The Parlour Wife: A Delightful Debut

While I’m not exactly excited to talk about this book, I believe a book that’s not quite a masterpiece, but nearly there, deserves a modicum of subjective dissection, doesn’t it? I’ve been free styling when it comes to books these days. This means I’m not focusing on a particular genre, and just reading whatever seems interesting, at least when I have the chance away from Law textbooks and career building. So, without further ado:

The Parlour Wife by Foluso Agbaje

Kehinde and Taiwo are the beautiful twins who just turn 18 when their lives take a drastic turn. Kehinde is an ardent writer and reader, and her dream is to write for The Pilot Newspaper, a rising newspaper company that challenges the colonial government, and is more or less revolutionary.

Taiwo, on the other hand, is going to school to become a lawyer, which is his family’s dream. His dream, however, is to go fight the war for the Empire. A dream his whole family spits on, including his twin, who warns him against going contrary to the wishes of his parents, but Taiwo just thinks she’s spineless and jealous because he possesses one.

Kehinde is fated to marry Mr. Ogunjobi, and while she loathes the thought of it, a sudden incident takes away all element of choice from her hands, and now alone, in a new environment, with a new people, and a seemingly interesting life, Kehinde is beginning to realize that till she takes a bold step towards her dreams, she’ll forever remain caged. Forever remain The Parlour Wife.

My Thoughts and Rating

I’m not quite sure what to say about this book, so we'll just go with the flow, yeah? Now, while this is a fictional story, it is a representation of a history that we all are familiar with in Nigeria.

The world war that required hundreds of thousands of Nigerian youths to fight for the British Empire, and the number of “missing persons” that kept multiplying with every news outlet.

Kehinde is symbolic of Nigerian girls and women in the pre-independence era whose lives were in everyone’s hands but themselves. The ones who had no say about their fate, and certainly not a say about their future. Who embodied the role of a woman which was to sacrifice for everyone, and put every individual but themselves first.

Taiwo is symbolic of the average Nigerian pre-independence boy who longed to be free, and had no qualms rebelling against the system in pursuance of his dreams, even when said dreams made no sense to everyone but him. Even when others had to sacrifice their dreams for what they believe is the best path for him.

For a debut novel, Foluso Agbaje outdid herself, visiting potent and sensitive themes of love, war, ambition, freedom (and the lack thereof), family, unity, and everything in between. I love how she carefully and seamlessly walked us through the character development of Kehinde, who’s the protagonist of the book, and the different ways she overcame the obstacles life presented her with.

In the classically traumatic way of the typical Nigerian novel, I expected the ending to be tragic, leaving me with a feeling of hollowness and emotional robbery, but it ended rather satisfactorily, and yeah, all questions weren’t answered, but it leaves left sweet taste of good things to come despite the diverse tragedies of the past.

Definitely would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a short, scintillating read that is rooted in culture and filled with rich themes, some more sensitive than others, but altogether enjoyable. 4.4/5 stars from me. I wouldn’t pass a book by this author if she deigns to gift us another literary delight.

Jhymi🖤

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