2 out of 4 stars
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A World Without Sickle Cell is a romance novel by Peace Adetoro. The aim of the book is to raise awareness about sickle cell anaemia and bust the myths surrounding it.
Lola is a talented dressmaker who has had more than her fair share of grief. She has lost her father, her first baby, and now her husband. She believes she is cursed. Will she ever be able to lead a normal life, to find love, and have healthy children of her own? She is a sickle cell carrier. That presents a heavy challenge for her as it will sway all her future decisions about love and marriage. She receives the job offer of a lifetime in London. What does the future hold for her? Read to find out!
The book appears to have no real plot. The events and circumstances that the characters find themselves in were engineered to give the author an opportunity to present the effects of sickle cell anaemia. Instead of having one solid plot, the book has subplots and covers many years. We are first introduced to Lola right after highschool and follow her dramatic life as she moves from young adulthood to motherhood years later.
The book covers her relationships with various men. We see the heartrending choices she must make in an effort to prevent her children from having sickle cell anaemia. These scenes were informative, whilst retaining their dramatic flare. They highlighted and emphasized the importance of the choices that couples must make before marriage. I felt this was a necessary element since it is true that many couples avoid talking about topics which are viewed as sombre or "kill-joys".
The only part I did not understand was how fast the characters personalities flipped. Take for example one of Lola's love interests, Stefan, he starts out as cold, rude, moody, and erratic. Once in a steady relationship with Lola, he is suddenly the most caring partner on the planet. I understand that the author was trying to convey that he was initially depressed. However, the change in his personality was too sudden and too great.
I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. Although it bares an important message, I can afford it no more. This is due to its lack of a solid plot. Also, it contained a number grammatical errors. I recommend it to romance fans. If you love Nigerian movies, then this book is also for you as it shares the same dramatic flare.
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A World Without Sickle Cell
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