Jessic George’s debut novel – Maame has been one of the most hyped books of 2023. After a lot of deliberation, I decided to read it after all. I wasn’t quite keen on stumbling upon yet another black, female protagonist fighting all odds of sexism & racism.
The book starts off quite well and is easy to read. You find yourself consuming chapter after chapter in no time. The plot of the book is quite interesting. The protagonist, Maddie – or Maame, is overly burdened with responsibilities – looking after her ill dad, managing expenses, the work front and a mother & brother who care the least.
Jessica George brings out this struggle of Maddie’s life quite wonderfully. You can feel the situation she is in – where she delivers all her responsibilities willingly and never half hearted. But she begins to feel the pressure of it and is on the verge of breaking down.
The characterisations are quite well done. The selfishness and meanness in the mother & brother’s character is so well displayed – it makes you dislike them instantly and sympathize with Maddie.
Another thing worth a mention is Maddie’s dad’s character. The sensitive and authentic handling of Parkinson’s and how it affects the person as well as his carer is simply astonishing. I think this is the most close-to-reality account of the disease that I have read till now.
Over to things in the book I enjoyed the most now. I love the way Maddie keeps Googling every little thought or question that arises in her mind. And what Google throws up in response is so diligently written. It is funny at times, witty at others but always feels real.
The book has it’s moments that add a touch of humor. Shu’s wacky outburst towards Ben was one such sequence. But the high point for me were two. First, when Maddie finally breaks down and that outburst towards her mother and brother – wow! It was crisp, effective and so true to the word. And the second, Maddie’s eulogy for her father. I just loved it and felt so relatable. It left me overwhelmed.
Maddie’s friends and their bond with her also leave a mark. I was a bit sad that Jo and her friendship couldn’t last. But that is the reality of life – how one mistake, one thing said in a fit of rage dents your relation for life.
Having spoken of all the things that work in Maame’s favor, I was disappointed to an extent by the very same things I mentioned at the start that I was sceptical about initially. The book does get entangled into the same repeated and overused themes of racism and sexism. I really dont get it, why cannot a black protagonist be just a protagonist with more to itself than their color or sex? It is boring now. The book also became quite a textbook on depression and how to overcome it. Add to it some forced parts on Maddie trying out boyfriends and figuring out her venereal preferences.
Conclusion
Maame is a good book undoubtedly. But a bit overhyped as I see it. It felt quite hotch-potch to me. Too many things stuffed in an attempt to deliver a hit book. Amidst all the noise about racism and boyfriends and stuff, an endearing father-daughter relationship tends to take backseat. The book becomes all about so many different things. The best part to me was how the illness of her father brings her (the carer) close to him. How he starts to trust Maddie – like if she is around, he feels safe. The smile on his face as she enters. An okay in response to her okay? These small details won me over. They felt like bits out of my life.
I would surely recommend this book anyhow. It is a well written and well thought of story with a satisfying end. Get it here -> Maame
Find more debut books here -> Debut Novels