Unlike Dear Friend, this book took me so long to read just because it was long and thorough, which I enjoyed.

It’s a unique perspective on colonialism and conversionism (is that a word? oh well), a callout from the perspective of would-be “civilizers” and bringers of religion. Each of the women brings a different perspective and set of lessons learned, giving variety without oversaturating one single character with moral dilemmas; the split narrative also allows for the exploration of different journeys, almost like if you reread a choose-your-own-adventure novel enough times to see all the possible storylines through. The opening and ending were a bit much, but they seem to fit with the setting of the Congo — specifically, the culture and beliefs of those who live there — and with the themes of life/loss and family.