I enjoyed this intimate vision of the life of a Senegalese woman told through a letter written to a friend in the aftermath of becoming widowed. The book is almost entirely about the choices women had and made as career options and social opportunities opened up for them in a modern Senegal. We see the cultural norms which affect women in polygamous marriages both when married and when widowed in this mainly Muslim society. We watch the protagonist struggle with how to be a good single parent in a modernizing nation. At times the narrative feels a bit didactic, which is perhaps not surprising given the author's primary profession as a teacher. Overall, really enjoyed this quick visit to Senegal!