The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion

One of our winning group reads for March 2023 is Maame by Jessica George. Please discuss here and remember to use spoiler tags as needed, as everyone reads at different speeds and may start at different times.



Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.

It’s fair to say that Maddie’s life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.

When her mum returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie leaps at the chance to get out of the family home and finally start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she’s ready to experience some important “firsts”: She finds a flat share, says yes to after-work drinks, pushes for more recognition in her career, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. But it's not long before tragedy strikes, forcing Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils—and rewards—of putting her heart on the line.

Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Jessica George's Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.

sounds great

I'm excited to read this one.

great! :)

just started this, sooo engaging so far. Poor Maddie!

Melissa wrote: "just started this, sooo engaging so far. Poor Maddie!"

Agreed!

just picked up a copy of the book.

Hello Fellow Bookreaders,
I have been away too long. I need to keep myself updated. This book seems to be a good read.

I loved this book! Maddie was such a great character and I couldn't help but love her inner dialogue and need to "google" things. This book packed so much depth too and was raw and emotional.

MaameI really enjoyed this book, and for a debut novel I felt that it was excellent. Despite being 25 Maddie is a total innocent and uses Google/Reddit as her guide to live, plus she is totally put-upon by her family (mother and brother). When she is set free quite rapidly, she embraces her new life and yet when events do not go smoothly she is then wracked with guilt. I felt her dreadful work experiences and the cultural pressures of her Ghanian relatives were insightful. Thoroughly recommend.

I know I’m late for this one, but it finally became available at my library and I just finished it and I really enjoyed this little gem.
So endearing and beautifully written. 4.5 ⭐️s from me!

I just realized that I never posted my thoughts on this one. I found it to be a little slow moving, but emotional. It was a very realistic story and I thought it was very well written. I enjoyed it a lot. 4★ from me.