Remember that amazing book that stayed with you long after you finished it? That’s “Stay With Me” by Ayobami Adebayo for me! Buckle up, because we’re diving deep into this poignant story.
A Love Story with a Twist (and Another Wife)
Our tale begins with Yejide and Akinyele, two lovebirds who met at the University of Ife. They pledge their love in marriage, but four years fly by, and their dream of a family remains unfulfilled. Despite their initial agreement against polygamy, cultural pressures and the ticking biological clock force Akin’s hand. Enter Funmilayo, the beautiful young woman brought in as Akin’s second wife.
Yejide: A Warrior with a Flawed Heart
Yejide is our fierce protagonist. She endures hardship with grace, but she’s human too. Remember that time she served her in-laws unfresh beans after the shocking arrival of Funmilayo? It’s a small act of rebellion that speaks volumes about her simmering resentment.
“Close Your Thighs”: Unpacking Societal Pressures
The story gets brutal when Akin’s mother blames Yejide for their childlessness. “You have had my son between your legs for two more months and still your stomach is flat,” she scoffs. This quote exposes the immense pressure women face to bear children, often at the expense of their own well-being.
The Shocking Truth: A Husband’s Secret
As the story unfolds, a terrible truth emerges. Akin’s inability to have children isn’t Yejide’s fault. It’s his! He suffers from erectile dysfunction, a secret he jealously guards. This revelation throws everything into question. Why the charade? Why drag Yejide through emotional turmoil?
A Web of Lies and Deception
To fulfill his family’s desire for grandchildren, Akin makes a shocking decision. He begs his brother, Dotun, to sleep with Yejide. Akin’s actions are a complex mix of desperation and cowardice. He prioritizes societal expectations over honesty, ultimately hurting the woman he claims to love.
A Husband Who Plays the Victim
When Yejide finally gets pregnant, Akin throws another curveball. He pretends to be devastated when the doctor reveals their son has sickle cell disease, implying Yejide cheated. This act of emotional abuse is a new low for Akin.
The Price of Silence: A Broken Family
Akin’s silence continues to wreak havoc. Yejide loses two precious children to the disease. The emotional toll is immense. By the time they have their third child, Rotimi, Yejide is a shell of her former self.
A Mother’s Difficult Choice
Faced with the potential for another child with sickle cell, Yejide makes a heartbreaking decision. She abandons Rotimi, a choice fueled by despair and a desperate need to protect herself. Can you blame her?
An Open Ending: A Glimmer of Hope?
The novel leaves us hanging. Yejide reconciles with Rotimi years later, but the fate of her relationship with Akin remains a mystery. Adebayo doesn’t spoon-feed us the answers. Instead, she invites us to ponder the complexities of love, loss, and the burdens of societal expectations.
What Would You Do?
Imagine yourself in Yejide’s shoes. How would you handle the betrayal, the societal pressure, the loss? “Stay With Me” is a powerful story that leaves a lasting impression, prompting us to question our own values and the choices we make.
A nice one
Beautiful write up
An amazing read????. Thank you for this awesome piece.
This is a really nice write up
I doubt I can actually say how I’d react if I were in yejide’s shoe cause you can’t really understand a person’s pain unless you’ve been there.
Awesome piece
This is so detailed and explanatory. I can feel the emotions from the book even though I have not read it before. I’m definitely getting this book to read.
The book is legendary, and it is quite thoughtful that you did a review. What’s more interesting is that this review succinctly captures the need to recall excellent moral values in our society.
Well done, Joan. This is exceptional.
Beautiful piece
A nice read, captivating from beginning to the end
This review is very detailed. Yejide is a strong woman to have stayed in that marriage, I really can’t imagine what I would have done if I were in her shoes.
Hmmmm. This indeed is a question worth brooding over.
It then became a case of a help that wasn’t even worth it after all
This is a nice read. I enjoyed every piece of it.
This is a great review!
Well-done miss Joan.
Beautiful work
A beautiful piece
A nice piece you have there ????????
Yejide’s mistake was not finding out about all these before marriage… However, it would be safer for her to leave the marriage and care for her child, if her husband isn’t willing to stop giving in to societal pressure.
And forgive, so she can move on