In this intriguing realistic fiction, Ruby, an orphaned child bride who suffered from Obstetric Fistula, a debilitating childbirth complication, became stigmatized and ostracized from her community. Having lost everything in the village of Ojiji, Ruby set out to the city of Eko on a path to healing and recovery and a chance of finding what lies on the other side of the rainbow.
About the author.
Ololade Akintoye is a Nigerian Author, passionate about lending her voice to social causes in the society especially those affecting the girl child. In 2009, she published an Academic Paper on the ‘The Role of The Mass Media in the Curtailment of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) in Nigeria’ which was presented at the Idowu Sobowale Conference on Media, Governance and Development in Africa, held in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State Nigeria, where she also graduated from the department of Mass Communications. Ololade has also written several articles, scripts, short stories and poems.
@thereadingmom.ng –
As I had expected, this book was an emotional read (I was reading it while waiting for a meeting and had to struggle to hold the tears back). It was very insightful though. I admire how Ololade Akintoye was able to pack many societal issues, worthy of note, into one fiction book – child marriage, obstetric fistula, female genital mutilation, child mortality, adoption, infertility, sexual intimacy problems, etc. I learnt a lot about obstetric fistula (I didn’t know about double incontinence before, for example), and even the physical, emotional and psychological issues that still exists, even after treatment. As the author said in her note, writing has the power of impact and can cause change, so I thank her for this book. Thanks again to @thebookladyng for sending me this book to review.
___________
What I liked –
Insightful
Simple and clean writing style
Emotional but still easy to read
Good editing, except for the use of invincible instead of invisible
The message of hope (reminded me of The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare)
Good ending
___________
What I didn’t like –
The transitions from past to present events, and vice versa, were not seamless
There was some inconsistency in the use of the names, Iyunola and Ruby (I wish the author stuck with Iyunola)
@thereadingmom.ng –
As I had expected, this book was an emotional read (I was reading it while waiting for a meeting and had to struggle to hold the tears back). It was very insightful though. I admire how Ololade Akintoye was able to pack many societal issues, worthy of note, into one fiction book – child marriage, obstetric fistula, female genital mutilation, child mortality, adoption, infertility, sexual intimacy problems, etc. I learnt a lot about obstetric fistula (I didn’t know about double incontinence before, for example), and even the physical, emotional and psychological issues that still exists, even after treatment. As the author said in her note, writing has the power of impact and can cause change, so I thank her for this book.
___________
What I liked –
Insightful
Simple and clean writing style
Emotional but still easy to read
Good editing, except for the use of invincible instead of invisible
The message of hope (reminded me of The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare)
Good ending
___________
What I didn’t like –
The transitions from past to present events, and vice versa, were not seamless
There was some inconsistency in the use of the names, Iyunola and Ruby (I wish the author stuck with Iyunola)