The Read Around The World Book Club discussion

Final thoughts

I enjoyed the book, in general I enjoy coming of age stories about girls and this was not an exception. I liked how it talks about gender and the difference in the way the siblings are treated and the influence of colonialism and white privilege. However the end lost me a little bit, I felt it was a bit rushed, I imagine it may be because this is the first in a series, but still I didn't fully love it.

I’ve just finished this & thought it was excellent. I was on course to give it a 5 star rating, but downgraded it because I agree that the ending was weirdly rushed - specifically the stuff about Nyasha’s illness - and I thought the book could have done without that to be honest, and just ended with Tambu’s move to Sacred Heart (or alternatively been a bit longer and done justice to the eating disorder storyline).

I liked that it delivered some very powerful messages about feminism and colonialism but in a quiet, measured way. The author really does have a light touch when dealing with those issues. I liked seeing so many different types of women represented, while none of them seemed stereotyped.

Am now wondering whether to read This Mournable Body or not. I’ve read some pretty terrible reviews of that book! Anyone else planning to?

Finally finished this myself and I absolutely 100% agree about the ending. Apart from that, I thought this was a rather excellent book that deals with difficult issues in such a light way without ever feeling contrived, preachy or patronising.

Hi Melanie,

Im a bit behind catching up with posts. Which books are we reading? Still trying to figure out how to post her🙈. Help will be much appreciated

Rispah wrote: "Hi Melanie,

Im a bit behind catching up with posts. Which books are we reading? Still trying to figure out how to post her🙈. Help will be much appreciated"

Hi Rispah, sorry for the late reply, Christmas and NY and new project let me fall behind. In December, we read the Good Son, you can usually find the current read on the bookshelf section (link: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...) and you can always look in the poll section what we are currently voting on and what we have voted on before: (https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/2...). HTH