This Motherless Land
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From the prize-winning author of WAHALA, a powerful de-colonial retelling of MANSFIELD PARK, exploring identity, culture, race and love 'A spirited exploration of culture and kinship' BONNIE GARMUS 'Deeply emotional and entertaining' EMMA STONEX, author of The Lamplighters 'Tugs at the heartstrings' DAMILARE KUKU, author of Nearly all the Men in Lagos are Mad '______________ When Funke’s mother dies in an accident in Lagos, she’s sent to live with her maternal family in England. Against a backdrop of condescension and mild neglect, sensible Funke strives to fit in, determined to become one of them. Free-spirited Liv has always wanted to break free of her joyless family, to be nothing like them. Fiercely protective of Funke, she at last has an ally. The two cousins give each other what they need most: love. But the past casts long shadows and the choices made by their mothers haunt them, shaping the trajectory of their adult lives. Can they escape their legacy? Witty, warm, hugely entertaining, This Motherless Land bridges three decades and two continents, delving into the thorny territories of race and culture and belonging. At its heart is a story about love and how it can make the difference between surviving and thriving. Praise for This Motherless Land: 'A fierce and evocative retelling of Mansfield Park' BETH MORREY 'Utter perfection from start to finish, This Motherless Land broke my heart then put it back together.' LAURA MARSHALL, author of Friend Request 'A spirited exploration of culture and kinship--of how we belong, and to whom' BONNIE GARMUS 'A fantastic book. Highly original' LIZ NUGENT, author of Strange Sally Diamond 'Proves that love has the power to save a life again and again. Deeply emotional and entertaining, this is a novel to treasure' EMMA STONEX, author of The Lamplighters 'Brilliantly observant, funny, moving and addictive read. I loved it' KATE SAWYER 'A vibrant coming-of-age story that explores love, longing and belonging in a multi-cultural family' CHARMAINE WILKERSON, bestselling author of Black Cake 'Utter perfection from start to finish, This Motherless Land broke my heart then put it back together.' LAURA MARSHALL, author of Friend Request 'Gripping and poignant' NITA PROSE, bestselling author of The Maid 'Beautiful, bold and addictive' DAISY BUCHANAN
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An extremely loose adaptation of [b:Mansfield Park 45032 Mansfield Park Jane Austen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397063295l/45032.SY75.jpg 224016803], although it actually feels more Dickensian than Austen-ish to me. A majority of the characters are either virtuous victims or venomous villains (sorry not sorry for the alliteration). Starting in 1978 and spanning 20 years, the plot focuses on Funke Oyenuga, who is sent to England from her home in Nigeria at the tender age of 9 when her saintly mother dies. In this strange new land, everyone is horrid to the mixed race girl, except for her lonely cousin Olivia Stone, who becomes Funke's protector. Nikki May is Anglo-Nigerian, and she incisively details the vast cultural differences between her two countries. There are disheartening similarities as well; Funke is subject to overt racism and subtler microaggressions in England, but she is also targeted by some Nigerians for her mixed race, “yellow” status. The first half of the book is bogged down in melodrama, as Funke undergoes humiliation after humiliation, mostly at the hands of her Aunt Margot. Olivia also lets herself be pushed around by her cold, demeaning mother, and she turns to drugs, alcohol, and meaningless sex to cope. The last third of the book shows both women finally taking control of their lives, finding love, triumphing over mean mothers (there's more than one), and living happily ever after. The pace is pretty rushed, and the resolution of a confrontation that has been brewing for more than a decade is squeezed into the final 40 pages. This Motherless Land has strong bones, but uneven pacing and too many flat characters prevent me from giving it a more enthusiastic recommendation.
