We were girls once is one of my anticipated reads of the year. So, imagine my shock when the author reached out to send me a copy. I will never stop being grateful for this little life I’ve created out my love for books where authors I admire reach out to me to send their books. Seemingly little things like this makes me happy. In this post, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on We were girls once by Aiwanose Odafen.
Synopsis
“Ego, Zina and Eriife were always destined to be best friends, ever since their grandmothers sat next to each other on a dusty bus to Lagos in the late 1940s, forging a bond that would last generations. But over half a century later, Nigeria is a new and modern country. As the three young women navigate the incessant strikes and political turmoil that surrounds them, their connection is shattered by a terrible assault. In the aftermath, nothing will remain the same as life takes them down separate paths.
For Ego, now a high-powered London lawyer, success can’t mask her loneliness and feelings of being an outsider. Desperate to feel connected to Nigeria, she escapes into a secret life online. Zina’s ambition is to be anyone but herself; acting proves the ultimate catharsis, but it comes at the cost of her family. And Eriife surprises everyone by morphing from a practising doctor to a ruthless politician’s perfect wife.
When Ego returns home, the three women’s lives become entwined once more, as Nigeria’s political landscape fractures. Their shared past will always connect them, but can they – and their country – overcome it?”
My thoughts
We Were Girls Once follows three friends—Ego, Zina, and Eriife—daughters of the women introduced in Tomorrow I Become a Woman. The story is told from each of their perspectives, with each character getting a part of the narrative. I particularly enjoyed reading Ego’s section. Although some parts of her story were familiar, they didn’t feel repetitive. She was acutely aware of the abuse her mother faced, and the impact on her life was palpable. It was integral to her story. However, I wish there was more depth to her part.
Zina’s story and her relationship with her mother were also engaging. One thing is evident: the relationships these women have with their parents profoundly shape their lives. Aiwanose writes exceptionally well, making the story engaging from the start. My only gripe is the feeling of incompleteness after finishing each part, and that the other two characters, especially Eriife, lacked depth. Additionally, it’s clear the author spends time on Twitter, as much of the dialogue and tweets felt familiar.
I also appreciated how Aiwanose incorporated the political aspects of each time frame, as they were accurate and clearly well-researched. The bit of romance infused in the story added a delightful element to look forward to while reading. Overall, it was a good read. I will always read books about Nigerian women—I just love us so much.
Themes
Politics, Family, Abuse, Love, friendship.
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