Reviews

Trilogía africana by Chinua Achebe

rsonderman13's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

habeasopus's review against another edition

3.0

This has been on my list of books I meant to get around to reading for a long time. I enjoyed the elaborate greetings, rituals of argument, and the sheer effort involved for the Igbo people to express even the simplest thoughts. Modern society has lost of much of the art of conversation. Thinking has become a solitary, rather than a group activity for us.

Achebe is careful not to romanticize the brutality and hubris present in both the African and European cultures. Instead he is descriptive, almost anthropological, writing from the perspective of both the outsider and then insider. I enjoyed all three novels and am glad I finally took the time to read them.

komalks's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

darren_cormier's review against another edition

5.0

Rating only applies to Things Fall Apart so far, as I haven't read the other two books yet.

r2m's review against another edition

i read things fall apart again and a few chapters of arrow of god but didnt finish

katrinalenhernandez's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 A perfect illustration of how the desecration of a culture leads to the downfall of its individuals. The series also gives a good picture of the periods in Nigerian history: traditional, intrusion of foreign culture, and what is left after the two mix.

sophiefahey's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

readbyraisin's review against another edition

4.0

A brilliant series of books, dissecting colonialism in Africa from the very earliest stages right up to independence.

Note: although these books are published as a "trilogy", 'Arrow of God' reads as a standalone novel. It is set linearly in time between the other two books, but does not feature any overlapping characters or plot points. Whereas 'No Longer at Ease' follows on directly from 'Things Fall Apart', as the protagonist of the former is the grandson of the protagonist of the latter.

bedtimestory's review against another edition

challenging informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

rebeckareads's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

• Rated 6.17 using the CAWPILE rating system
• Recommended and lent to me by Suzie (mother-in-law)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Physical abuse