The Teller of Secrets

A Novel

De: Bisi Adjapon

Narrado por: Anniwaa Buachie

"Bisi Adjapon writes with incredible vividness and clarity. Extraordinary."—Dave Eggers, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

"Bisi Adjapon uses language like a finely tuned instrument, alternating moments of warmth with devastating revelations about identity, family, and those lies we tell ourselves in order to keep moving forward."— Maaza Mengiste, author of The Shadow King

In this stunning debut novel—a tale of self-discovery and feminist awakening—a feisty Nigerian-Ghanaian girl growing up amid the political upheaval of late 1960s postcolonial Ghana begins to question the hypocrisy of her patriarchal society, and the restrictions and unrealistic expectations placed on women.

Young Esi Agyekum is the unofficial "secret keeper" of her family, as tight-lipped about her father's adultery as she is about her half-sisters' sex lives. But after she is humiliated and punished for her own sexual exploration, Esi begins to question why women's secrets and men's secrets bear different consequences. It is the beginning of a journey of discovery that will lead her to unexpected places.

As she navigates her burgeoning womanhood, Esi tries to reconcile her own ideals and dreams with her family's complicated past and troubled present, as well as society's many double standards that limit her and other women. Against a fraught political climate, Esi fights to carve out her own identity, and learns to manifest her power in surprising and inspiring ways.

Funny, fresh, and fiercely original, Of Women and Frogs marks the American debut of one of West Africa's most exciting literary talents.

©2021 Bisi Adjapon (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

The honest truth

I love going on this the journey of self discovery and cultural navigation; finding her voice amid the pressure of society and having the strength to go it alone no matter the consequences.

Enjoyable Listen

I really enjoyed this book! Esi’s journey to womanhood was both heartbreaking and liberating. The narrator did a fantastic job!

A beautifully honest story of an imperfect girl

Esi is hardheaded, passionate and relatable. That’s why I love this book! It transports you into Esi’s world so vividly and I really felt her pain and her joy. The narrator did such an amazing job of capturing Esi’s voice throughout her development too. This book is definitely in my top 5 reads.

so explicit and honest

great narrator. I felt I was part of the story. Amazing the challenges of women in different cultures.

Storyline

The strong character was likable and I particularly liked the historical setting.
The reader’s pronunciation was atrocious though, and her voice was grating. It almost ruined the very enjoyable story

Wonderful story

I enjoyed following along in Essie’s life. She goes from being a young girl, thinking only of herself and grows into a woman who thinks of others needs. Beautifully written and narrated. I will look for more books by this author

The dairy of an African girl turning into a woman

There’s no words to describe how wonderful this book is. You read and come up with words to describe the book. I love this book!

A Woman in The Making

Bisi Adjapon’s debut novel is a standout among fictional narratives that I have read in years running into decades. The narration by Anniwaa Buachie should not be missed. Author and Narrator go together like caviar and champagne. Young Esi Agyekym allows us to become passengers on her journey from tween into young adulthood. She walks us through a curious precocious girlhood into a self possessed confident woman. Along the way we experience all her disappointments and full female awakening with no holds barred narration about the importance of physical pleasure. During the journey we revisit glimpses of ourselves in remembering lives past. Thank you ladies. Well done.

Internal Beauty’s the name

Loved the narration! The story was a little too titillating at times but overall, quite entertaining.

Enjoyed my time

I really enjoyed listening to Essi’s story. One of resilience and strength and of course hurt and disappointment.