Everything is not Enough

Lola Akinmade Akerstrom in her sequel Everything is not Enough a continuation from In Every Mirror She is Black continues proving that all people are six or fewer social connections away from each other. She has maintained a great pace in the book, she takes time to walk us through the lives of each of the three main characters and their social circles. This book was a huge relief that literature writing has something going for it after reading 3 books that need much work on them.

You’ll enjoy the book more if you start with the prequel. I wrote my own predictions on how the story would end and I was revisiting my notes having finished the book. I’m glad to know I was not completely off tangent but girl, seems like I am scarred. I write that Tina’s phone call to Kemi revealed something because there has to be a story behind Tobias only being in 2 long term relationships before her and either does not materialize in marriage and further that Tobias has never told Kemi he loves her.

proceed if you do not mind spoilers

Turns out the phone call from Tina was only to check on Kemi and set up a lunch date because she wanted to see her and understand why Kemi would hurt Tobias that much. Thankfully Kemi has God on her side with the pregnancy because it would be a terrible shit show. I predicted that Kemi would get a less demanding job, smaller position and that she learns to appreciate lagom.

I am of course happy to have correctly predicted that Astrid is the problem in Johnny’s life. It is also good that the book does not tie all ends and there is lot of room for the characters to determine how their story ends. I see Brittany-Rae fashion collection being a house hold name, heck I think it already is.

Notable mentions from the book:

• Saloon conversations – How they make saloon trips therapeutic because the clients get to talk and hear stories about other people and much as they hate the prodding by the saloonists, the saloonists in their efforts to understand and get to know their clients ask them questions akin to a therapist that get them thinking even after they leave the saloon. Kemi leaves the saloon not only looking good but also motivated to take up space and light the world with her being.
• The reminder that women need to always take care of themselves. Kemi was feeling bad because of her actions and losing a good man because she did not trust his love which felt too easy and too effortless. In a bid to find excitement, we mess up. Kemi shares that the person who once made her shiver with desire makes her shudder with disgust. At the time, It felt that she had a chance with Ragnor, there was an illusion that the feeling between them was mutual, he was her equal. After a series of dating men who are considered beneath her finally she has the attention of someone at her level. Kemi stops punishing herself and in just making minor adjustments to her dressing and appearance, she is able to regain control of her life. We see the same with Yasmiin when she stops being a house wife and starts doing hair and makeup. She is exposed, she makes money for herself. Muna is also impacted when Yasmiin does her hair and make up and she sees herself as a beautiful girl worthy of love.
• Mistakes as women are unforgiveable. I’ll first explain this from the Netflix Series Desperate lies. The husband cheats on the wife and she finds out. the wife begs him to stay so that they work things out but instead the husband flees to spend the weekend with the accomplice. The wife tries calling him severally but all her calls are unanswered. Her best friend tells her that she needs to go out and forget about her worries for a night which she obliges. Unfortunately while out, her best friend leaves her with what she had deemed as good hands but the guy ends up giving her ecstasy and she is completely blacked out and he rapes her. The husband comes back home and requests for another chance and he says they put what happened behind them. The woman agrees but unfortunately the wife’s “mistake” is unforgiveable years down the marriage. Kemi loses her job, she is cut off in her social circles, she sees judgement in everyone’s eyes while Ragnor takes a trip to find himself, comes back home to a loving wife and is offered a job at the same place Kemi was fired knowing well that Ragnor was complicit in Kemi’s actions.
• Learning that Yoruba ( an ethnic group inhabiting Nigeria, Benin and Togo) have the highest frequency of twin births in the world.

The book’s title is a clear depiction of what the book addresses. For Brittany- Rae its not enough that she married a wealthy man, Its not enough that his name can open doors. She is black and even with the family connections, she needs an outsider to get her footing in the fashion world. For Kemi her work, her family, her friends, are not enough, until she learns her lesson. For Yasmiin being a housewife is not enough, for Yagiz being a Kingpin is not enough, he is still taken down by a close friend.

Muna’s story has a beautiful twist. Her dream has always been to go to university and have a degree in Finance. It does not happen for her in Sweden, Despite being in proximity with Kemi and Brittany they do not really know her, she gets a second chance in life and it opens up new possibilities for her. Its a shame that without her accident it does not seem she would have had this possibility.

Coming back to this draft months later and highly thinking that this writing style lost the reader who has not read the book, my bad, but maybe it works like a blurb and you now want to read the two books. The books are not a waste of your time. Also while reding about immigrants settling in their country of choice, definitely pick up Lucky Girl by Irene Muchemi.