tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post8643419996500420915..comments2024-03-08T03:18:48.591-05:00Comments on Lotus Reads: The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola ShoneyinLotus Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-36068016140763978052010-10-01T15:11:19.124-04:002010-10-01T15:11:19.124-04:00Hi Angelique :)
I am currently reading this book a...Hi Angelique :)<br />I am currently reading this book and thouroughly enjoying it.Madeleinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14624058636860716664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-75721691760866135892010-06-13T17:20:50.526-04:002010-06-13T17:20:50.526-04:00Sanjay, the word 'Iya' means "Mother&...Sanjay, the word 'Iya' means "Mother' in Yoruba, and Yoruba women are often referred to as 'Mother' of their first born child. So a woman whose first child is named Tolu would be known as 'Iya Tolu' and so on.Mr.Fineboyhttp://naijafineboy.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-28360075176982655002010-05-24T09:15:06.922-04:002010-05-24T09:15:06.922-04:00Thank you so much Leela...I found this to be a del...Thank you so much Leela...I found this to be a delightful read and I know you will too. You are right, there is some fabulous literature coming out of Nigeria and I feel lucky that with the internet and online booksellers we have access to these wonderful titles. I first heard of this book on the Cassava Republic Press website and although I had to wait a while for some of the online booksellers to stock it, it was well worth the wait!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-70052874564741985992010-05-24T09:09:19.227-04:002010-05-24T09:09:19.227-04:00NJ, beautifully put...really, I couldn't have ...NJ, beautifully put...really, I couldn't have expressed it any better. Also, although superstitious beliefs exist everywhere in Nigeria I don't know how seriously people take them? It's like how we will "knock on wood" in the west but we all know it's not going to do anything for us and yet, it's our way of acknowledging that perhaps there is a higher power looking out for us...keeps us a little humble wouldn't you say? :)<br /><br />THanks so much for the comment!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-58753953220914874672010-05-24T09:03:15.630-04:002010-05-24T09:03:15.630-04:00Go for it Booklover, you won't be disappointed...Go for it Booklover, you won't be disappointed!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-27697627048038080442010-05-24T09:02:29.413-04:002010-05-24T09:02:29.413-04:00Hellooo Madeleine!
Oh, yes, Alan Brennert, one of...Hellooo Madeleine!<br /><br />Oh, yes, Alan Brennert, one of my favorite writers too! While I enjoyed both books, I think I enjoyed Moloka'i more. You will be so moved!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-29111718797224783522010-05-24T09:01:04.128-04:002010-05-24T09:01:04.128-04:00Hi Sanj!
Trust you to ask me questions that would...Hi Sanj!<br /><br />Trust you to ask me questions that would have me giving the book and my review a more complete think-over! Yes, the expression, a "healthy belief in superstition" sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? It must really stick out because NJ asked me the same thing. I am not quite sure why I phrased it that way but I guess I was trying to explain that even while superstitions guide many Nigerian people the practice doesn't seem to cause them too many problems....perhaps because they treat it like a ritual rather than a belief from the heart? ALso, and it's something I forgot to mention in my review, despite some of the heavy topics that Shoneyin takes on in her novel her writing is humorous and lightly spun, so much so that when you read about these characters and their superstitions you don't take it seriously and you get the impression that they don't either.<br /><br />Cannot answer your questions on marriage, polygamy and divorce Sanj because I haven't read up on any of it. I suspect that while it happens it is not common (I'm sure it's quite expensive to have to maintain these wives). Zuma recently got the world's attention when he took his third wife but then he's the President of South Africa and can afford it! ;)<br /><br />Like you I was also happy to see such wonderful female characters...bravo to Shoneyin for that. Iya is a title given to a woman once she has a child and the name that follows is usually the name of her first born.<br /><br />I would recommend this book not just because it's such a fabulous tale but also because it is a great Nigerian immersion.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-80206670213516832002010-05-24T08:37:29.993-04:002010-05-24T08:37:29.993-04:00Hi Laura! That's a good idea for you will rea...Hi Laura! That's a good idea for you will really enjoy the read. BTW, I love your blog...I love the idea of amalgamating all your different interests.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-7156437512823811812010-05-23T07:22:54.797-04:002010-05-23T07:22:54.797-04:00Great review of a fascinating book. Nigeria excels...Great review of a fascinating book. Nigeria excels in bringing out wonderful books that allows us a glimpse of their world. You have captured the essence of the polygamous marriage and its effect on the four wives in the review. I would certainly seek this book out. There is the yearning of the young girl to be literate and the differing ambitions and characters of each wife. The 'gifted' wives is a new concept to me but the desperate hope to have the son and heir is something we Indians are familiar with.You've done a sterling job, Angie, as always.Thanks for helping us reach for books that are 'hidden'in this commercial rat race that is consuming the publishers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-17854921131099539902010-05-22T21:19:45.946-04:002010-05-22T21:19:45.946-04:00Thank you Angelique for sharing this on FB.
eager ...Thank you Angelique for sharing this on FB.<br />eager to hear more about what you mean by 'healthy superstition'. perhaps you mean those thoughts that builds a lifestyle of routines, that however inapplicable they maybe for other societies, the framework actually help keeping hope for those who believe in it. while it might not sound right for other societies.NJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05405599134905559212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-48869307382472583302010-05-22T21:15:47.220-04:002010-05-22T21:15:47.220-04:00Beautifully written review. I haven't read Lol...Beautifully written review. I haven't read Lola's books earlier but I might buy this one very soon !Bookloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663722686944644570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-72433873855650987752010-05-22T18:17:36.702-04:002010-05-22T18:17:36.702-04:00Thank-you for your great review, looks like a book...Thank-you for your great review, looks like a book I'll be looking to buy.<br />I am reading HONOLULU and like it a lot, I also have MOLOKA'I by the same author but haven't read it yet, I will soon, I like how Alan Brennert writes.<br />Have a wonderful Sunday Angelique :DMadeleinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14624058636860716664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-1260933982616065872010-05-22T17:15:27.590-04:002010-05-22T17:15:27.590-04:00Sorry those last lines should read as.. I loved th...Sorry those last lines should read as.. I loved the way you presented the review making it intriguing and curious enough to WANT to know what secrets are at the heart of this story full of such wonderful characters!karmichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10973922761187532706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-49247625285594401482010-05-22T16:56:29.884-04:002010-05-22T16:56:29.884-04:00Thank you for a wonderful review. I digress, but t...Thank you for a wonderful review. I digress, but that bit about Nollywood made for interesting reading. Just one question here, you mentioned "a healthy belief in superstitions". Could you elaborate on that? Because belief in superstition itself implies something unhealthy, what would be a health belief. And sorry my Q is not related to the book itself.<br />Your review surely makes this sound like an intriguing book.<br />What made you pick it up, if I may ask?<br />How common is polygamy in Nigeria? Are there laws against it and//or laws that are on the books but not enforced? <br />I ask because they did pass anti-gay laws there recently.<br />I am glad to see such richly drawn, complex female characters.<br />Interesting that while being within the institution of polygamy Segi happened to be able to command Baba Segi's heart. <br />And what does "Iya" mean? Noticed that 3 of the wives had the name.<br />I wonder if the author also meant the wives to be metaphors of some sort for Nigerian society?<br />I assume this book is set in rural Nigeria? <br />I loved the way you presented the review making it intriguing and curious enough to know what secrets are at the heart of this story full of such wonderful characters!karmichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10973922761187532706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-62711206702924718902010-05-22T16:30:59.257-04:002010-05-22T16:30:59.257-04:00That sounds like an excellent book - I'm going...That sounds like an excellent book - I'm going to wish-list it. Thanks for sharing your review.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com