The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives

Decided to try a new author and bought what I didn't initially realise was a classic from 2010. The reviews on the book itself, mentioned descriptive phrases such as comic, comedy and humour which I really didn't find at all, consequently, the novel was a lot more serious than I expected. In addition, I found it hard to like or empathise with any of the four wives but, as the writing was so good (although there's a lot of mention of breasts for some reason) I decided to persevere. Of course, I'm glad I did, hence the five stars. Mid-way through the author gives us the backstories of the women and their husband which is done in such a clever way, the reader can now understand their motives and general unpleasantness, but still has a choice about whether or not to actually like them. This book was written in the days when books could be about 256 pages instead of the mammoth 400 we get now so I read it in a day whilst languishing with a cold. Certainly took my mind off my illness. Am looking forward to reading more from this author Lola Shoneyin.

Good read

Bolanle is the fourth wife of Baba Segi, and she is childless. Already an outsider in the family home as the only wife to hold a university degree, her inability to conceive gives the other wives ammunition against her. First wife Iya Segi sees Bolanle as a threat to her dominance, third wife Iya Femi doesn't like being upstaged by a newcomer, and second wife Iya Tope is beaten down and unable to speak up on Bolanle's behalf. Seen as snobbish and different, Bolanle is isolated and unwelcome. Finally, Baba Segi decides to take Bolanle to the hospital, where the medical investigations into Bolanle's fertility have some unexpected results, exposing the secrets of all the wives.I've seen The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives described elsewhere as a tragicomedy, and that label is just perfect for it. Shoneyin deals with some pretty weighty issues like the role of women in Nigerian society, the views of different classes on polygamy and domestic abuse, but it's always done with a light touch and a bit of black humour. Baba Segi wants to keep his wives hidden away, announces that Bolanle's infertility shames him and doesn't hesitate to assault her, but he's also a comically pathetic figure, bought down by the women in his life. Shoneyin's talent for finding the humour and pathos in tragic situations means that the book never feels too depressing or preachy.As I read The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives, I was most interested in the examination of the role of women in Nigeria. There's references to domestic violence being seen as a waste of police time, a woman discussing her rape is assumed to be a liar and women are frowned upon for wearing trousers. Through the wives' stories and the power they had seized for themselves over the course of their marriage, Shoneyin's novel is quietly feminist, and we get to see glimpses of a newer Nigeria, in which women are more valued. Of course, whilst I was reading this novel, the news was full of the story about the kidnapping of 200 Nigerian schoolgirls and the intent to sell them into slavery, so it's clear that women still have a long way to go.I really would recommend The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives. It examines some interesting issues through a story that is quick, engaging and a lot of fun to read. If I had the time, I could have read it all in one sitting. It shines a light on a polygamous marriage in Africa in a non-judgemental way and it's a book that hasn't really left my thoughts since I finished reading it.

All I can say is WOW! I decided to take up reading to help me stay productive through quarantine, and I was looking for something relatable and close to home and I must say this book was EXCELLENT! The way in which it was written, the characters were very spot on.Bolanle the forth wife was a character I really liked and at times felt pity for, she was portrayed well due to her being a younger wife and the last at that.This book spoke to me deeply, because as a young British Nigerian woman, I know and understand the struggles of the Alao family.What this family passed through is something that still happens today although to a small degree, in some parts of Nigeria or in Nigerian families scattered across the globe.I was sad for it to end. This is a very cherished book and one that I would recommend to others especially if you are of Nigerian origin.This book took me to Nigeria and back, I felt like I was there. It also contains very clever adult humour.I love this book and I look forward to more reads from the author.💕✨

This is a brilliant book. It is the characters who draw you in: they are all utterly compelling and yet barely one of them is in any way likeable. Every facet of human nastiness is acutely observed, from the ignorance and narcissism of Baba Segi, to the casual misogyny of the male characters ("Women are such fickle creatures! They will eventually destroy this world with their slippery snails.") to the spine-chilling vindictiveness of Iya Femi and Iya Segi. The novel is crammed full of the worst extremes of human behaviour: child abuse, slavery, filicide, domestic abuse, neglect, cruelty, vigilantism (in one chapter, almost as an aside, Shoneyin recounts how a man is burned alive by a lynch mob in just two, understated sentences.) Rarely has a novelist achieved such moments of comic genius from such utterly dark subject matter. But perhaps what makes the novel a relentless as well as gripping read is the sheer lack of empathy or compassion from all but one of the main characters. Compassion appears absent even between mother and child or husband and wife or between lovers and because of this the reader feels compelled to feel compassion on the characters' behalf. About halfway through I actually had to put the book down because I felt slightly bruised and battered from immersing myself in these people's stories, but then I had to pick it up again because the book was so gripping. People are bound to compare this to Things Fall Apart, but actually in a funny kind of way it reminded me of Evelyn Waugh, in the darkness of the humour and the way that she conveys a particular era, class and culture by depicting the very worst people one can possibly imagine inhabiting it. Five stars. No, actually six stars.

Lola is an amazing writer. It left me wanting to know more