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Swallow Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Swallow


Two Nigerian women explore their relationship as best friends and their choices in men. Rose loses her job after she slaps her boss. He wanted her to be his girlfriend and had inappropriately touched her again. Rose had promised herself that he wouldn't simply keep getting away with it. Sexual harassment was an accepted practices in their company and among many male Nigerians. Even though Rose had worked for Salako seven years and would have no recourse and their was nothing her best friend could do to help Rose. Her rent due and no where to go Rose only knows she couldn't keep that pig of a boss grope her.
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Rose aware of Salako's dirty business with stealing from the bank that had employed them both knew things would end badly. Wanting to marry (but not just anyone) she had been putting off his advances for a long time. Working for a man who wanted her romantically put her in a bad light with her co-workers who treated Rose with distrust.

Her best friend Tolani is also concerned about marriage. She has been dating Sanwo for two years . He hasn't been able to come up with a dowry. Rose discourages her for not dumping him. Tolani has had eight boyfriends and no marriage so she wants to give the current guy six months to get it together. She believes a dowry is primitive as many of the traditions that she is expected to uphold as a Nigerian woman. Her dating record makes her different from other girls who date discretely. A previous boyfriend even tried to douse Tolani with acid for turning him down.

Rose has a tumultuous relationship with her mother Sisi and sister Violet. Violet cares about money and putting people down. Her mother often takes her side when she and Rose argue. A physical fight between the two which had been a long time coming proved that Rose would always be the one blamed for defending herself against Violet's personal attacks.

When Rose and Tolani see an old friend in the market square he is with an American friend. He pays for Rose's shoes when their friend Johnny pleads broke. OC the American, tells Rose he wants to marry her. She and Rose rent a room together. Their landlady Mrs. Duorjaiye is a mean unsmiling woman. Sanwo starts coming by the flat and is soon spending the night. Tolani is mindful of keeping her neighbors out of her business but can't seem to fool Mrs. Duorjaiye.

Mrs. Duorjaiye is an older woman who runs a house and works outside. She has recently been attending union meetings in support of the doctors she works for. A strike is brewing and the thought of fighting for something she believes in (better pay) is exciting.

Tolani is really worried for Rose as she accepts money from OC. Rose hadn't bothered to look for a job when she was fired. Tolani would often return from her job and find Rose lounging drinking beer and watching television.

Saloka is investigated after Tolani reports him and he is smart enough not to fire hire her soon after firing Rose. She gets help from Mrs. Duorjaiye who is learning about the grievance process with her union work. Both women agree that wealthy bosses get away with murder and they want the practice stopped.

Sanwo was spending time with Tolani at her place since Rose was now always out with O.G. She tells him she wants to move out her flat. She doesn't want O.G.'s money (she thinks it is ill gotten) to cause her trouble when Rose pays her half of the rent. Bringing it up is really a way to feel Sanwo out on her moving in with him. His six months grace to propose is coming close.

He's a very neat man in his own home. At Tolani's he eats and leaves his plate on the table, his socks are on her bedroom floor and he is careless about her living space. She can barely finish eating at his house before she finds him moving her glass and dish to the kitchen.

He doesn't put up with her complaining, he wants Tolani to be the perfect woman. This causes her stomach to hurt as she questions her loyalty to him.


When Mrs Duorjayie's ten-year-old son drowns the neighbors gather around to offer support by telling her to be strong. Taloni doesn't believe you should be strong when you lose a loved one. Watching her neighbors hold Mrs. Durojaiye in within a tight circle makes Taloni think of the day she found her father dead. No, she finds her neighbors behavior a appalling . A person has a right to grieve in whatever way they can manage.

As she walks away from her neighbors and landlady. Tolani spots a young boy about Ayo's age. It is Ayo,he'd fallen into a septic tank and had somehow gotten free. Covered in feces and bits of garbage he tells Taloni his mother will beat him because he shouldn't have been playing by the tank. Taloni assures him that she will thankful that he is alive. Mrs. Duorjaiye is so happy to see her son alive that she smiles for the first time in a long time.

Rose stops by the flat just to check in. She tells Tolani that she will be moving in with OC. Tolani promises to invest in Salowa's business. When he comes to pick up the money she has for him he tells her the business is buying dogs and selling them to clients. She doesn't want to go through with it and he angers and then acts very cool. She can keep he money if she doesn't want believe in him. She goes along reluctantly reminding him that it is an investment and not a loan. She wants to see a return.

Tolani and Rose and never the tight girlfriends they were before the two men entered their lives. Now Tolani sees Rose as an opportunist and Rose believes Tolani is a fool waiting on Solawa to marry her. Rose finally wakes up and sees how much of herself she is losing trying to be perfect for a selfish man. he has a heart to heart conversation with her mother who shares what love and marriage mean to her. Tolani realizes she deserves better and leaves Solawa alone.
Best part of story, including ending: I liked that the story addressed sexual harassment.

Best scene in story: I liked that Tolani stood up to her boss.

Opinion about the main character: I liked that Tolani was able to bring Ayo home safely.

The review of this Book prepared by C. Imani Williams a Level 13 Blue-Winged Teal scholar

Chapter Analysis of Swallow

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Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   thoughtful Time/era of story    -   2000+ (Present Day) Romance/Romance Problems    -   Yes Kind of romance:    -   black people romance Ethnic/Regional/Religion    -   African Blacks Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Ethnic/regional/gender life    -   Yes

Main Character

Gender    -   Female Profession/status:    -   secretary Ethnicity/Nationality    -   Black (American)

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   4 () Africa    -   Yes Kind of Africa:    -   Black Africa

Writing Style

Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   descript of kissing    -   touching of anatomy Amount of dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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Sefi Atta Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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