Book title: Going Solo Author: HOPE KESHUBI ReviewED by: Emmanuel Ngabire PUBLISHER: Fountain Publishers Hope Keshubi’s “Going Solo” is a book that will get you thinking about the traditions and attitudes that we take for granted, especially where women are concerned. It is written as a letter from Doreen, the book’s main character, in an attempt to justify herself to Janet, a woman who apparently has reason to be very angry with our protagonist. From the very beginning, the book takes on the tone of a memoir as Doreen narrates the story of her life, starting with her crush on James, a man who ‘was not handsome by any standards but had a charming personality’. Although she is just 16 at the time, she makes up her mind that James is exactly the sort of man she would marry. As fate would have it, their paths cross again three years later and, heedless of her parents’ opposition to the match, she goes ahead to marry him. A cruel fate robs the young wife of her husband, exposing her to the harsh world of widowhood. The book explores the fate of the widowed woman in a particular tribal setting, and all the struggles that Doreen has to endure throughout the tale develop against the backdrop of her status as a widow. It tackles a diverse range of themes, including love, war, corruption, betrayal and sexual abuse. “Going Solo” is a fast-paced story in which the author utilises proverbs, parables and a fluid narrative style to weave together an inspiring tale of a young woman’s determination to succeed despite the enormous odds stacked against her. The result is a highly enjoyable read that provokes the reader to consider the many ‘traditions’ and societal stereotypes that we take for granted without considering the terrible toll they take on the lives of individuals. The book’s one weakness is that the story is not tight enough and a number of loose ends in the narrative were not neatly resolved. Recommended: For beginning readers in lower secondary level (S.2, S.3) for the simple style with which the author tackles profound themes.
