December Diaspora Reads- African Authors Book Club

Online Event - PLEASE ORDER THIS BOOK EARLY. It is available online for free through the New York Public Library. Remember the meeting is earlier due to the holiday season so it’s a lighter read.

Title: Imperfect Arrangements
Author: Frances Mensah-Williams
Represent Represent: Ghana

Hashtags: love, African people in marriages, tradition vs. romance

From the author:
It’s called Imperfect Arrangements and tells the story of best friends Theresa, Maku, and Lyla and their struggles with the less than perfect arrangements that define their relationships.

Theresa has just moved with her husband to Ghana – where the story is set – and they soon discover cracks in their seemingly perfect marriage. Maku is feisty and ambitious but has to contend with an extremely laid-back partner and his somewhat hostile family. Lyla is desperate for a child and – for reasons that become clear – is tolerating an openly unfaithful husband. The story also depicts the perspectives of the men in the relationship, which was an interesting challenge! In the novel, I wanted to explore the complexities of relationships and take an honest look at how culture impacts marriage for both men and women. I also wanted to celebrate the awesome power of women supporting other women. Fundamentally, the novel is a celebration of love and sisterhood.