Maame: A Today Show Read With Jenna Book Club Pick
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.
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Community Reviews
“Move out, Maddie. Live a little, Maddie. I never wanted to admit it, but I'm so glad to be out of the house and living my life. I hope that doesn't make me a bad person. I almost can't blame James for abandoning me, because there's just so much our there, you know? I have a boyfriend, a better job, and I'm going on holiday with new friends. I don't cry at night anymore…I'm free.”
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This is a great story of friendship. Maddie has two true blue friends, Nia and Shu. She is dealing with a lot- her father's Parkinson's disease and her caretaker role, and the brother and mother who are offering no help at all. After her father's death, she tries entering the dating scene and faces love and heartache. She can now move out of her father's house and moves in with two other women who were looking for a roommate. Her mother returns from Ghana and is still manipulating Maddie, called Maame by her mother, for money and help with funeral expenses. You see a lot of personal growth in Maddie and you can admire her for the woman she becomes.
DNF 40%
I was going to DNF sooner because at the beginning of the story we see how trapped the main character's parents make the main character feel (too relatable)- her mother is sooo overbearing and makes her take care of her sick father. I stuck it out because the summary of the book says she leaves this situation to grow into her own person, and I was looking forward to reading about the struggles the main character overcomes. However, seeing how naïve she is about the world and the traumatic experiences she endures as a result of her sheltered life was too triggering for me. To my surprise, this book has SA in it, and I honestly feel pretty gross after reading it, so I don't anticipate picking up this book again. The character's inner dialogue and anxiety felt real to me, and I enjoyed relating to her in that way, so I'm giving this a 2 star rating. I recommend reading trigger warnings and making an informed decision, one that I was not fortunate enough to have
I was going to DNF sooner because at the beginning of the story we see how trapped the main character's parents make the main character feel (too relatable)- her mother is sooo overbearing and makes her take care of her sick father. I stuck it out because the summary of the book says she leaves this situation to grow into her own person, and I was looking forward to reading about the struggles the main character overcomes. However, seeing how naïve she is about the world and the traumatic experiences she endures as a result of her sheltered life was too triggering for me. To my surprise, this book has SA in it, and I honestly feel pretty gross after reading it, so I don't anticipate picking up this book again. The character's inner dialogue and anxiety felt real to me, and I enjoyed relating to her in that way, so I'm giving this a 2 star rating. I recommend reading trigger warnings and making an informed decision, one that I was not fortunate enough to have
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