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Stay with Me cover art

Stay with Me

By: Ayobami Adebayo
Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
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Summary

Winner of the 9 Mobile Prize for Literature

Shortlisted for the 2017 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction

Shortlisted for the 2018 Wellcome Book Prize

Longlisted for the 2018 International Dylan Thomas Prize

This Nigerian debut is the heartbreaking tale of what wanting a child can do to a person, a marriage and a family.

Yejide is hoping for a miracle, for a child. It is all her husband wants, all her mother-in-law wants, and she has tried everything. But when her relatives insist upon a new wife, it is too much for Yejide to bear. 

Unravelling against the social and political turbulence of 1980s Nigeria, Stay with Me is a story of the fragility of married love, the undoing of family, the power of grief, and the all-consuming bonds of motherhood. It is a tale about the desperate attempts we make to save ourselves, and those we love, from heartbreak.

©2017 Ayobami Adebayo (P)2017 Canongate Books

Critic reviews

"Scorching, gripping, ultimately lovely." (Margaret Atwood)
"This terrific first novel (shortlisted for the Baileys women's prize for fiction) deals with the daily stresses of living with the political upheavals of the time but the real drama is happening in Yejide's womb. Adebayo unfolds the many layers of truth with insight and skill." (The Times)
"A thoroughly contemporary style that is all her own...clever and funny...despite the intense sadness of her subject matter, she has produced a bright, big-hearted demonstration of female spirit, as well as the damage done by the boundlessness of male pride." (Guardian)

What listeners say about Stay with Me

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A moving portrait of motherhood & family life

Any additional comments?

This story, set in 1980s Nigeria, was a slow-burner for me. I nearly gave up on it in the first few chapters because it reminded me of other novels set in Nigeria. But I'm so glad I stuck with it because it blossomed into a powerful portrayal of the pressures women face from family, society, tradition and their own biological make-up, to have children. It also addresses the painful reality and grief surrounding infertility, impotence and the trauma of losing babies/young children to illness.

The plot was well conceived and executed, giving weight to both the mother and the father's side of the story. The bittersweet ending was very well planned and helped to turn a tragic tale into one of hope for the future. The characters were many and varied and the author managed to introduce some humour (as well as horror) into a story that left me feeling sad and thoughtful.

The narration was excellent, full of light and dark tones and beautiful expression.

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39 people found this helpful

  • Overall
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Beautiful realism

This is a very beautifully written story about an issue which is still very real and taboo in Nigeria, causing many women to suffer unnecessarily. I couldn't put the book down. Adjoa Andoh is one of my favourite narrators and she didn't disappoint. Good, but not perfect attempts at Yoruba, but she still made it sound like she knew it well. This book left tears in my eyes.

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36 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful story

I am so glad that I found this wonderful book. The story took me from a place where I was crying with laughter to being filled with sadness as each of the main characters' back stories were revealed. The structure and pacing were well suited to the story being shared. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you Audible for producing this story the narrator really brought the characters to life and I will listen to more books narrated by her.

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24 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating Journeys

This book was captivating on so many levels:
- exceptional quality of the writing;
- the way in which the author got into the heads of her characters;
- the observation and vivid portrayal of Yoruba culture and mores.

This was one of few books I’ve listened to at every opportunity.

There are a few gripes though!

- I found the premise of the married couple’s inability to have children implausible. Yejide lived in a compound with (copulating) animals, had been to an all girls’ school, was at university etc., and would have known Akin’s ‘explanation’ was incredible, literally. Why did she go along with this for five years?

- There was no reflection that I picked up of how Akin reflected on/came to terms with Yejide’s ‘concealment’ of the new situation. Would such a calculating man be so cavalier, knowing his wife could hide something so fundamental? And lie to themselves about her pregnancies? Really?

- The reason for the fight between the brothers seemed hypocritical and Yejide’s silence at the time uncharacteristic.

- Sickle cell disease could be diagnosed at birth in Nigeria in the 1980s. She was exceptionally unlucky to have three SCD children, so would she really have done this to herself? Would Akin? What were Dotun’s reactions? Amniocentesis might have been available too, I’m unsure. But an educated couple like this would be unlikely to have taken three chances without medical intervention. I think there would have been some discussion between the three of them.

Plus, it would be unusual for the babies not to have shown some symptom of SCD when they were younger rather than when they first became ill in the book, particularly Sesan.

Nitpicking, I know, but for her next book perhaps Abayomi Adebayo could research any medical conditions a little more thoroughly, including treatment of Akin’s issue.

- Such a wealthy household would have servants, a nanny etc. Their observations and gossip might have added an extra layer.

- Adjoa Andoh’s narration was as ever first class, but (again) would have been better if she had had the right emphasis on the name Akin. Could she have a Yoruba elocutionist next time please?!

Despite these latter comments, Stay With Me was an enjoyable, well-crafted novel. An impressive debut and then some! I look forward to Abayomi Adebayo’s next book.



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13 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Bad accents and good stories

I enjoyed the story though I’m not sure the connections between the chapters/sequence worked as well as it could have. It reminded me in terms of form, of Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing. But that worked. The sequence felt effortless.but then again, the narration on that was also stellar.

The narration here may of course...no. It did affect my appreciation of this book. The attempt at accents was woeful. Yoruba words lost their meaning, turns of phrase with humour lost that because the Naija English accent was so far from what it should have been and the names always sounded so heavy with emptiness. The narrator sounded like she was trying with the names but they were all so wrong. Yoruba is a tonal language. Wring pronunciation either gives a different word or a sound with no meaning. Maybe it’s fine for those who don’t know better but it was painful for me. Thing is, when the narrator didn’t bother with accents it was fine but that wasn’t the majority of the book. Audio publishers need to do better.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Good first novel!

Ms. Andoh is the best voice for the job. She's even gotten a lot better with her Nigerian pronunciations.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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The sadness is relentless

It's a gripping book and very well narrated, however, the sadness starts to weigh you down and the ending feels rushed and disappointingly not in line with how the main character has been developed so you are left with a really sucky feeling

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7 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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great story - terrible narration

story gave a different perspective on life. narrator - either use Nigerian accent or don't

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I really loved it.

A powerful narrative, with compelling revelations by lead characters. A superb debut presenting Nigeria sympathetically.

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6 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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Couldn't finish the book

As a Nigerian born and bred in Nigeria, I couldn't stand the poor performance of the narrator, I stopped at Chapter 5. I'll opt for the written version.

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4 people found this helpful