The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe

I read this because I loved Chika’s debut novel and couldn’t wait to get into it. For me, this didn’t top it, but it was a good read.

Let’s talk about Chika’s The Middle Daughter.

I have mixed feelings about this. It was an okay read. The writing was good; the plot was everywhere, but again, the writing was good. I read this because I loved Chika’s debut novel and couldn’t wait to get into it. For me, this didn’t top it, but it was a good read. Let’s get into it.

The Middle Daughter (because the story mainly focuses on Nani, who was Doda and Mother’s middle daughter), while focusing mainly on Nani, also provides her sister’s perspective, allowing us to alternate POVs.

It starts out as a family tragedy to a pity party, to religious hypnotism and misogyny, to corruption and child trafficking, and then to marital abuse. It was a lot, and that’s why I say it was all over the place.

I felt so much pain and anger while reading because of the choices Nani made.

Ephraim was a misogynistic bastard who couldn’t even pronounce his child’s name correctly. He abused the girl he raped and forced her to marry at every chance he got and cried when she eventually left. Not surprising that he did it while steadily quoting the Bible. Is it madness?

For Mother, I don’t have words. I don’t even understand her use in the story, like Philo.

Ugo didn’t strike any feelings in me, and I only liked her because she visited Nani. I liked that she talked about the stigma around victims of sexual abuse. And made sure to state that it was never the victim’s fault. I didn’t get the ending. Made absolutely no sense. I turned the next page, and nothing. It wasn’t a bad read, but I wish there were more. Thoughts?

The issue of abuse is such a dicey topic because victims will forever live with their trauma. So it’s essential we address it with care and provide the necessary help without judgment for them.

My heart goes out to women worldwide whose reality is this. I hope we continue fighting for them so the world becomes a better place for us.