"... despite what you and I have been through, we can still give thanks. My life was not in vain. Yours will not be." -- Aunty Morenike, "Daughters Who Walk This Path""Success is not measured in the heights one attains, but by the obstacles one overcomes in its attainment." -- Booker T. Washington"Daughters Who Walk This Path" had the potential to be great. It had a difficult, but intriguing themes -- rape(Morenike & Morayo), albinism (Eniayo), racial prejudice (Morayo's father's anti-Igbo sentiments), teenage pregnancy resulting from rape, single parenthood, self-destructive behavior, sexual promiscuity, double-standards, etc. -- and likable/relate-able characters. Yet somehow this one fell flat for me; probably because while the author was bold in introducing these themes, she never fully fleshed them out. Largely, "Daughters" is part coming-of-age-story/part love-story, the tale of a young girl (Morayo) who was repeatedly raped by a relative (Bros T) while she was a teenager. She feels fear and shame and spends many years trying to forget the abuse. As she ages, she acts out sexually and self-destructively before finally learning to love (and forgive) herself.It's a great premise -- but Ms. Kilanko heavily peppers the tale with other complex themes, mentioned above. As a result, none is fully developed within the book's 329 pages, and the reader is left feeling a bit cheated. The book is thin -- more of a broth than a stew.SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!READY?SPOILER: I can't believe Morayo ever fully recovered from her rape. When Bros T comes into her life so many years later, Morayo cannot face him and will not allow him to apologize. Nor does she ever truly forgive him, thereby reclaiming the power that he had stolen from her in her youth. Yes, she recovers, marries, has a daughter of her own. But to me, the book would have been much more powerful if Morayo had allowed Bros T to apologize and make amends for his sin. (Remember: He was not fully a man yet, either, when he raped Morayo.) Instead, Morayo continues to "run away" by quitting her job rather face Bros T. To me, it would have been more palatable for her to allow him to apologize and then demand that he allow her to manage the charity with no contact or direction from him. So for me, the tale feels incomplete, unfinished.A Goodreads recommendation based on my enjoyment of "Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away," "Daughters Who Walk This Path" is far less -- of everything. If you're looking for a GREAT coming-of-age tale set in the African continent, pick up Christie Watson's "Tiny Sunbirds" instead. The principal character of this novel is Morayo, a young Yoruba girl leaving in Ibadan, Nigeria with her family. The book started with the birth of Morayo’s younger sister Eniayo. From that point on, we go through all the stages of Morayo’s life. Her growing up with her immediate and extended family, her school and University years and finally her life in the working place. Now you may think that there is nothing special about this story. It all sounds like a normal story. Think again.First of all, the little sister is an albino. This is the first time I am reading a novel where one of the characters is albino. Now the issue of albinism is very huge in Africa. Unfortunately, it has not received enough attention from the authorities and civil societies group. Don’t get me wrong, some NGO’s are working really hard and movies are made to raise awareness. You see, depending on the country where you are, albinos are either killed or persecuted. For example, in East Africa, they are killed and their body parts are used for their supposedly magical powers, and in West Africa, they are believed to be wicked spirits of some sorts. In the case of Eniayo, she was protected by her family and her sister. People taunted her but since she had the support of her family, things were more bearable in her case.Secondly, Morayo, young, beautiful and intelligent, is growing up surrounded by school friends and family. One of her cousin, right from the beginning of the novel, stands up for his wickedness. Indeed Morayo’s cousin Tayo, known as Bros T, is a very selfish and troubled young man. It is explained that his mother spoilt him a lot. Bros T was part of the family, he used to spent a lot of time in Morayo’s house during his youth. He, finally, moves in with the family when he was on his last secondary year. Bros T is very charming, but some clues in the novel prepares the reader to his evil acts later on. He sexually abused his cousin’s Morayo, he threatened her sister and blackmailed her into accepting . When the matter is brought to Morayo’s parents, all hell break loose. Now, at this point of the story, what is interesting is the reaction of people when they get to hear the news.The mother is stricken by grief and guilt. And unfortunately she don’t know how to react or what to do. Communication between African parents and their children is really bizarre sometimes. Her father is mad , it is not clear at who. No one would speak of the matter with Morayo. The silence in the house is oppressive especially when Eniayo is sent to boarding school. You got this impression that Morayo is being punished for something that was not her fault. At that point, Aunty Morenike, herself victim of rape when she was fifteen, will help Morayo get through her ordeal. Morenike’s story is quite different from Morayo’s. In her case, she was shield by her mother and she also had her grandmother on her side. It is clearly shown in this novel that what is important for the victims is their family’s support. Both Morenike and Morayo was able to continue their lives, go to school and get a job.In the background of the story, interesting things are happening – Corruption, harassment in the workplace and used of doubtful methods of business, the army preying on the innocent people they are supposed to protect, breast cancer and the stark differences between the super rich and poor Nigerian. Last but not least, tribal differences and intermarriage was also discussed in the novel.I am a helpless romantic. So I am truly happy to inform you that there is a love story in this novel. yay! I don’t want to give out much on this, but there is a wedding at the end. -)
What do You think about Der Weg Der Töchter (2012)?
Amazing book. I could not put it down. I have never cried this much with any book.
—Alissa
Excellent. I will look for more books by this author. Could not put it down.
—nick
I won this through Goodreads First Reads. Great read!!!
—hikaru30
