Welcome to Litsy!

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView
1. 2008. I had my house built that year and I‘m still in it.
2. His Only Wife (tagged). The main character moves from America to Ghana.

This book was good, but also sad. I felt for all of the women (except maybe Aunty.) I loved the peek into life in #Ghana

#FoodAndLit

This afternoon I made spicy jollof rice with chicken while I listened to the end of this audiobook. I had sympathy for most of the women at some point during the story. I could believe in the beginning that Afi was naive enough to think her situation would change, and in the later part, I appreciated her determination to not just go along with the family‘s expectations. This was absolutely a different cultural experience for me to read about.

Luthien and I took a longer walk again today and I started listening to this audiobook. I‘m intrigued so far, but can‘t say I‘m optimistic about how the story is going to go for the main character.

#FoodAndLit #ReadTheWorld #ReadingTheWorld #Ghana #audiobook #audiowalk

One more #14Books14Weeks2023 book read. Someone on Goodreads wrote that this book was like a Lifetime movie set in Ghana, and I don‘t disagree. Sometimes a Lifetime movie hits the spot for me. Afi is married by proxy to a man she barely knows. A would be Cinderella story as she comes from a humble background and Eli, her husband, is crazy rich. But is Eli‘s family just trying to manipulate Afi so Eli will leave his girlfriend his family hates?

My weekend plans. Still plugging away at Tombland, which I can use for #SeriesLove2023 since it‘s the last in the Shardlake series. Neverhome and His Only Wife are the last books from my #14Books14Weeks2023 challenge that I will likely finish before Labor Day.

#Weekendreads

A story set in Ghana featuring Afi, a young seamstress. Afi, is offered a life changing opportunity, a proposal from one of the wealthiest men in Ghana. A man she does not know. She accepts but soon finds out everything is not what it seems.
A domestic drama looking at the implications of polygamous patriarchy.
The women in this book are all different but the reader is able to see how they have adjusted to the world they live in.

Starting this tonight. Been on my kindle for quite a while 🇬🇭

I‘m making an effort to read more of the books that have been in my shelves forever, and I‘m glad to have finally read this. Afi was such a great main character. I loved that she stood up for herself and didn‘t settle.

This book makes me want to visit Ghana.

#SundayFunday @ozma.of.oz

I really enjoyed this thought-provoking story about a strong woman fighting to live her best life, despite many familial pressures and expectations. I didn‘t always agree with some of the choices she made, but I respected her for making them. The setting in modern day Ghana was fascinating, as it is a culture I know nothing about. A very worthwhile read!
#AutumnAtoZ - #H
#LittenListenBingo - New to You Narrator
#Booked2022 - Author Born in Africa

I loved this book! I loved Ari‘s growth throughout the book. This book is a unique take on modern versus traditional marriage and family dynamics.

🥚The tagged book gave me a book hangover. Also, Wench by Dolen Perkins-valdez.
🥚🥚Best part of the week is when Friday through Monday for me. The worst part of a week is when I get a migraine.

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

This book read like a psychological thriller. I felt for Afi so much she deserved so much better. The ending was sad but raw and realistic- Eli deserved everything was coming to him.

She sighed with her whole torso and then locked eyes with me. "Afi, don't forget who you are. You are not an actress and this is not a romance film. This is not one of those telenovelas you and Mawusi have been watching. This is real life. This is our life. You will get to know him and like him. That is how it is.

And now, how could he not be at our wedding? I knew that men were sometimes unable to attend, but it was usually because of issues beyond their control: expired visas and resident permits, insufficient funds to afford plane tickets for themselves and their new brides, poor health. But I had never heard of a man missing his wedding because of a business trip.

What kind of business keeps a man away from his own wedding?

#BookReport 19/22

I‘ve read three completely different books again this week. From wealthy Ghana to proud Afghanistan to a permanent residence in a London hotel. Incomparable but all good!

This book showed a completely other side of Africa. The side of the wealthy in modern day #Ghana. Arranged marriages are still possible though. Afi is supposed to be lucky to marry Eli, a rich and kind man. Their love story is quite unrealistic and not very well worked out but it was easy and fun to read. A light pick.

#ReadingAfrica2022 🇬🇭

Set in Africa, this was an enjoyable read. A bit of a love/life story but not overly deep, which was nice.

so THIS was a PLEASANT surprise!! I liked it, big-big😁Afi finds herself in an arranged marriage to a wealthy, handsome , kindhearted man, the only problem- there‘s already another woman in his life. I really enjoyed Afi‘s personal journey and the portrait of modern day #Ghana. There‘s a unique perspective in this story, one that flips the story into something memorable. #ReadingAfrica22 #DoubleSpin

Just starting my #DoubleSpin #ReadingAfrica22 book 🎧So far I‘m enjoying the descriptions and daily life of #Ghana 🇬🇭 and the story is interesting, my only criticism is that the narrator does not have an African dialect (which I 💛)

⭐️⭐️ 💫

An interesting take on the “other woman”. I liked that this was set in Ghana and admired Afi‘s growth, but her character rubbed me the wrong way. She seemed self-centered and illogical. I didn‘t buy how she and Eli fell in love so quickly, and since she went into the marriage knowing there was another woman, I was confused why she thought of her as a home-wrecker. I felt sympathetic towards Muna and would have liked to hear from her POV.

I made my best progress ever on my January #bookspinbingo card so I‘m excited for February! I didn‘t actually get any lines ticked off but I did keep track of it the entire month which I‘m counting as a success. Here‘s my February list 🥰

@TheAromaofBooks

This book wrapped me up in all the emotions while I was reading it…joy, anger, bewilderment, pride. I couldn‘t get it out of my mind and found myself cheering for the main character, Afi, who finds herself in an arranged marriage with a wealthy man, Elikem, whose family is hoping will dump his girlfriend when he marries Afi. The characters are developed beautifully and the story will definitely get you thinking! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Really enjoyed this months choice from Books That Matter. I found it hard to relate to Afi at first, but was an interesting look into life in Ghana, a country I don‘t know too much about!

This was too much of a slow-burn for me...not really enough action in the plot. And the characters' decisions are kind of maddening! Loved the Ghana setting though. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2021/08/14/his-only-wife-book-review/

His Only Wife is a novel about strong women who go against the grain to stay true to themselves. An excellent read!

It takes strength to walk away from someone you love

A good, quick read. Was it memorable? Not really but still worth the read. I enjoyed the insight into the life of these women from Ghana and their family dynamics but I wanted more. I felt the plot could‘ve included so much more insight into their traditions and culture. We definitely need more diverse books such as these! ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.

When I tell you, the setting of this book in Ghana was giving me LIFE!! The setting + the amazing female MC made this book special. The MC was fun and strong and so relatable. There were several great characters. The storyline was a bit basic yet still enjoyable and I couldn‘t guess some of the character‘s motivations until the end. Me and Reese usually do not have the same taste in books but this one was a gem. ☺️
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

This is a pick for me, but it wasn‘t a definite “love-it”pick until the last few pages. Such a win 👊✊💪 Evelyn‘s my fave! ❤️

Set in Ghana within the city of Accra, this #debut explores marriage, family, and finding your voice. Afi marries Eli at the request of both families even though she doesn‘t know him. Believing he will change, she hopes to become his “only” wife. Throughout the experience, she discovers what she will do for love and security. I enjoyed it though occasionally found it hard to understand some cultural differences. Still I highly recommend. 4/5 ⭐️

This book was good--not great but a solid good. Character development was a little flat and the ending was rushed. I didn't love the characters, not that I need to like all characters in books I read. Still, it kept my attention and I would recommend it as a quick, light read ⭐⭐⭐/5

Despite some cringe-worthy moments, I enjoyed the growth of the main character throughout her story.

I loved the premise, and the glorious setting that Medie brought to life. I wish the characters had been drawn with a similar level detail; as it is, I didn‘t feel I really got to know any of them, and the dialogue was a bit too clunky to really reel me in. Still, it‘s a fun take on the Cinderella story, one I look forward to seeing on the screen. Extended review here: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/new-releases/

The pages flew by, it is a short book to begin with and I was drawn in by the writing. A strong setting and lots of drama made this a an engrossing read but it all felt pretty surface. I was thoroughly entertained but think I was expecting more depth. #24in48

So excited about #24in48. It is always one of my favorite weekends. I have been reading lately but not loving anything I‘ve read so I am really hoping some thing in my tentative stack changes that. I also have audio and ebooks ready to go so I am all set. Who else is participating?

I was intrigued by the premise and opening line of this book. “Elikem married me in absentia; he did not come to our wedding.” While I didn‘t get a cat fight between wife vs mistress, I did get a good feel for the vastly different lifestyles of the little village of Ho and the bustling capital city of Accra, both in modern day Ghana. (To be fair, the mistress was there first and Eli DIDN‘T attend his wedding to Afi.) Afi is a 21-year old ⬇️

I know reading a book set in every country is likely a lifelong task, but I saw these maps online and was inspired to track my progress visually. I can check off Ghana with my most recent book read. ✔ I'll probably color them in on the map, too.

In case you want to check out the site, which had not only printables but timed quizzes in case you want to improve your geography skills, I found these on online.seterra.com

Have you ever gotten so involved with a book and the main character that you just wanted it to keep going? This book did that to me. And it's a surprisingly short, very well written book. I definitely recommend this one.

#BookSpin
@TheAromaofBooks

Here‘s my #weeklywrapup and #weeklyforecast. I want to finish The Last Story of Mina Lee this week and dig into the other two current reads. The Committed is an ARC I‘ve been looking forward to for a while!

4.5 ⭐️
I've been trying to find the words to describe this reading experience. Peace paints this world in a way that makes you feel like you can picture even the tiniest of details. I was given enough info about Afi, her mom, Eli, Auntie Ganyo, uncle Pious, Richard, Evelyn and Yaya to feel like they were all critical to the story. Out of the many subplots in this story, only one felt unresolved and it did honestly leave me a bit confused.

I forgot to post my #BookSpinBingo grid. Tagged is my #BookSpin The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms ended up being my #DoubleSpin which is convenient because I'm using it for #AuthorAMonth2021

@TheAromaofBooks

❤=excellent

As someone on Goodreads said, it‘s a beach read set in Ghana. The story covers a wide range of marital and societal issues that women face in that country but ultimately it was about choosing your own happiness over what others say is best for you.

I was thoroughly invested in this book and was devastated at the ending. Even though I was happy for Afi. (It makes complete sense in my brain, but maybe not outside of it.)😜 Great book, grabbed me from the beginning.

Complete soap opera set in Ghana. I am bailing in the penultimate chapter. 😬

Cautiously optimistic about my December TBR