time I finished this novel, I must admit I was a little confused about the storyline in each iteration: I was getting mixed up between what happened to the protagonist when she slept with so-and-so, as opposed to when she slept with the other guy, or the third. In each case, though, I thought the story was a fairly well-rounded one, tracing Ayodele’s life interestingly and at times poignantly (iteration #2, towards the beginning, gave me a lump in the throat and brought tears to my eyes). There are moments when Forster portrays human character and its nature really well, as in when she shows how an ageing woman is pretty much rendered invisible by a world obsessed with youth and beauty. Or the way two women—both married to the same man—are able to set aside their differences and become friends. Or how a woman, domestic help for forty years, is only intent on gathering up all she had been promised by her now-dead mistress, rather than mourning her.
The mythical story of the mermaid right at the end of Reading the Ceiling ties it all together really well and made me think.
A good book, and I learnt stuff I hadn’t known about Gambia (I hadn’t even known it was called The Gambia, for goodness’s sakes).
October 27, 2021
This didn't go how I imagined it to go from reading the synopsis...
What I had initially thought was going to be a coming of age story where she explores her wants/needs/desires and asseses her 'wishlist' for the character and personalities of these three men (Reuben, Yuan and Fredrick Adams), ultimately falling for the least suspecting male. INSTEAD we get three stories, three alternate relaties where we find out Ayodele's fate each time she chooses any one of her suitors. I actually liked the fact that there are three different/alternate realities in this book. I enjoyed where choosing each man took her and the journey of personal discovery she finds within herself. I also liked how there are events in the story that are definites; that always end up being true in every story i.e, Yuan dying, Ayodele's Mum's dementia, Taiwo marrying Rueben, Remi marrying Kojo.
What I'm trying to understand is which one is the REAL truth? (and yet in asking this question I have already realised that the answer is in the Folktale that Aunty K has told Ayodele about the mermaid and the fisherman...basically the ending is what you, the reader, makes it! It's however you would like to interperate it!)
One thing I wish Dayo had explored is these alternate realities is a life with Reuben! It seems like Fredrick Adams has two unfair advantages in this story, Ayodele ends up marrying him in what is supposed to be Reubens' story and also he suggestively fathers Kweku Sola in the last story. I know Rueben is a weirdo who isn't socially aware of himself but it would've been nice to explore this; does Ayodele give him a chance and also help him to come out of his shell? does she move countries with/for him? could there have been some kind of love triangle with Ayodele, Rueben and her sister Taiwo?
Either way it was a good read. Slightly pissed that we don't get to find out who Kweku Sola's father REALLY is!
What I had initially thought was going to be a coming of age story where she explores her wants/needs/desires and asseses her 'wishlist' for the character and personalities of these three men (Reuben, Yuan and Fredrick Adams), ultimately falling for the least suspecting male. INSTEAD we get three stories, three alternate relaties where we find out Ayodele's fate each time she chooses any one of her suitors. I actually liked the fact that there are three different/alternate realities in this book. I enjoyed where choosing each man took her and the journey of personal discovery she finds within herself. I also liked how there are events in the story that are definites; that always end up being true in every story i.e, Yuan dying, Ayodele's Mum's dementia, Taiwo marrying Rueben, Remi marrying Kojo.
What I'm trying to understand is which one is the REAL truth? (and yet in asking this question I have already realised that the answer is in the Folktale that Aunty K has told Ayodele about the mermaid and the fisherman...basically the ending is what you, the reader, makes it! It's however you would like to interperate it!)
One thing I wish Dayo had explored is these alternate realities is a life with Reuben! It seems like Fredrick Adams has two unfair advantages in this story, Ayodele ends up marrying him in what is supposed to be Reubens' story and also he suggestively fathers Kweku Sola in the last story. I know Rueben is a weirdo who isn't socially aware of himself but it would've been nice to explore this; does Ayodele give him a chance and also help him to come out of his shell? does she move countries with/for him? could there have been some kind of love triangle with Ayodele, Rueben and her sister Taiwo?
Either way it was a good read. Slightly pissed that we don't get to find out who Kweku Sola's father REALLY is!
May 21, 2021
This was my read the world selection for The Gambia.
On Ayodele’s 18th birthday, she decides that it’s time to lose her virginity and makes a shortlist of people that she thinks may be suitable. This is her decision alone and she is not influenced by anyone else’s thoughts or actions.
The book then has three sections - each based on how her life turns out had she selected each of the men on her shortlist. While some events occur in each timeline, for the most part each possible life story takes a very different path.
I found this book really quite interesting and was struck by the fact that there was no perhaps ‘better’ choice than another. Each lifetime has its share of good and bad choices, as well as positive and negative events. If anything, the lifetime that starts off the most doubtful is the one where she appears to be the most content at the end of the story. However all seem to aim to convey to the reader that life is never smooth sailing and there are always crosses to bear.
The only thing missing for me was the lack of insight into most of Ayodele’s thoughts and emotions, which were not often shared. Despite this, I enjoyed this book and thought it gave some interesting insight into life in The Gambia and about the choices one makes in life. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
On Ayodele’s 18th birthday, she decides that it’s time to lose her virginity and makes a shortlist of people that she thinks may be suitable. This is her decision alone and she is not influenced by anyone else’s thoughts or actions.
The book then has three sections - each based on how her life turns out had she selected each of the men on her shortlist. While some events occur in each timeline, for the most part each possible life story takes a very different path.
I found this book really quite interesting and was struck by the fact that there was no perhaps ‘better’ choice than another. Each lifetime has its share of good and bad choices, as well as positive and negative events. If anything, the lifetime that starts off the most doubtful is the one where she appears to be the most content at the end of the story. However all seem to aim to convey to the reader that life is never smooth sailing and there are always crosses to bear.
The only thing missing for me was the lack of insight into most of Ayodele’s thoughts and emotions, which were not often shared. Despite this, I enjoyed this book and thought it gave some interesting insight into life in The Gambia and about the choices one makes in life. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
March 6, 2020
3.5 stars
#readtheworld The Gambia
Ayodele is a neurotic mess (coming from someone with her fair share of neuroses). Upon deciding she wants to lose her virginity, she draws up a shortlist of her potential suitors. The book then breaks into three separate stories, each exploring her destiny following one of those three choices.
While I this gives a ridiculous amount of power to such a seemingly small decision, I think the author does well to explore each life path and the ways in which small decisions can often take someone down a wildly different route in life.
I was speaking to someone from Senegal last week about my #readtheworld mission and he asked what book I read from the Gambia and told him this one. He hadn't heard of it, and I explained that "it's probably only something teenage or young adult girls would really choose to read," and I stand by that. I enjoyed the book in a guilty pleasure kind of way like grown American women devouring YA novels like Twilight and the like...
#readtheworld The Gambia
Ayodele is a neurotic mess (coming from someone with her fair share of neuroses). Upon deciding she wants to lose her virginity, she draws up a shortlist of her potential suitors. The book then breaks into three separate stories, each exploring her destiny following one of those three choices.
While I this gives a ridiculous amount of power to such a seemingly small decision, I think the author does well to explore each life path and the ways in which small decisions can often take someone down a wildly different route in life.
I was speaking to someone from Senegal last week about my #readtheworld mission and he asked what book I read from the Gambia and told him this one. He hadn't heard of it, and I explained that "it's probably only something teenage or young adult girls would really choose to read," and I stand by that. I enjoyed the book in a guilty pleasure kind of way like grown American women devouring YA novels like Twilight and the like...
April 1, 2018
Not a bad book, not a really good book either.
I picked it up, to get an insight into the life in the Gambia, where part of this story takes place. That curiosity was satisfied.
The story itself is split into three plot lines - Ayodele decides, she wants to loose her virginity. She makes a list of men and the book tells three ways in which her life unfolds after choosing one of the guys. This idea of course isn't new or revolutionary, but it is entertaining enough. After each of the three decision we visit her life in little stop-overs, giving us an idea how her life evolved or stagnated.
I will mention what others have mentioned here in other reviews too: This is a first time novel. You can tell. It is good, but grows a lot better by the end of the book!
A good editor could have helped here, I think.
Now that Dayo Forster has found her literary voice, I would love to read more from her.
I picked it up, to get an insight into the life in the Gambia, where part of this story takes place. That curiosity was satisfied.
The story itself is split into three plot lines - Ayodele decides, she wants to loose her virginity. She makes a list of men and the book tells three ways in which her life unfolds after choosing one of the guys. This idea of course isn't new or revolutionary, but it is entertaining enough. After each of the three decision we visit her life in little stop-overs, giving us an idea how her life evolved or stagnated.
I will mention what others have mentioned here in other reviews too: This is a first time novel. You can tell. It is good, but grows a lot better by the end of the book!
A good editor could have helped here, I think.
Now that Dayo Forster has found her literary voice, I would love to read more from her.
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