Against the social and political unrest in Nigeria in the 1980s, Stay with me talks about the fragility of marriage, societal pressures on a married couple and motherhood.
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Review
I am slowly making my way through the Bailey’s prize shortlisted books of 2017. After reading Do Not Say we have Nothing by Madeline Thien that talked about the cultural revolution in China with a musical backdrop to the narration (which was also in the Man Booker shorlist 2016 and won The Scotiabank Giller Prize 2016 and Governor General’s Award for English Language 2016)and The Power by Naomi Alderman, about a dystopian world where women get the power to conduct electricity, my next pick was Stay with me by Ayobami Adebayo.
Yejide and Akin are a married couple staying in Nigeria, very much in love with one another. Yejide is almost an orphan. Her mother died and her father’s other wives do not regard her with affection. Her life becomes happier after she meets Akin and gets married to him. When the couple fail to conceive a child, Akin is forced into marrying another girl named Funmi to continue his bloodline. Set in 1985, this novel focusses on the pressure on couples to have children after marriage
Read : 12 Books that revolve around marriages
Stay with me digs deep into the emotional trauma of the characters while the political unrest in the country remains as a faint backdrop to the story. The novel thrums with the expectation of having an offspring, the only way in which you will be accepted as a man by the society. While the major themes of the novel are the experience of being childless, the guilt of not fulfilling societal obligations and the psychological impact of not getting pregnant, Ayobami cleverly weaves in the question of the society’s expectation of a man. Though I cannot support Akin and his decisions in any way, as a reader, his perspective is equally important in the storyline. We get a clear picture of his true nature by how he faces problems in his marriage. Funmi is shown as a semi-manipulative character but I see her as another victim of the patriarchy in society. She was like a fish desperate to survive out of water. The side characters such as Akin’s mom, Akin’s brother are well crafted and the author is successful in showing their weaknesses and vulnerabilities, thus making them overly realistic.
The novel lingers on subtle themes such as how even an educated woman might succumb to superstitions because of the unbearable pressure of bearing a child. There is a comic scene when Yejide breast feeds a goat as a last resort believing it will make her pregnant. Later, Yejide’s mental health sways a bit when she is not able to bear a child and when Akin accepts a second wife. Equally interesting is Akin’s mother, whom Yejide considers as her own mother and who was very sweet to her when she was a new bride. But when Yejide does not bear a child after marriage, the mother forces Akin to take a second wife and also says hurtful things to Yejide like ‘close your legs to my son so that he will touch his second wife’
The writing is captivating and there isn’t a single dull moment throughout the story. We alternate between Yejide and Akin’s POV. There is an element of suspense in the novel which slowly unfolds with each chapter which reminded me of the style of narration in Claire Fuller’s Swimming Lessons (read review) (which was a favourite book this year). These shocking plot turns jump on the naive reader uncovering a web of lies and deception that held together the marriage between Yejide and Akin.
Final verdict
The story is rich, full of vibrant characters and unexpected twists. Stay with me makes a very enjoyable and thought provoking read.
Title : Stay with me
Author : Ayobami Adebayo
Publisher : Canongate Books
Published : 2017
Language : English
Pages : 304
Rating : 4/5
If you are reading through the Baileys shortlist this year, you can check my reviews on the other books:
1. The Power by Naomi Alderman – When Girls Rule the World
2. Do not Say We Have Nothing by Madeliene Thien – Ambitious, Musical and Historical
3. First Love by Gwendoline Riley – Minimal, Melancholic and Pensive
4. The Dark Circle by Linda Grant – An Emotionally Fulfilling Read
5. The Sport of Kings by C. E. Morgan – What is Wrong and Right with the Novel
This sounds like one I must read. I have read a few Nigerian authors–Buchi Emecheta is my favorite. I also want to read Don’t Say We Have Nothing.
Thanks for the recommendation of Buchi Emecheta. A new one for me. I hope you will love this book. It is a fast read and very rich in plot. The writing is good and the storyline engaging
I’ve read The Dark Room, First Love and given up The Sport of Kings.This is the one that most appeals to me of the remaining titles on the shortlist. Like you, most bloggers seem to have enjoyed it.
It is a very enjoyable read, rich in plot and less of literary symbolisms. I am currently plodding through The Sport of Kings. Sigh. It is an ordeal, I admit
I’ve got this one too and I’m glad that you liked it so much. Sounds promising.
I hope you will enjoy the read. It is a great storyline.
Read (or rather devoured) this last weekend – it was fantastic! so many real emotions that keep it grounded however wild the plot gets. Also your photos are always works of art!!!
Thank you so much. You flatter me. I am glad you loved the book as well. The plot was a very engaging one.
I’ve been dithering back and forwards over whether to read this one, so it’s good to hear you recommend it so highly. It sounds like an intriguing insight into a very different culture – I feel it may have to sneak onto my TBR pile…
It is a wonderful read. The book focusses more on the storyline and plot development, so there is a good story in the book. I hope you will enjoy it.
This sounds very good indeed and I like that the author has added realism by allowing her desperate character to wander towards superstition in her desperation to bear a child.
Yes, I really liked the addition of how Yejide resorts to superstitious beliefs. It made me think of all of us, who would in similar circumstances believe in anything and everything for a favourable outcome. The author has clearly shown the psychological impact on Yejide as well as how much her belief in the superstitions affected her mental health. Very well presented.
It is neat that you are reading through these Bailey’s prize contenders.
The plot of this book seems like it involves characters acting in ways that a reader might find problematical. Though I sometimes find such things difficult to read about, I think that one role of literature is to take us to places where we would not normally go and that we might be uncomfortable with.
I really enjoyed the read. The character sketches and the plotline are done so well.
I haven’t read Stay With me, but based on your excellent review I’m adding it to my TBR list right now.
I hope you will enjoy the book. I really loved the read
This sounds emotionally tough to read. I’m interested but don’t know if it would be too depressing. I’ve become such a wimp lately!
I would not call the book depressing. ‘Shocking’ is the word. There are so many twists and turns that delve deep into the dark corners of the minds of the characters. I really enjoyed the read.
This book seems to have been a hit with several bloggers and readers – I’m glad you enjoyed it too. It does sound very powerful and compelling.
It was a wonderful read. The author has focussed on her character sketch and general plot line and delivered them successfully with each chapter adding to the suspense. This is one of the new releases with a good story. And I love how she incorporated the mental well being of a woman who could not be childless in a patriarchal society.
I’m looking forward to reading this one! We have it on our Literary Wives list for next year.
I think you will enjoy the read, Naomi. I found it to be a compelling story. The character sketches are done so well
Wow sounds really powerful and very vivid!!
I really enjoyed the book
I’ve not read any of the Bailey’s shortlist titles yet, but Stay with Me sounds like a great place to start reading them. I love how complex each of the characters sound. Great review!
Thanks Suzanne. It was a great and enjoyable read.
I’ll have to add this to my list. The pressure put on women to have children, and then to approach pregnancy and motherhood in a certain way is really problematic across cultures.
This book looks great. The plot seems very engaging and I have never read a novel taking place in Nigeria yet, so I’m exciting to pick it up. The other Bailey’s 2017 shortlist book that I’m planning to read is “Do Not Say We Have Nothing”.
This is a wonderful read with a great story. Do not say we have nothing is more slow and historical.
Whoa, twisty turny character analysis goodness! I cant wait to read this.
Yes, it is a very engaging story. I do not know if it will win the prize because it is not the award-winning kind of story, if you get what I mean. But it is a good read
I know what you mean. But I’m glad it was atleast shortlisted.
I am glad too. 🙂
I haven’t been reading through the Bailey’s shortlist, I’m still working on Man Booker 2016! But, this is what happens when the library is your primary way to acquire books. It sounds like there is a ton of character development within these pages. I am a sucker for good character development. Do you think that the transitions between Yejide and Akin’s POV’s is believable? Sometimes I find that in dual character POV stories one character feels more real than the other.
I came over to your blog on a recommendation from Heaven-Ali, as I had dinner with her last night – not sure how I hadn’t followed you before! I’ve read several good reviews of this book now, so I think I will keep a look-out. I don’t do shortlist reading projects but admire people who do!
I hope you will enjoy the book if you pick it up. It has a very engaging plot line.
Thank you so much for stopping by.