Questions for Ada

This poetry collection is breathtakingly beautiful. Ijeoma Umebinyuo is writing for women, about the experience of being a woman. The poems are about self-worth and self loathing, about love, about trauma, about family. Some are about Nigeria; some are about being a student abroad. There are poems so short that you can hold a whole one under your tongue and smuggle it across international lines, and others that are longer and unfold a whole story.Here's a very short one that I love:Staylet me tell youhow salt fell in loveone day,salt found waterand just would not let go.--OceanHere's a slightly longer one:Your lover sped awayleaving tire marks on your skin.You have resolved to eatingyesterday for breakfast.I watch you gather your memorieslike firewood,warming yourselffor yet another lonely night.There are also about mothers and daughters:You are your mother's amento all her prayersthe calm to her trembling soulshe gathers our happinessrubbing it on her skintill she begins to glowAnother, "Glory"Before the year endsteach yourself five thingsyour mother never taught youthen, teach yourself five thingsyou want to teach your daughterLet me leave you with one about homesickness, called "aching hearts//missing home"At the embassy,they never warned us about daysamerica will feel so lonely,we will gather our mother tonguehastily swallowing wordsthat remind us of home to keep warmI'm going to treasure this book, and I look forward to many more poems and poetry collections by Ijeoma Umebinyuo.

I loved this book from beginning to end. As a twenty-something, Nigerian-American, I can really relate to a lot of the poems Ijeoma Umebinyuo used. I think a lot of women of color are able to relate as well because so many of us face the same issues growing up in one culture at home and another one outside of the home. Her literary talent had me completely enthralled from beginning to end. I plan on buying this for all of my sisters.

Raw but stunningly beautiful words from a Nigerian born poet. I've bought almost a dozen copies and gifted over the years to my friends and family. " 'So, here you are too foreign for home too foreign for here. Never enough for both.' "

Questions for Ada has become an instant favorite amongst my small library. I read the whole book within two days and am going to continue reading it, over and over. I bought this after following Ijeoma on Instagram and Facebook and falling in love with her words. Her vulnerability and intensity demand to be heard. The way she empowers females is essential to our survival as black women. This is now a keepsake for my daughter which I will give to her for her golden birthday when she turns 13. I hope that I am able to get it signed by Ijeoma some day. That would make it even more perfect.Peace

I keep this book in CONSTANT rotation on my kindle but finally decided to get the physical. Literally had read this book about 100 times front to back. Contains such powerful poems that are timeless. Love her and this book.

I follow the author on instagram so I decided to support the book. I read Questions for Ada with a friend ( she's east african ) and she hinted that a theme common to many West African writers appears to be one of sexual abuse and secrets, which I had not notice.Overall, I enjoyed the poems. It really made me reflect.

I love this book so much I bought several copies for others to equally enjoy. Not really a fan of poetry but her work is so beautiful and thoughtful. It is now one of my most favorite that I have ever read.

I follow her on instagram and finally I decided I wanted to hold her words in my hands, and it's already one of my favorite books. These are the kinds of poems that immediately as I am reading them I feel my heart tighten and sometimes tears start to gather in my eyes. They make me feel heavy with pain I am still trying actively to forget, but also light from finally letting them spill out from me onto the page.There are so many beautiful poems here. Even if you follow her on social media like I do and have read many of her shorter poems, buy this anyway.

This is for all those who have been hurt and who are hurting. Its a collection of poems reminding you that you shouldn't beat yourself up when you are in pain. Its a call to be soft when the world wants to make you hardened. The poet invites us to treat ourselves gently.This is a beautiful collection I highly recommend.

This book has been on my wishlist for the longest and now that I can say I'm a proud owner of the book, I have no idea why it took me so long to get it. Why didn't I order it any sooner? Ijeoma's words are so powerful, the words in which she uses yo describe emotion, feeling is beyond me. This was the best decision I've ever made in purchasing this book.

Beautiful poetry, fast delivery too

Absolutely love it!!! Words always perfectly chosen. So deep and beautiful. Bought it for myself and now gifting it to friends.

Powerful, humane, beautiful, a wonderful and moving set of poems. Wonderful images of anger love understanding and pain. It's the first time I've been moved to write a review.