An entrepreneur and blogger on instagram with the handle @DairyofaNaijagal took to instagram to share her book review of ‘On becoming,’ a memoir by Nigerian media personality Toke Makinwa.
The Instagram’s book review has since gone viral. While we agree with most of the points she raises about the breadth and scope of Makinwa’s memoir, we think it is possible for a so called “isolated experience of marriage” to be so traumatic and life altering to compel a person towards a journey of “becoming.” The issue is not that an experience is “isolated.” The quality of the experience is what matters.
Read her book review below:
“I wanted to read this book because I was curious about this lady whose hustle I really admire. I also needed to see the flow of the plot which would ultimately reveal the intention behind writing the book
I must commend Toke for putting into words clearly how her parents died and how she felt. I felt her pain too, it was clear this is an experience she often relives. I pray that God makes it easier for her to bear this grief, because it never goes awayThe author of this book has gone through some really tough times. But, everyone directly or indirectly involved was stripped bare, making the book feel like a viscous comment section of a gossip blog -(Spare no details, Spare no one)
According to the prologue, “this book is not a tell all but a must tell”. I disagree. It is a TELL ALL. If it was a must tell, then she would only give absolutely RELEVANT information. But I suffered through a lot of irrelevant references that could only be in the book for one reason: To “report” Maje and his other women to the world
Hence, only ONE chapter (which was the last chapter) was dedicated to Toke’s lessons learnt, her responsibilities from the failed relationship and her advice to women on what to do if they found themselves in her situation. To be honest, I had assumed these would be the foundation of the book, coupled with her strategy in becoming a household name. I assumed wrong
Maje’s name came up 378 times in a 14 chapter book. Toke’s growing career, TWICE
How does one BECOME, only by the isolated experience of marriage? Not to trivialize the author’s marital woes, If someone like Mo Abudu wrote a book titled “On Becoming”, I am fairly certain, there’ll be more to her evolving than what she went through in a failed marriage. Perhaps I’m peeved that I bought this book, if I had waited to borrow it, maybe I wouldn’t feel the need to write things exactly as I see them
Miss Makinwa can applaud herself for writing a book as ostentatious as that of Holly Madison’s. Yes it may sell but it will never be a classic. Feeding people’s curiosity and making money from it, may have been the author’s ultimate goal anyway.
#DANG #myopinion”
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
