THE ROAD IS GOOD

The Emmy-winning actress remembers her childhood, her beloved mother, and more.

Aduba, whose Igbo first name translates as “the road is good,” grew up in a family of five in an almost all-white Boston suburb, and one of the most enjoyable parts of her memoir is her evocation of the camaraderie among her siblings and close-knit relatives, including the colorful gatherings and parties they had during her childhood. Her adolescence was marked by loneliness and bullying, but as her standout vocal and acting talents emerged, key mentors helped her find her way. The description of her days in New York as an aspiring actress is satisfyingly detailed, as is the story of her landing the part of Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. Since she doesn’t tell the reader what the show is even about other than to say it is “a story about mass incarceration,” perhaps she is assuming that her audience is well acquainted with its premise and the particulars of her character, but if that’s the case, those readers would likely be interested in further detail and additional anecdotes. Instead, the subject comes up late in the book and is given only a few pages. Somewhat more satisfying is her description of playing Shirley Chisholm in FX’s Mrs. America. Though a great deal of hard work went into writing this memoir, it sometimes feels unfocused, and it could have benefited from some culling and shaping by a professional writer. (Where’s J.R. Moehringer when you need him?) The description of her mother’s life and death are the most dramatic and interesting parts, but they are not well integrated into the overall structure.

Fans will enjoy this generous account of life as a Nigerian American daughter, sister, and actress.