Marriage to a handsome Ghanaian architect has brought Eva far from the quiet English countryside. Alfred had made it sound heavenly but the hardship drained her of vitality and the foreign culture bewildered her. But Eva has her friends ? Dahlia, Yelena and Margrit ? all of them strangers in a foreign land, who rely on each other to fill the gaps left by distant relatives. When a sudden coup unnerves everyone, and Eva's relationship with Alfred begins to unravel, The Association of Foreign Spouses discover that there are dark sides to their lives and that they must scheme and deceive to protect themselves and their families. Set in Ghana in the turbulent eighties, The Association of Foreign Spouses is a story of a group of women who live in a land that at times defeats them, amongst people who often disappoint and baffle them. Yet through their trials and hardships, the women support each other, unified by their foreignness, as ultimately, they are wooed by this strange place that they come to call 'home'.
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About the Author
Marilyn Heward Mills was born Switzerland and brought up in Ghana, the daughter of Ghanaian father and a Swiss mother. Her first novel, Cloth Girl, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award. The Association of Foreign Spouses is her second novel.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Keris Nine
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
In some ways, The Association of Foreign Spouses covers the same sense of isolation, dislocation and injustice - particularly towards females - that Marilyn Heward Mills wrote about so well in her debut novel, Cloth Girl, but there's a crucial difference here. What makes fitting into Ghanaian society different for the foreign wives in her latest book is that they have no social network of diplomats' wives to support and give the benefit of their experience in a country very different to the one back home. When things go wrong - and nothing is straightforward when trying to bring up children or deal with even the most simple of domestic issues in post-independence Ghana during the eighties - they're largely on their own.
The four women in Association of Foreign Spouses, each from very different parts of Europe, each with different expectations from the Ghanaian men they have tied their fates to, do however, as the title suggests, find some kind of solidarity in each other when the going gets tough. And, my goodness, the going gets pretty tough for all of them at one point or another. Although set against the backdrop of a turbulent series of violent military coups that occur during the country's struggle to succeed as an independent nation, the difficult situations that the women have to face are mostly domestic in nature, almost commonplace - which is to say they feel real and stir genuine emotions.
Mills comes down very hard on the male figures in the book. They tend to fall into the familiar types of weak, bullying and unfaithful, exerting the power that Ghanaian society gives them over women, all of them egotistical, greedy and capable of infidelity or brutality at the drop of a hat. If that seems a little anti-men, the females are not perfect either.... Read more ›
The four women in Association of Foreign Spouses, each from very different parts of Europe, each with different expectations from the Ghanaian men they have tied their fates to, do however, as the title suggests, find some kind of solidarity in each other when the going gets tough. And, my goodness, the going gets pretty tough for all of them at one point or another. Although set against the backdrop of a turbulent series of violent military coups that occur during the country's struggle to succeed as an independent nation, the difficult situations that the women have to face are mostly domestic in nature, almost commonplace - which is to say they feel real and stir genuine emotions.
Mills comes down very hard on the male figures in the book. They tend to fall into the familiar types of weak, bullying and unfaithful, exerting the power that Ghanaian society gives them over women, all of them egotistical, greedy and capable of infidelity or brutality at the drop of a hat. If that seems a little anti-men, the females are not perfect either.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By mrs. p
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
just recieved this book and can't put it down. already i've been taken to another country, i can smell the flowers in the garden and feel the heat from the sun. can't stop i need to read more
By why
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book was in good condition and came on time. The story is different and one I enjoyed very much. I would recommend it.
Format:Kindle Edition
I bought this book because i read the first book by this author, called Cloth Girl. This one was a good read, but Cloth Girl was a more compelling read.
By C. MCGHIE
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Marriage is a struggle and a compromise. Even more so when it transcends borders, nationalities and language. Heward Mills spins a powerful story of foreign wives in Ghana that entertains as well as explains a lot against a rich background of characters and social events.
By Mrs J Cairns
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Interesting insights into life in Ghana for a foreign wife and living through dangerous times The character of Auntie Gee was a fascinating blend of talking in cliches and profound wisdom.
I have rated it 4 because it's not Shakespeare.
I have rated it 4 because it's not Shakespeare.
2.0 out of 5 stars
A little sterotypical but an interesting insight into life as a foreign spouse.
14 Dec 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A little sterotypical but an interesting insight into life as a foreign spouse, perhaps start with Cloth girl her first novel.
By ZL
Format:Paperback
After really enjoying Cloth girl I was thrilled to receive Marilyn Heward Mills second novel. I read it in a matter of days and during that time I laughed out loud, cried and managed to get a stiff neck as a result of the tension and anticipation of what was going to happen.
I have never been to Ghana but now feel I have a level of understanding and familiarity of life there. I was subtly educated throughout the book.
You will not be dissappointed, put it in your basket!
I have never been to Ghana but now feel I have a level of understanding and familiarity of life there. I was subtly educated throughout the book.
You will not be dissappointed, put it in your basket!
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