The Bride Price Paperback – November 26, 2012

AUTHOR: SUZANNE POPP, [...] "The BRIDE PRICE" is the first novel written by this author. The storyline only takes place in Africa with a mention of Holland. However, put your fiction "romance" novel down. Take a break. Read something interesting and different. This book is truly a MUST READ! Keep your mind open to a genre change.GENRE: Cultural fiction; Contemporary fiction; Realistic fiction; African cultural fictionSETTING: Blancville, Africa; Copperfine, AfricaSYNOPSISThis story is centered on (3) Generations with emphasis on 2nd generation Mryna Chitundu, the bride that came with a price. She is the only female in an all boy school. She becomes the salvation of her family's woes and is forced to leave school and marry a man three times her age.CENTRAL FEMALE CHARACTERS:MYRNA: Intelligent; resourceful; can read and writeVIOLET: Myrna's sister; not so interested in education; a great singerCENTRAL MALE CHARACTERS:FESTAL: Paid the price to have a wife, Myrna; Uneducated; Raises cattleUNCLE DODGE: Makes money from putting together business deals of finding brides. He is not well liked.STEPHEN: Myrna's brother; will be able to marry the woman he wants as a result of the bride priceWHAT I LIKED: Has nothing to do with slavery in America. Protectiveness of a family (whoa, did not see that one coming). Resourcefulness brings a place of honor. A sister is found.WHAT I DID NOT LIKE: Stephen's life seems incomplete. He is not written about beyond a description of his wife troubles.I give this book (FIVE) stars because while fiction, it was/is a way of life. Very well written as the story touches the readers emotions in "every" way; anger to elation. I really hope everyone will give this book a try....I really do.

I didn't really know what to expect with this book - Amazon suggested it to me and I downloaded it on a whim. The book was a great read. I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this book as the author painted a vivid picture of life in rural Africa for many women. There were a couple of details of the main character's life that disappointed me and a few areas in the lives of other characters that were not fully developed. The end of the book started to get somewhat repetitive. I think this could have been split into two books, which would have allowed for more character development without making the book any lengthier.I still give the book 4 stars because it was very intriguing and I felt connected to the main character. I also enjoy reading about what life is like for women in different cultures and times in history without having to read a heavy historical non-fiction title. My main criticism of the writer's style is how she jumped from first person to third person when speaking in the voices of different characters, but I think that was part of the "spiritual" perspective from which this book was written. For this to be the author's first novel, I think the book was great. If she wrote another one, I would definitely purchase it.

I really liked this book. I know is has some poor reviews, which I can understand, but as their main complaint was about the dsimplistic writing style, I actually enjoyed it and to me it corresponded well with the topic.I started reading this book thinking it would be about the injustice of a young educated girl being sold into a marriage, whereas it was a story of 'life goes on' and it can be what you make of it, as well as how you deal with things which are thrown at you and beyond your control. The impact of AIDS/HIV on families and communities was devastating and it took the book from being a sweet tale to that of something to think about.There were some time leaps which seemd to come out of nowhere and we lost track of some people (eg. the brother who became a taxi driver) and unexpectedly an apparition made her presence later in the book, but it added to the flow and colour of the book.I loved the settings, the people and the things that mattered.

I really enjoyed this one. When chapter one, page one began with the confusing aftermath of a rape, I wasn't sure I would stick with it, but I'm glad I did. The story follows Myrna from the 60s into the 21st century, introducing us to 4 generations of the Chitundu family, and allowing us to experience Zambian family life and history from the inside. We see arranged marriages and love matches, Christianity and traditional religion, colonial rule and independence, abundance and scarcity, health and the AIDS epidemic, education and illiteracy, marriage within one's tribe and marriage outside one's race, all through the eyes of the Chitundu family. It is a story of forgiveness and love and faith and courage and perseverance. There is some adult content.

I love novels set in Africa, but often they are sad. The author presented the realities of African life of one family both the lovely and the heart wrenching in such a magical way. There were so many beautiful parables that I think readers across cultures can relate to and apply to their own life. At times I felt like I was reading a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel. I enjoyed the epic family story and also would compare this book to Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, but the author had a softer more feminine approach. Having volunteered as a nurse in Uganda, I felt like I was transported back to my time there and I also felt like this novel gave me more insight into a culture so much different than my own. It brings to light that we all have a story, we all have humanity and it reminds us that love and respect really do bring people together. This is my first book review and I'm so pleased to highly recommend this book to everyone!

I found this an interesting tale. Having grown up in Africa, it was particularly pertinent to my memories and I enjoyed the richness of the African culture which was prevalent throughout. The story went in unexpected directions and there was a moving reality to each strand that held me enthralled. A lovely read.

A fascinating insight into a very different world.

A lovely and well written story. Well worth the read. As you read you can picture the family and their surroundings so descriptive. I hope I am my husband's Impala Woman.

I really enjoyed the insight into the lives of the African women this book and how the Aids epidemic in Africa affected families.