Head Above Water by Buchi Emecheta (1986): A Review
Title : Head Above Water Author : Buchi Emecheta Publication Year : 1986 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Pages : 229 Source : ebook Genre : Nonfiction, autobiography I have been working on Buchi Emecheta’s novels and have already read ten of her books, but I never expected to enjoy her autobiography more than her fiction. I was completely wrong. Head Above Water feels like the behind-the-scenes counterpart to her novels: the uncensored context behind the anger, struggle, and urgency that shape her fiction. In her novels, Emecheta often seems intensely angry at the injustices faced by women, migrants, mothers, and Black communities. After reading this autobiography, I realized that anger was not excessive at all. If anything, it was restrained. The book offers a direct connection to the experiences behind In the Ditch , Second-Class Citizen , The Joys of Motherhood , and her essays. I have not read The Joys of Motherhood yet, but learning about the circumstances that led her to write it was...
