The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré: Book Review

Abi Daré published her debut novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice, in February 2020 by Dutton Books. Since its release, it was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction and Debut Novel. Jenna Bush Hager included this on her book club, Read with Jenna, list.

The Girl with the Louding Voice introduces us to Adunni, a 14-year-old girl growing up in Nigeria. There are some content warnings that I will include here, as Adunni’s story is not a smooth sailing one. There is child marriage, rape, domestic violence, death, and assault included in the story.

Synopsis

Adunni is grieving the loss of her mother. Her father struggles to make money needed to pay the bills. He decides to marry her off at the age of 14 to an older man to have money. Adunni doesn’t want this and begs her father not to follow through. She is told she will do as she’s told, to behave like a good girl.

After tragedy strikes, Adunni finds herself in Lagos working for Big Madam. Adunni was “hired” to replace the former house girl who mysteriously disappeared a few weeks prior. This isn’t the life Adunni wants. She wants to better herself so she can help other girls like her. Will she succeed?

Positives

I adore Adunni’s desire to succeed and better herself. She may stumble, she may fall, but she keeps pushing forward. Some say she is naïve, but I feel it’s more she’s young and innocent. How would you react and behave if you were in her situation?

The settings are beautifully described. You can picture the sky when the storm is coming in, and you can see and hear the river as it flows by. You can imagine the dust when the earth is dry and the slippery mud when it’s wet. And you can smell the alcohol on Chief’s breath.

Negatives

While I know it’s part of the story, the brutality Adunni faces from first her “husband,” and then Chief is almost too much. You can feel the terror that Adunni feels. I found myself crying for her lost innocence, especially as a mom of two daughters.

The other issue I have with the brutality Adunni faces is the number of beatings she takes in the story. Again, I know it’s part of the story and helps to move it along. But do we need to hear time and again about Big Madam beating her and drawing blood?

My Opinions

This story is one of heartbreak and perseverance. Adunni faces a lot of adversity throughout her life, mainly because she is a female. She doesn’t let anything slow her down or take away her hope.

She may come across to some who read this book as naïve, but I see her as an innocent girl. When your life has been “sheltered” and only given one purpose (to get married and have babies), do you really know how to stand up and fight for what you want? Even if getting married and having babies, isn’t it? It is hard to stand up for yourself as an adult, it’s even harder when you’re a child, and people keep telling you no.

I have also seen people state that this book paints an untrue portrayal of life in Nigeria. That the things in this book aren’t true, that they don’t really happen. How can you be so sure they don’t happen? Just because you don’t see it in the part of the country you live in (if you live in or are from Nigeria) does not mean it doesn’t happen. There are millions of women in Nigeria; not all of them have happy, successful lives. I am sure thousands have been in the same situations that Adunni was in.

Another critique of the book I have found is about the writing style. The author chose not to use “proper” English to help enforce the point that Adunni is not a highly educated person. Some people found this to be detracting from the story. I will admit, I did not read a physical copy but instead listened to an audiobook. And I would highly suggest this as an option, as I feel the narrator, Adjoa Andoh, did a fantastic job sharing the story’s feelings and emotions.

I have to agree with Jenna Bush Hager, and say this is a book that should be read!

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.