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Oluwademiladeayo

@demmii.e

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🧶𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: @dano_mii._

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+1!🥳 by @demmii.e

Months ago, I asked for random sentences to write from, and a friend gave me this. It's been sitting in my drafts for way too long thanks to exams, but I can finally share it now. Let me know what this made you feel in the comments!

#naijaliterature #africanstories #shortstory #darkfiction #queerfiction #writersofinstagram #loveandloss #storytelling #creativewriting by @demmii.e

Stay With Me by Ayọ‌bámi Adébáyọ‌

My Review:
I really want to meet anyone who thinks this is a love story and sit them down for a deep conversation because I don’t think it is. That’s the reason for the question mark and the dotted line beside the word 'love' in my post.

To me, every character in this book has severe issues. And I love that the writer wasn’t afraid to explore every single thing that could possibly go wrong in a marriage, yet still kept it painfully relatable.

Yejide’s character in particular struck me as hypocritical. She might look like the victim, but she was also very much in the wrong. Although her desperate actions in the name of having a baby were painful to read, she also made questionable choices that contributed to the breakdown of her marriage.

This book was a page-turner. I kept reading because I just wanted to know if, after everything, Yejide and Akin would still end up together.
In the end, I don’t see this as a love story. I see it as the story of two people who should never have gotten married and how family pressures and interference can ruin everything.

#contemporaryafricanlit #ayobamiadebayo #nigerianliterature #emotionalread #mybookthoughts #readersofinstagram📚📚❤️ by @demmii.e

This piece began as an escape from the thoughts that wouldn’t let me rest. by @demmii.e

The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare
Synopsis:

All you have are your words.

Adunni is a fourteen-year-old Nigerian girl who knows what she wants: an education.

As the only daughter of a broke father, she is a valuable commodity. Removed from school and sold as a third wife to an old man, Adunni's life amounts to this: four goats, two bags of rice, some chickens, and a new TV. When unspeakable tragedy swiftly strikes in her new home, she is secretly sold as a domestic servant to a household in the wealthy enclaves of Lagos, where no one will talk about the strange disappearance of her predecessor, Rebecca. No one but Adunni...

As a yielding daughter, a subservient wife, and a powerless servant, fourteen-year-old Adunni is repeatedly told that she is nothing. But Adunni won't be silenced. She is determined to find her voice - in a whisper, in song, in broken English - until she can speak for herself, for the girls like Rebecca who came before, and for all the girls who will follow.

#bookreviewers #nonromancebooks #favoritebooks #mustread #womenofempowerment #readersofinstagram #readercommunity #marriagestruggles #parentalneglect by @demmii.e

Quietly posting this like it’s no big deal because I’m just a chill girl who enjoys writing about death and sacrificial maidens. 🌙✨

#writingcommunity #darkfantasy #sacrificialmaidens #shortstory #chillwriter #writersofinstagram by @demmii.e

Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku

Rating: ★★★★☆

This book was eventful, leaving me pondering the wild activities of the "crazy" people in Lagos and the heated, busy dating scene. It also made me realize how few sane men there truly are in Lagos. The story that really blew my mind—aside from the one about the promiscuous pastor or the cowardly Sadiq Bensaid, who would rather watch his marriage fall apart than do right by the mother of his child, even after she left her career for him (who leaves medicine for a man?)—was the last one titled 'Independence Day'.

In that story, Charles raped Osa, claiming it was payment for the Coke and meat pie he got her. What made it even more painful was that he knew she was a virgin and still went ahead with it. It opened my mind to the barbaric ideas some men have. It even reminded me of a time when a much older man paid 50 naira for my cab fare and thought he had the right to ask that we "see" each other.

I also liked the sequence of the stories; each one prepared me for the next. I really liked the story the writer started with. However, one thing I didn’t particularly enjoy was the smut content. At some point, it felt like filler for some of the stories, and I know some would have been better off without it. Maybe if I were still in my Wattpad era, I would have seen it as normal. Regardless, it was a good read, and I even learned a thing or two about how to survive in Lagos as a lady.

#BookReview #Bookstagram #ReadingCommunity #BookLover #CurrentlyReading #Bookish #IGReads #Bibliophile #BookRecommendations #BookBlogger by @demmii.e

"Sunburst" by Susan May Warren
My Review: ★★★★☆

This book immediately caught my attention with its captivating synopsis. I was thrilled to see a novel with Nigeria among its settings, somewhere I'm familiar with. The story follows Noemi Sutton, the female lead, who becomes kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists during her volunteer work.

One aspect I particularly enjoyed was how the author introduced Noemi and Ranger's relationship from the start, gradually revealing their connection. Noemi's character development was remarkable, as she constantly grappled with her feelings.

The scenes set in Nigeria were my favourites. I enjoyed reading about how they were forced to have a traditional wedding by her Nigerian uncle who believed there were already married. I think the funniest part of the book is when Ranger thought paying Noemi's bride price meant he was buying her. The writer's use of descriptive language made it so easy to picture every scene.

Their ongoing confusion about whether Nigerian marriages are valid provided a delightful touch of humour. I couldn't help but wish I could dive into the book to give them a gentle smack and say, "Of course, it counts!"

I liked how the author transitioned from an action scene to a flashback so smoothly. And how she showed rather than tell us about the underlying plot of Russia using Boko Haram to test a new virus on people.

What stood out most to me in "Sunburst" was the characters' realization that God is ever-present, even in our moments of doubt. Trusting Him means surrendering completely, even when our vision is blurred, much like Ranger's. With God, we don't need to have all the answers; all we need is trust.

While the book deserves much praise, the representation of pidgin spoken in some parts fell short in terms of smoothness and authenticity.

Anyways I would recommend this book to anyone that loves Christian fiction that doesn't come off as Christian fiction.

#BookReview #SunburstReview #Bookstagram #BookishCommunity #ChristianBooks #SuspenseNovel #BookAddict #ReadingRecommendation #BookObsessed #BookNerd #BookReviewers #BookishLove #BookWormLife #BookLoverCommunity #BookishEscape #BookishWorld by @demmii.e

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
My Review: ★★★★☆

"The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives" had me completely enthralled right from the start. I couldn't help but ponder why an educated girl would choose to marry a man with three wives. As the story unfolded, I was captivated by how each wife had the opportunity to narrate their path to their current circumstances. What initially seemed easy to judge transformed into a heartfelt sympathy as I delved into their individual stories.

From the industrious and cunning alpha woman, Iya Segi, to the calm presence of Iya Tope, who served as a replacement for a bad harvest, and even the proud and skilled cook Iya Femi, with her two skin tones, each wife had a unique tale to tell. And then there was Bolanle, the educated standout amidst the others, shining like corn in a pile of beans.

The vivid descriptions of the city of Ibadan brought Ayikara to life in my mind as I immersed myself in the book. It masterfully tackled themes of infertility, polygamy, abuse, male ego, and societal expectations. Among the array of characters, Akin, Iya Segi's son, stood out as my favourite. Though seemingly insignificant, I admired how he silently cared for Bolanle from the sidelines. It was intriguing how Bolanle's arrival led to the unravelling of all their long-held secrets. And the introduction of Taju's point of view at the end added an extra layer of depth to the narrative.

I wholeheartedly recommend "The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives" to readers who relish rich storytelling, multi-dimensional characters, and thought-provoking themes. It's a book that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page.

#CurrentlyReading #GoodReads #BookReview #BookRecommendation #BookAddict #Bookaholic #BookPhotography by @demmii.e