A coming of age story of a young woman caught up between duty and independence
SPOILERS!
What is it about
Maame is a refreshing story about a young woman in her mid-twenties caught between duty and independence. As a second generation Ghanaian, she is burdened by a familial duty to take care of her father, who has Parkinson’s. Her mother, who alternates between Ghana and London, expects Maddie to take care of the household. Her brother, who lives separately, does little to help.
She longs for independence and feels guilty about leaving her father. So when her mother returns for a year, Maddie seizes the opportunity to move out. She moves in with two girls, who include her in their social outings. She is still naïve and navigates new job, new place, new housemates, and romance with the help of Google. She has a checklist of things she wants to do, such as saying yes to social events and wearing make-up.
Everything is going well until a tragedy strikes, leaving Maddie guilt stricken and emotionally distraught. There is a moment where she lashes out at one of her housemates, who instead of comforting her, becomes distant. It creates an uncomfortable friction in the house, with neither party wanting Maddie to be there.
As she comes to terms with her loss, she learns some lessons in life and eventually stands up for herself. Not just with housemates, but also with family members.
What I liked about it
I like how the author writes about culture influencing roles within a family system, even as a second generation living in London. This coming of age book would resonate well with many people who are in Maddie’s situation, whether they are Ghanaian or not.
I loved Maame, and would highly recommend you to read this as your next book.