The Son of the House is a phenomenal debut novel written by Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia. I am just so lost for words on just how fantastic this book is, and how it really opened my entire view on the beautiful culture of Nigeria, while also pointing out the problems within a patriarchal society.

The plot primarily follows the lives of Nwabulu and Julie, two women whose interwoven lives are forced to cross after being kidnapped together. Nwabulu is a girl from a village, who after losing her father at a young age and forced to live with her abusive step-mother, is pushed to becoming a housemaid. Her journey in the book was just heart-wrenching, and I could not help but just feel awful for her. The misfortunes piled up one on top of another, and I felt that we would get no reprieve. Her character was so resilient and powerful, but also fragile and emotional. Julie was a bit of a weaker character for me, but I also found myself enthralled in her journey. Born to an educated headmaster, Julie becomes educated and dependent. However, society's pressure never seems to leave her, despite her efforts. Julie struggles in this novel to keep her promise to her father while also keeping her marriage stable. Then, in a string of events, both of these women's stories cross over in an unimaginable collision, which they are forced to rectify in the present.

While we do follow the journey of these women as they overcome their grief and obtain triumph, the biggest message I could take away from the book is the pressure of leaving in a patriarchal society as a woman. Throughout the novel, I found that the characters primarily struggle with the men in their lives, being their fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons, and how life seems to just jump from one part to the next. I could feel the character's frustration with the men in their lives, as well as their deep hurt, and I truly could relate to this. Coming from a traditionally patriarchal culture, it is very easy to feel that men deserve more than women, with the way society differs in its treatment. However, despite the pressure to be tied to the ideals of men, I also think that both women were able to fight against these notions and achieve balance in their society. This book is not meant to be the overturning of the patriarchy, but rather a commentary and hope. The change will come eventually, but until it does, the small triumphs of these women should be celebrated.

Additionally, I think the author is extremely talented at prose and writing. She managed to incorporate details of Nigerian culture without becoming overwhelming, and I could almost feel myself in the village and in the towns. I had some slight issues with the plot, and I really wished that Onyemelukwe-Onuobia had written a little more in detail about Nwabulu's rise to success and Julie's handling of her marriage. We experience a time skip, which while explained, really misses out on actually seeing and experiencing the success after the pain. What we do see and read about is fantastic, and by the end of the novel, I was really happy to have read the novel.

I recommend this book for people who wish for a feminist novel that rivals Things Fall Apart, as well as people who love A Thousand Splendid Suns. I hope this book finds a large amount of success because it definitely deserves it!

4.5 stars
So beautifully written!
I originally picked this up just to get a taste of the book, and to read later, but I found I could not put it down. This story sucked me in.
I feel like I learned about Nigeria while reading this. The author leaves it up to the reader to do some “research” to understand some things. I liked that a lot actually.
This tackles a lot of subjects, and is far from a light read.
The title mentions a “son”, but really this book focus on the women and their roles and their trials and tribulations. Trying to find their place in a world built for men.
I throughly enjoyed this, and found myself immersed in this tale!

Title: The Son of the House

Author: Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia

Genre: Nigerian fiction

PopSugar Reading Challenge prompt: book published in 2021

Thank you Netgalley for this book!

I’m hit or miss with Netgalley. I take chances and sometimes, ugh, the books are just the worst. I absolutely love Netgalley and am thankful they keep sending me books, even the ones that are underwhelming to me. This book, however, this book just might be the best one Netgalley has ever sent me.

From Goodreads: In the Nigerian city of Enugu, young Nwabulu, a housemaid since the age of ten, dreams of becoming a typist as she endures her employers’ endless chores. She is tall and beautiful and in love with a rich man’s son.

Educated and privileged, Julie is a modern woman. Living on her own, she is happy to collect the gold jewelry lovestruck Eugene brings her but has no intention of becoming his second wife.

When a kidnapping forces Nwabulu and Julie into a dank room years later, the two women relate the stories of their lives as they await their fate.

Pulsing with vitality and intense human drama, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia’s debut is set against four decades of vibrant Nigeria, celebrating the resilience of women as they navigate and transform what still remains a man’s world.

I will be shocked if this book isn’t on every “best of 2021” list. Set in Nigeria, the story is familiar. Two women trying to find their place in the world. No matter the culture, this theme is easily relatable. You spend more time with Nwabulu (it felt like to me, at least) and her story is truly heartbreaking. She and Julie are excellently contrasted, but have so much in common as well. The story is simple: two women’s lives and what unites them, but it’s just a beautiful story. I absolutely loved it and hope it doesn’t fly under the radar. It’s a must read.