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nickgrun's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
daysofeast's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
cseibs's review against another edition
3.0
Things Fall Apart should be required reading everywhere. The book encapsulates the complexities of African colonization, without melodrama or moralizing. The story is so simply told, but Okonkwo and his clan bring to life an important and sad period in Africa's history. The title is perfect as it conveys both Okonkwo's story and Africa's - making the experience both ordinary and personal yet and extraordinary and far-reaching.
No Longer at Ease is a beautifully written, ordinary tragedy. Nothing extraordinary happens, but Achebe writes with such stark clarity about the struggles of an ordinary man that the book is very moving. As a counterpart to Things Fall Apart it is perfect, as the helplessness of Obi mirror the frustrations of Okonkwo. While the book is undoubtedly Nigerian, Obi's story is universal and transcends beyond the context of colonial Africa. Again, the moralizing is left behind, and what is given is the story of a simple man, trying to get by.
No Longer at Ease is a beautifully written, ordinary tragedy. Nothing extraordinary happens, but Achebe writes with such stark clarity about the struggles of an ordinary man that the book is very moving. As a counterpart to Things Fall Apart it is perfect, as the helplessness of Obi mirror the frustrations of Okonkwo. While the book is undoubtedly Nigerian, Obi's story is universal and transcends beyond the context of colonial Africa. Again, the moralizing is left behind, and what is given is the story of a simple man, trying to get by.
mcoovert's review against another edition
3.0
Certainly made me consider the perspective of the Nigerians during the European colonization. After all, progress is good but we sacrifice tradition and eliminate other cultures.
rzeiset's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jocelyn_n's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Things Fall Apart: 4 stars (read 2/23/21-4/10/21)
I'm thrown back to high school and college, where this was THE book we needed to read during English class. For me, I was eager to avoid this book after so many times studying it. Not because it's bad, no, definitely not that. In fact, it's really, really, really well-written. I don't like stories where the protagonist rises, and the plot focus is on the fall. I prefer the fall to happen first and then focus on the rise. Anyway, this is my first time reading this in at least 5 years, though most likely way longer.
I had a better experience reading this than I did when I was in school. Maybe it was just that time has passed, or that I've grown a bit. It's still not my favorite book, but the writing is exceptional. I find myself absolutely loving Achebe's writing style. It feels so straightforward as if I'm sitting and listening to the narrator tell the story.
Arrow of God: 3 stars (read 4/10/21-6/26/21)
Unlike Things Fall Apart, I never read either Arrow of God or No Longer At Ease before.
While the quality of the writing is still good, I didn't really enjoy this book. I could never quite get invested in Ezeulu's story. Maybe it was because I took too many long breaks while reading this rather than reading it in one or two sittings. It could also be that this is how I felt when I read TFA for the first time, but it's been so many years that I've forgotten what my initial reaction was like. Either way, if I ever do reread this, it'll be a long time from now.
No Longer At Ease: 3 stars (read 6/26/21-7/4/21)
I really liked how this book started at the end of the plot, with Obi Okonkwo getting arrested. That's actually one of my favorite ways to start a story. Starting at the end and then going back to find out how the main character got there. I find it eases the stress because you already know what will happen while still keeping a bit of the tension up. That being said, I wasn't a fan of this book. The writing quality was still; I just didn't care about Obi or his struggles. Or, I guess, I cared but there reached a point where I wanted the arrest to happen sooner. I wanted the story to be over.
I'm thrown back to high school and college, where this was THE book we needed to read during English class. For me, I was eager to avoid this book after so many times studying it. Not because it's bad, no, definitely not that. In fact, it's really, really, really well-written. I don't like stories where the protagonist rises, and the plot focus is on the fall. I prefer the fall to happen first and then focus on the rise. Anyway, this is my first time reading this in at least 5 years, though most likely way longer.
I had a better experience reading this than I did when I was in school. Maybe it was just that time has passed, or that I've grown a bit. It's still not my favorite book, but the writing is exceptional. I find myself absolutely loving Achebe's writing style. It feels so straightforward as if I'm sitting and listening to the narrator tell the story.
Arrow of God: 3 stars (read 4/10/21-6/26/21)
Unlike Things Fall Apart, I never read either Arrow of God or No Longer At Ease before.
While the quality of the writing is still good, I didn't really enjoy this book. I could never quite get invested in Ezeulu's story. Maybe it was because I took too many long breaks while reading this rather than reading it in one or two sittings. It could also be that this is how I felt when I read TFA for the first time, but it's been so many years that I've forgotten what my initial reaction was like. Either way, if I ever do reread this, it'll be a long time from now.
No Longer At Ease: 3 stars (read 6/26/21-7/4/21)
I really liked how this book started at the end of the plot, with Obi Okonkwo getting arrested. That's actually one of my favorite ways to start a story. Starting at the end and then going back to find out how the main character got there. I find it eases the stress because you already know what will happen while still keeping a bit of the tension up. That being said, I wasn't a fan of this book. The writing quality was still; I just didn't care about Obi or his struggles. Or, I guess, I cared but there reached a point where I wanted the arrest to happen sooner. I wanted the story to be over.
bobinsbooknook's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A series of well written stories though the first is certainly my favourite. I had picked this up in hope of diversifying from my usual reads and was pleasantly surprised.
I enjoy the depiction of power struggles within the stories and the harrowing narrative of brutality within it.
The only reason I am not ranking higher is simply for the reason that I don’t think I would re-read this or if I did it would only be for the first of the 3 tales.
I enjoy the depiction of power struggles within the stories and the harrowing narrative of brutality within it.
The only reason I am not ranking higher is simply for the reason that I don’t think I would re-read this or if I did it would only be for the first of the 3 tales.
zoya_neela's review against another edition
2.0
This was my least favourite of the three books, and part of that was that Obi's head was not a pleasant place to be. What was going on in Clara's head, or any of the multiple women that Obi was socializing with? In "Arrow" the POA of the narrator changed, and that was part of the appeal. Achebe told the story from multiple perspectives. Here is was just Obi.
Several times I thought there was foreshadowing about certain events, but no reference is made about this later in the story. The story starts with a court case, so it's just a matter of sticking with the story to find out how Obi ended up there.
Obi attempted to walk a line and even found a way to justify what he was doing. It must have been a confusing time, attempting to balance tradition with a changing world. I believe this particular story was set in the late 1950's, at which time Nigeria was contending with independence from their colonial masters. The blatant racism and disrespect of the colonial officers to their Nigerian counterparts was upsetting, and for many of us we live with this on a daily basis. How is it that 70+ years has changed so little?
What will be my next Achebe book?
Several times I thought there was foreshadowing about certain events, but no reference is made about this later in the story. The story starts with a court case, so it's just a matter of sticking with the story to find out how Obi ended up there.
Obi attempted to walk a line and even found a way to justify what he was doing. It must have been a confusing time, attempting to balance tradition with a changing world. I believe this particular story was set in the late 1950's, at which time Nigeria was contending with independence from their colonial masters. The blatant racism and disrespect of the colonial officers to their Nigerian counterparts was upsetting, and for many of us we live with this on a daily basis. How is it that 70+ years has changed so little?
What will be my next Achebe book?
gotossmycausticsalad's review against another edition
4.5
The middle book was less interesting than the other two, but they were all excellently written. I especially enjoyed the way characters expressed themselves in proverbs and winding stories, adding a richness to the otherwise spare text.