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The Days of Afrekete
The Days of Afrekete: A Novel | Asali Solomon
3 posts | 5 read | 5 to read
Inspired by Mrs. Dalloway and Sula, The Days of Afrekete is a tender, surprising novel of two women at midlife who rediscover themselves—and perhaps each other. Liselle Belmont is having a dinner party. It seems a strange occasion—her husband, Winn, has lost his bid for the state legislature and they're having the key supporters over to thank them for their work. Liselle was never sure about Winn becoming a politician, never sure about the limelight, about the life of fundraising and stump speeches. Now that it's over she is facing new questions: Who are they to each other, after all this? How much of herself has she lost on the way—and was it worth it? Just before the night begins, she hears from an FBI agent, who claims that Winn is corrupt. Is it possible? How will she make it through this dinner party? Across town, Selena is making her way through the same day, the same way she always does—one foot in front of the other, keeping quiet and focused, trying not to see the terrors all around her. Homelessness, starving children, the very living horrors of history that made America possible: these and other thoughts have made it difficult for her to live a normal life. The only time she was ever really happy was with Liselle back in college. But they've lost touch, so much so that when they run into each other at a drugstore just after Obama is elected president, they barely speak. But as the day wears on, Selena's memories of Liselle begin to shift her path. Asali Solomon's The Days of Afrekete is a deft, expertly layered, naturally funny, and deeply human examination of two women coming back to themselves at midlife. It is a celebration of our choices and where they take us, the people who change us, and how we can reimagine ourselves even when our lives seem set.
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MicheleinPhilly
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Messy women are my jam. In fiction, not in real life. Keep your messy behind far away, please and thank you. I don‘t think the Mrs. Dalloway comparison is apt as this novel spends way more time flashing back than it does at said dinner party. But we had a very lively discussion about it at book club and while everyone liked it, we just wanted 50 more pages. Still I could relate to a lot of the mess. Mega bonus points for being set in Philly.

squirrelbrain Great review! 12mo
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Hooked_on_books
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Liselle has just learned her world is about to blow up, but has to carry on in her upper middle class life while thinking back on her college days and one relationship in particular. I liked this overall, especially the LGBTQ and race themes explored, but I wanted a few more ends tied up to be a little more satisfied.

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KarenUK
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With echos of Woolf‘s Mrs. Dalloway, this short novel focuses mostly on a single day, with musings of the past. As Liselle preps for a dinner party on the evening that her husband‘s political ambitions have been dashed and an FBI investigation are underway, she looks back at a significant affair with Selena, a woman from her past. Steeped in sharp observations on race, sexuality and politics, it‘s a well written story, let down by its abrupt end.

Cinfhen Excellent review! Book sounds perfect until that abrupt end. #petpeeve I hate that!!! (I feel cheated) 2y
KarenUK And it‘s only 200 pages or so! It could easily have been longer! 😂 @cinfhen 2y
50 likes2 comments