Stay With Me

How does Adébáyọ̀ explore gender dynamics throughout the novel? How do Akin’s and Yejide’s understandings of gender shift over time?

Analyze one of the secondary or minor characters in the novel, such as Moomi, Funmi, or Dotun. How is this figure characterized? What is their wider significance in the text?

How do traditional beliefs around gender, society, and/or family shape the characters’ lives? How do different characters respond to these pressures?

What is the role of deception in the novel? What forms does deception take, both politically and personally, for the characters?

Analyze the connections between past and present in the novel. How do the time shifts in the novel affect characterization, narrative structure, and/or exploration of key themes?

How does Adébáyọ̀ use devices such as irony, point of view, and ambiguity to maintain tension and subvert expectations throughout the novel? How do these stylistic choices shape the presentation of the novel’s key themes?

How does the novel explore the nature of grief? How does grief shape the arcs of the characters?

To what degree do parental roles and expectations shape Akina’s and Yejide’s relationships with their children and each other? What does the novel suggest about the nature of parent-child relationships?