Me, My Mother, My Life: A journey through pain and healing

by Ayomide Adeniola

Overview

Me, My Mother, My life is a poetic journey through the trials of a young woman who longed to break free of the burden of an oppressive family legacy. Beautifully narrated, the author unblinkingly examines her life experiences, telling her story in a way that only one who has deeply experienced life, love, and God could portray. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Ayomide spent her childhood and young adulthood in the country of her parent’s origin where life for this young British girl was to be grabbed by both hands with spirit, good humour, and great resolve. When she returned to England, her faith in God led her on an odyssey to heal the generational issues with which she had long been faced. Beyond its value as a beautifully-constructed and gripping memoir, this book leads the readers into their own private journey of reflection on their personal relationships, containing the wisdom of emotional and spiritual healing as well as personal growth. Not for the faint-hearted, Me, My Mother, My Life will deepen your understanding of life, love, and the value of forgiveness. A well-written personal tale of a woman’s trials of the spirit and her passage to healing. -Kirkus Adeniola writes well and is a sensitive observer ... the trajectory of her life from her student days in Nigeria to her professional life in England is genuinely interesting. Her writing is informed by her Christian faith, but not in a way that puts off more secular readers. -BlueInk Culture clash meets generation gap in this memoir by Ayomide Adeniola ... Adeniola’s memoir remains compelling because of the strong family bond that comes through no matter how contentious the conversation. With Me, My Mother, My Life, Adeniola uncovers the basic truth of many family arguments: we wouldn’t fight so much if we didn’t care so deeply. -ForeWord Clarion

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781468585544
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	08/01/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	372
File size:	400 KB

Editorial Reviews

Adeniola examines her relationship with her mother in this self-help book. As a young Christian in southwestern Nigeria, author Adeniola at times felt a sense of alienation from her family. Born in England, she loved her mother but was perplexed by her conduct. As a child, Adeniola was singled out for verbal and physical abuse and punishment by her parents. The author had high aspirations, and although she received distinctions in her classes, her mother was dissatisfied and criticized her excessively. Originally planning a career in medicine, the author pursued estate management at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife. Her mother, a nurse, moved to Saudi Arabia, leaving Adeniola and her sister on their own. Although the narrator made wise use of funds entrusted to her, when her mother returned to visit, she wrongly accused Adeniola of swindling her. Eventually, the author left Nigeria, moving first to London and then to Bath, beginning an arduous journey of healing and understanding. The author writes with honesty and tenderness about her life and relationships. The book provides insights into Adeniola's cultural background and the grim living circumstances in Nigeria under the military government's Structural Adjustment Programme. At the core is her relationship with her mother, who vacillated in her approach to parenting--love and trust coupled with rejection and distrust. Among the mother's odd behaviors was the habit of discussing nauseating details of patient injuries during meals, which ruined everyone's appetite and reinforced her control. Overall, this is a story of family dysfunction and twisted dynamics in which a particular family member (in this case, Adeniola) was targeted as the scapegoat. Parts of the story are painful to read, and the author deftly explains how to establish boundaries to halt the cycle of blame. The book may help others coming to terms with unhealthy associations in their family of origin. A well-written personal tale of a woman's trials of the spirit and her passage to healing.

Kirkus Reviews