Happy 1st of November! How was your reading in October? I think I am out of my slump.. and this may be because I have now finished reading the Booker Prize Shortlist (this is not really a ringing endorsement for the finalists is it?!). I will put together brief reviews of all six of the short list soon, and I will rank them and predict the winner. Based on past winners of this prize, I am probably nowhere near correct in who will take this out, but hey. It’s fun to guess! I am sure I won’t be getting a call up any time soon to join a panel to judge such things.
I read 24 books in October. Of those 24 books, I only gave five stars to four books! This week I am reviewing my favourite book from October – Maame by Jessica George.
Maame is George’s debut novel – I am always so impressed to read such an amazing debut. This book is about Maddie. (Maddie’s mother refers to her as Maame which means woman in Twi). Maddie is not living her best young life in London. She is working a job where she is underappreciated and underpaid, and she spends her time caring for her father who has advanced Parkinson’s. Her mother spends most of her time living in Ghana, and still manages to be an overbearing mother from afar. Maddie’s brother is off doing his own thing while Maddie cares for their father. Maddie is even required to financially contribute to her father’s care.
Maddie’s mum returns from Ghana to care for Maddie’s father and tells Maddie she needs to move out and be a young person. As we later learn, Maddie’s mum’s motives are not entirely altruistic, but Maddie jumps at the chance to get out of the family home and start living. Maddie is yet to experience many firsts in life, and she finds herself often ill equipped to deal with everyday situations. As usual, I won’t explain any further as I don’t want to spoil it for you!
This book is so well written. I couldn’t put this down, and I found the Maddie character so relatable. This book is smart, funny, sad, moving and everything in between. With themes of belonging; growing up; racism; complex relationships; familial love; friendships, and finding your way in the world, I think there is something in Maame for everyone. Add this one to your TBR because life is too short to read bad books.