I finally have my Ties That Tether review here for you. I am so sorry for the delay. Life got a wee bit busy. You know how it us for us busy folks these days. No worries, this book is receiving 4 STARS from little old me.
Ties That Tether was my October Book of the Month pick and I couldn’t be happier that it arrived at my door. If you haven’t joined Book of the Month, I urge you to try it.
I’m not going to be messy with my Ties That Tether review, I’m going to keep it pretty pretty.
Let’s start with a word from the author. . .
Publisher’s Description
When a Nigerian woman falls for a man she knows will break her mother’s heart, she must choose between love and her family.
At twelve years old, Azere promised her dying father she would marry a Nigerian man and preserve her culture, even after immigrating to Canada. Her mother has been vigilant about helping—well forcing—her to stay within the Nigerian dating pool ever since. But when another match-made-by-mom goes wrong, Azere ends up at a bar, enjoying the company and later sharing the bed of Rafael Castellano, a man who is tall, handsome, and…white.
When their one-night stand unexpectedly evolves into something serious, Azere is caught between her feelings for Rafael and the compulsive need to please her mother. Soon, Azere can’t help wondering if loving Rafael makes her any less of a Nigerian. Can she be with him without compromising her identity? The answer will either cause Azere to be audacious and fight for her happiness or continue as the compliant daughter.
Ties That Tether Review
Why did I pick Ties That Tether for my Book of the Month? Simple, I love the dynamics of blending different cultures together. As a black American married to a white Scottish man, it always intrigues me to learn how other people navigate the complexities that come along with interracial dating/marriage.
Ties That Tether is based gives us a beautiful story, set the wonderful city of Toronto. I took my daughter there to see Bruno Mars in concert.
Our leading lady, Azere finds herself in a tricky situation. She’s trying to find away to reconcile with her heart and her head. At the same time, she’s in conflict with her heart and her culture, and her heart and her mother. As an Nigerian immigrant, she feels the pressure to succeed while holding on to her culture and wanting to embrace her life as a Canadian at the same time.
“Immigrants chase success differently because we have something to prove to the people we left behind and the people who note our differences.” – Azere
Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo
The one thing that Azere was never to do, she did. She got down and dirty with a white man. Let me tell you, her mama is not a fan of that. I can’t personally relate to that because my family could care less what color my husband is, only that he treats me like a queen.
The author did a fantastic job at capturing the internal conflict that Azere was facing. She takes us on the emotional rollercoaster right along with Azere. I was able to feel everything Azere felt though the author’s words and storytelling. I felt her pain, anguish, hurt and disappointment as though they were my own.
My Favorite Bits Are Below 🙂
The struggles that Azere faced with her family made me want to call my mother and thank her for accepting my husband without question. I gained a new appreciation for my mama’s understanding.
It became clear to me after awhile that Azere’s mother didn’t want her with any man who didn’t share the same culture in order to keep the Nigerian part of them alive regardless of the fact that they lived in Canada. It wasn’t just white men she didn’t want her daughter dating, it wasn’t just about race, it was about culture. He could have been a black Canadian and her mama would have had a problem.
“I’ve been dealing with the quilt of disappointing my parents. I’ve been dealing with the fact that my mother disowned me. It’s been killing me.” – Azere
Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo
As I dove deeper into the story, I begin to reflect on the lives of the African men and women that I’ve grown close to over the years. They have spoken to me before about not wanting to disappoint their parents and making sure they keep their culture alive. So, on one hand, I understand why Azere’s mother was hurt. It didn’t matter whether I agreed or not.
Ties That Tether is a complex stories with many layers and it was a joy unfold and discover every single bit of this book.
Now for the important questions. . .
Do I recommend Ties That Tether? I do. It’s a powerful book that opens up the reader’s eyes to the difficulties immigrants face. It gives readers the chance to step outside of their comfort zone and gain an understanding they didn’t even know they needed.
Will I read another book by Jane Igharo? Yes, and I look forward to it.
I told you I wasn’t going to be messy, I kept it all the way pretty.
Now go and get the book! …..Don’t forget to share on Pinterest!
