The Secret Lives of the Wives of Baba Segi by Lola Shoneyin

I had one big problem with this book. It is cultural. I really couldn't get over my distaste for people who would enter into polygamous relationships. I get the appeal--security and companionship for the women, more sex for the men. I get the difficulties--anyone who has escaped high school knows that packs of women can be dangerous--to each other and to those around them. My reaction is not intellectual, however. It is visceral.
So you have to get over that to get into this book, because those dynamics are in play. Baba Segi marries a fourth wife, Bolanle. His first three wives may not agree on much, but on this they are united and opposed. The new wife is young, educated, and wordly. The other wives feel threatened from the moment they meet her, and they put up a big time fuss that doesn't quit. Bolanle has her own reasons for marrying Baba Segi, but she tries very hard to be a part of the family. SHe loves the seven children of the other wives and she takes care of them, tries to teach them--which makes the other wives even more angry. The book quickly develops into solving two crises--Baba Segi wants to find out why Bolanle is not yet pregnant, and the wives want to be rid of her. In a very circuitous plot run, the solution to the first problem allows the second to be acocmplished. But while the plot map of the book is straight forward, the story is in the telling. Wonderful book.