pickI was immersed immediately and enjoyed this one. I've seen many reviews that balked at the loosely connected stories, but I found it works here looking at the book as a whole. I recommend reading the author's note: “Novels are never really about what they are about.“ Also, I think Edgar is glad I'm home.
so-soI so wanted to like this, but I kind of didn‘t. The novel follows a quartet of women, all linked, as they ruminate on their loves, their careers, their mothers. Elements I loved and the writing is as good as you‘d expect, but other than Kadiatou‘s story - loosely based on the real case of a New York maid assaulted by a powerful man - the rest left me unmoved and at times, I admit, bored. In fact I skim read the last quarter.
Some days she was fine and some days she was underwater barely breathing. At her 22-week check-up, newly flush with well-being, her nausea receding, she laughed at the grainy-grey image moving on the ultrasound screen, and gaily waved at the front-desk women as she left the doctor‘s
office, but alone in the elevator, she sank to the floor, a stark dissolving all around her. She sent Kwame a text. “I‘m 22 weeks today.”
“Are you an artist?” Luuk asked me, at an art gallery in Mexico City. I was the only Black woman there, in the high-ceilinged space, sedate paintings hangin on very white walls. I told him I was writing a travel essay about the art scene in Mexico City.
“Who do you write for?”
“I‘m freelance.”
...where I returned from trips to write in my study with its pastel walls and shaggy rugs. The high foyer, the lingering lemony scent in the rooms, the reassuring off and on hum of central air. I liked to sit out on the deck and watch the leaves turning gold in the fall in the beautiful preserve of trees that my mother called a forest.
pickI quite enjoyed this novel, with its distinct, richly drawn characters, complex relationships, and cultural critique. I also appreciate the author's perspective on lockdown and its effect on how we relate to others. It's refreshing to read about lockdown from the perspective of characters who believe lockdown and masking were necessary with negative side effects, rather than either ignoring that period or acting like it was all an overreaction.
I woke up in a similar despondent, low energy mood as when I went to bed last night, so after making myself work out, I indulged in some audio-organizing and decluttering. I cleared out three bins of homeschool stuff (only 6 more to go 🙄), reorganized our games and some of our books, and dusted underneath the piano. Finally having all of my library books in one place reminds me how aspirational my checkouts often are. I feel moderately better.
pickI eagerly awaited this, Adichie‘s first fiction outing in 10 years. I adore her writing, and “Americanah” is a favorite read. This one follows 4 women whose lives intersect and interconnect before/during/after the Covid-19 pandemic. I enjoyed it, but thought it was uneven in parts. I was drawn to Kadiatou‘s story but Chia‘s musings on past boyfriends left me feeling meh. Still recommend for the beauty of Adichie‘s prose.
pickThis book follows four African women who are connected to each other in various ways, exploring the reality of being a woman and all the indignities that can be pushed on a woman‘s body (including sexual assault on the page). The writing is very good overall but a bit uneven and the start of the third woman‘s story was so dense I was thrown in a bad way. Good but not great. #WP25 longlist
pickThis book examines the lives of four interconnected but vastly different African women. Adichie is a master of language, and her social and cultural insights are incisive as always. So it was an interesting, if a bit too long, book. But I didn‘t quite connect with it like her previous novels.
“Why would it matter, daddy, if you‘re not here?”
“We want what we‘ve made to stay long after we‘re gone. That is how we seek immortality,” he said and because he hardly spoke in this solemn way about a future without him, I felt tearful at those words, seek immortality.
#DynamicDs Day 9: #Dream Count is part of the new stack of books I bought this March - all women themed. Read the top of the stack by Han Kang for a book club meet this Thursday.
pickAnother one from the #wpf25 longlist that I was halfway through when the shortlist was announced. After reading the second half, this has slid way down my own longlist.
It‘s a pick but only just and it‘s certainly no Americanah. Billed as a novel about 4 women, it‘s more like 4 separate stories, with the women being only tangentially linked. Upon finishing, I could only remember 3 of the women - I‘d completely forgotten the 4th and her story.
Another fabulous book with the gorgeous edges —this one I purchased. Because … Adichie. 😍
bailedThis started so well for me, but I find myself struggling with the current (very long) section that I‘m on. Not enjoying myself anymore, so I‘m bailing on this one 😩
This book is beautiful. So excited to read it. Ignore my background. I‘m on a zoom meeting 😂
So very excited for this book examining the desires of four interlinked women.
pickAnother great novel by Chimamamda Ngozi Adichie.
It‘s about 4 women, their struggles and joys. Highly recommend.
Pub date: March 4, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
This is perfect. Perfect perfect perfect. Life is better when you have a book release to look forward to.
Dream Count | 
