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Give Me Courage
'Here in Africa, two wives is nothing. You white people just have affairs. You lie and cheat. At least we're honest.' Lenuta 'Hellen' Nadolu has led a tumultuous life. A strong willed free spirit, she was born and raised in communist Romania, where women were supposed to know their place. At the age of nineteen, her life changed when she began an affair with a handsome African doctor named Victor and fell pregnant.
To avoid the wrath of Hellen's domineering father and an unforgiving community, the couple married and then, against everyone's advice, moved to Ghana. But Africa was nothing like Hellen had imagined: Victor considered her merely a possession with few rights and expected her to turn a blind eye to his affairs.
Pushed to the brink, she made a desperate decision - she would get a divorce and smuggle her three children out of the country. But no Western woman had ever divorced a Ghanaian man - let alone been granted custody of the children - and Victor's powerful family would not give her up without a fight ... Give Me Courage is an astonishing true story of bravery, resilience and determination.
To avoid the wrath of Hellen's domineering father and an unforgiving community, the couple married and then, against everyone's advice, moved to Ghana. But Africa was nothing like Hellen had imagined: Victor considered her merely a possession with few rights and expected her to turn a blind eye to his affairs.
Pushed to the brink, she made a desperate decision - she would get a divorce and smuggle her three children out of the country. But no Western woman had ever divorced a Ghanaian man - let alone been granted custody of the children - and Victor's powerful family would not give her up without a fight ... Give Me Courage is an astonishing true story of bravery, resilience and determination.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2014
23 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 30, 2015
Lenuta Hellen Nadolu's "Give Me Courage" is a compelling, heartfelt 'must read' that spans her arduous and unique story spanning her childhood in Communist Romania to her chapters as a young woman, neglected wife and devoted mother in Ghana, back to Romania and and then across the world to Australia where she single-mindedly raised her 3 beautiful children. Hellen's story is raw, honest and fuelled with the full spectrum of emotions. Her story is uplifting and humbling and serves to refresh the reader's faith in the power of a mother's laser like love for her family.
July 30, 2015
A totally engaging story of a woman's journey and the forces which shaped and changed her life's direction. I feel the author writes with raw honesty and gives great insight to not only life experiences of a woman in communist Romania but also the severe racism experienced in both Ghana and Romania, Her journey to Australia as a refugee is heartfelt and her strength is inspiring. I found this book hard to put down.
March 21, 2018
The author has lead an incredible life of a difficult childhood, difficult marriage, immense social and cultural challenges, persecution, asylum, racism, hard work, spirituality and eventual safety.
Lenuta's unhappy childhood was in Communist Romania to parents whose marriage had no love and her conception was to blame. In a patriarchal world the father took full advantage taking a mistress and treating his wife and children with disdain. His only idea of fatherhood was to ensure his daughter would be a virgin when she married; "If you lose your virginity before you marry, I will cut your flesh and put salt on it."
Lenuta meets Dr Victor, a talented and well loved obstetrician from Ghana. Dr Victor has his way with Lenuta and with no where to turn she marries him. The only problem is Dr Victor's ideas on marriage are similar to Lenuta's father. They go to Ghana where the marriage falls apart, Dr Victor takes a mistress and Lenuta fears she will lose her children. Victor's treatment of Lenuta is shatteringly emotionally brutal.
Her journey to eventual asylum in Australia is a tale of resilience and total focus to achieve a life of independence and opportunity for herself and children. A woman to be inspired by.
Lenuta's unhappy childhood was in Communist Romania to parents whose marriage had no love and her conception was to blame. In a patriarchal world the father took full advantage taking a mistress and treating his wife and children with disdain. His only idea of fatherhood was to ensure his daughter would be a virgin when she married; "If you lose your virginity before you marry, I will cut your flesh and put salt on it."
Lenuta meets Dr Victor, a talented and well loved obstetrician from Ghana. Dr Victor has his way with Lenuta and with no where to turn she marries him. The only problem is Dr Victor's ideas on marriage are similar to Lenuta's father. They go to Ghana where the marriage falls apart, Dr Victor takes a mistress and Lenuta fears she will lose her children. Victor's treatment of Lenuta is shatteringly emotionally brutal.
Her journey to eventual asylum in Australia is a tale of resilience and total focus to achieve a life of independence and opportunity for herself and children. A woman to be inspired by.
February 3, 2015
Really enjoyed this book, gave an interesting insight into the difficulties faced by Romanian asylum seekers in the 1980s and the extent they needed to go to escape to another country.
December 24, 2023
I was born in Romania around the same time like her , had very similar experiences growing up, ended up in Australia in 1986 , but Lenuta had the courage to tell her story !! I definitely enjoyed every minute of her book ! Gizella
February 9, 2015
A great story of overcoming obstacles and adversity, but the writer's ability did not do it justice. A little rough around the edges.
April 2, 2018
What an amazing woman! Reading this book has shown me yet again how privileged we are to live in Australia. I would have definitely been a suffragette
If I had been born in those times. What us women have to put up with is sometimes unbelievable and the arrogance of some men is just horrible. It shows me how lucky I am to have such a supportive husband.
If I had been born in those times. What us women have to put up with is sometimes unbelievable and the arrogance of some men is just horrible. It shows me how lucky I am to have such a supportive husband.
May 11, 2021
Captivating and empowering
Great story full of different battles. Positive messages throughout and demonstration of the human spirit and resilience. Reminded me to always be grateful and that you can turn anything into positive with enough determination
Great story full of different battles. Positive messages throughout and demonstration of the human spirit and resilience. Reminded me to always be grateful and that you can turn anything into positive with enough determination
November 23, 2015
I found this memoir an interesting look at a woman's life totally different from my own despite having grown up in the same era. Life in Romania and Ghana were unknowns to me, especially for someone in an interracial marriage. Narcissistic people and bureaucracy are more familiar. I admit there were times I wanted to smack the author and ask "how could you do that" but I also realize I'm saying that from a point of view based on hindsight. In the end, I had to admire her courage and determination in changing her life, and that of her children, for the better.
Note: I received a free copy of this book through First Reads.
Note: I received a free copy of this book through First Reads.
January 5, 2025
I’ve read this amazing memoir twice. In 2017 and now in 2025.
The tenacity of this extraordinary woman struck me the first time and again on my 2nd read. She was subjected to so much abuse from her father and then husband (so much misogyny in Romania and Ghana) but as such a resourceful and resilient woman pulled her self and her 3 children out of what was essentially a dangerous, abusive and limiting environment to freedom.
Her story gave me new appreciation for my life in Sydney too.
I hope she continues to experience a rich and fulfilling life with her children, grandchildren and the huge social network she has built around her.
The tenacity of this extraordinary woman struck me the first time and again on my 2nd read. She was subjected to so much abuse from her father and then husband (so much misogyny in Romania and Ghana) but as such a resourceful and resilient woman pulled her self and her 3 children out of what was essentially a dangerous, abusive and limiting environment to freedom.
Her story gave me new appreciation for my life in Sydney too.
I hope she continues to experience a rich and fulfilling life with her children, grandchildren and the huge social network she has built around her.
February 1, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a tender and honest sharing of one woman's life journey. Through her beautifully crafted words, the reader is instantly drawn into the story and experiences the spectrum of emotions elicited from the narrative - fear, uncertainty, joy, love and courage in the midst of danger.
It is an inspiring read that will move you and leave an impression. Highly recommend.
It is an inspiring read that will move you and leave an impression. Highly recommend.
August 25, 2015
Won this book on first reads,really enjoyed this true story all about living with her father who's really nasty living in Romania and marrying a Dr and taken them to Ghana her husband can take more than one wife,story a heartfelt and we'll written one.great read.
December 8, 2015
Amazing, heartfelt memoirs of growing up in Communist Romania, a mixed marriage, moving to Ghana, overcoming obstacles as a single mother, emigration to Australia as a refugee and ... just an amazing read.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews