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alicelalicon's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Racism, Infidelity, Violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: War, Death, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
mildlypretentiousreader's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Racism should never have happened and so you don’t get a cookie for reducing it.”
“Relaxing your hair is like being in prison. You’re caged in.”
Americanah chronologies the lives of Nigerian immigrants, Ifemelu and Obinze, an engaged couple. Ifemelu legally enters the United States of America, while Obinze swiftly becomes an undocumented immigrant in London, England. The couple is soon separated by unforeseen circumstances and must rely on themselves to adjust to their new lives. Wrapped in the romance of the two main characters, the readers are thrown into the lives of numerous African immigrants as they navigate America and the UK.
An impressive number of issues are touched upon in Americanah. We watch the African immigrants grapple with the foreign concept of race and adjust and adapt their thinking towards other black ethnic groups in America and the UK. We watch how the pressures placed on immigrant teens can wreak havoc on their personal lives, resulting in suicide attempts. We witness the devaluation and degradation of black men and the over-sexualization of black women. We read about the victims of colorism and the constant and insistent hold texurism has on white society. All of these discussions are handled with nuance and grace.
I was not too drawn in by the plot of romance between Ifemelu and Obinze. I found it uninteresting and rather predictable. I also found that almost all the characters sucked, one way or another. Many lacked intersectionality and could not look past their own opinions. Others were habitual cheaters who lacked empathy. I was more into the political aspect of the Americanah than anything.
If I recall correctly, there were also mentions of Asian people that appeared to uphold the “model minority myth.” This rubbed me the wrong.
“Relaxing your hair is like being in prison. You’re caged in.”
Americanah chronologies the lives of Nigerian immigrants, Ifemelu and Obinze, an engaged couple. Ifemelu legally enters the United States of America, while Obinze swiftly becomes an undocumented immigrant in London, England. The couple is soon separated by unforeseen circumstances and must rely on themselves to adjust to their new lives. Wrapped in the romance of the two main characters, the readers are thrown into the lives of numerous African immigrants as they navigate America and the UK.
An impressive number of issues are touched upon in Americanah. We watch the African immigrants grapple with the foreign concept of race and adjust and adapt their thinking towards other black ethnic groups in America and the UK. We watch how the pressures placed on immigrant teens can wreak havoc on their personal lives, resulting in suicide attempts. We witness the devaluation and degradation of black men and the over-sexualization of black women. We read about the victims of colorism and the constant and insistent hold texurism has on white society. All of these discussions are handled with nuance and grace.
I was not too drawn in by the plot of romance between Ifemelu and Obinze. I found it uninteresting and rather predictable. I also found that almost all the characters sucked, one way or another. Many lacked intersectionality and could not look past their own opinions. Others were habitual cheaters who lacked empathy. I was more into the political aspect of the Americanah than anything.
If I recall correctly, there were also mentions of Asian people that appeared to uphold the “model minority myth.” This rubbed me the wrong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Suicide, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Rape, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Classism, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Police brutality
anneroza's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Racism
samdalefox's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I found this a difficult book to rate. There are so many amazing aspects to it (listed below), yet I was getting impatient as was a bit let down by the end. If I had to sum it up to a new potential reader, think 'Where The Crawdads Sing' but about a Nigerian woman who emigrates to America.
As with long literary novels, Americanah has all the usual pros going for it: excellent character development, and rich scene setting and storytelling over the lifetime of the characters, so you really get to know them. I read this via audiobook and I found that listening to the different accents and knowing how to ponounce African names correctly enhanced my enjoyment significantly.
Pros that are significant to this book in particular: a candid telling of different immigration experiences, an insight into identity crises (quietly but powerfully told through the character Dike), cultural and historical commentary on Nigeria and American in the early 21st Century, and a whole breadth of exploration of race and being a non-American Black woman - from family dynamics, to hair, to accents, to education, to religion, to food, to aesthetics, to colorism, to sex and relationships, this book is a comprehensive insight into a Nigerian Black woman's life supported wonderfully by her blog entries specifically posing questions and observations about race.
The cons are mostly personal to me, I don't think they detract from the writing of the book. The one I was most disappointed with is how Ifemelu (the protagonist) seems constantly defined by her relationships to men. This of course, could be the point, because of the clear consistent love between her and Obinze, or a criticism of hetero patriarchal culture - expressed clearly in the closing chapters in Lagos when Ifemelu writes about her friend Ranyinudo. I just wish throughout the narration of her life, we got a little more about Ifemelu, and not just Ifemelu-and-her-boyfriend-at-the-time. I was also getting frustrated towards the end when Ifemelu and Obinze were circling each other BUT NOT ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING UNTIL THE LAST BLOODY MOMENT.
As with long literary novels, Americanah has all the usual pros going for it: excellent character development, and rich scene setting and storytelling over the lifetime of the characters, so you really get to know them. I read this via audiobook and I found that listening to the different accents and knowing how to ponounce African names correctly enhanced my enjoyment significantly.
Pros that are significant to this book in particular: a candid telling of different immigration experiences, an insight into identity crises (quietly but powerfully told through the character Dike), cultural and historical commentary on Nigeria and American in the early 21st Century, and a whole breadth of exploration of race and being a non-American Black woman - from family dynamics, to hair, to accents, to education, to religion, to food, to aesthetics, to colorism, to sex and relationships, this book is a comprehensive insight into a Nigerian Black woman's life supported wonderfully by her blog entries specifically posing questions and observations about race.
The cons are mostly personal to me, I don't think they detract from the writing of the book. The one I was most disappointed with is how Ifemelu (the protagonist) seems constantly defined by her relationships to men. This of course, could be the point, because of the clear consistent love between her and Obinze, or a criticism of hetero patriarchal culture - expressed clearly in the closing chapters in Lagos when Ifemelu writes about her friend Ranyinudo. I just wish throughout the narration of her life, we got a little more about Ifemelu, and not just Ifemelu-and-her-boyfriend-at-the-time. I was also getting frustrated towards the end when Ifemelu and Obinze were circling each other BUT NOT ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING UNTIL THE LAST BLOODY MOMENT.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Racism, and Racial slurs
nicole_schmid's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Suicide attempt
Minor: Classism, Death, Racism, and Sexual content
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dieses Buch ist einfach nur ehrlich. Viele Erlebnisse von Ife haben mich einfach so getroffen, weil sie mir auch passiert sind und ich sie einfach nur als normal abgetan hab. Ich habe aus diesem fiction-buch mehr gelernt als aus manchem non-fiction Buch. Mein einziger Kritikpunkt: die Übersetzung. Ich empfehle allen, die Interesse an dem Buch haben und Englisch können, die Originalversion. Man merkt einfach, dass die Übersetzung ins Deutsche (und das meine ich überhaupt nicht als Beleidigung) von einer Weißen geschrieben wurde. Das fände ich auch sonst gar nicht schlimm und ich bin mir sicher die Übersetzerin hat sich Mühe gegeben, aber bei vielen Dingen hat ihr das Detailwissen und der Wortschatz gefehlt und vor allem bei vielen der Themen hätte ich es wichtig gefunden wenn zumindest eine Afrodeutsche hinzugezogen worden wäre. Ich bin mir sicher Anette Grube ist eine gute Übersetzerin, aber bei diesem Projekt konnte sie nicht so wirklich glänzen. Ich würde mir wünschen, dass Verlage endlich auf sowas achten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Grief, Hate crime, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
katherinemonroe's review
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This was a great read, though perhaps a bit slow to get through. I was assigned this book for summer reading, but I’m definitely glad to have read it. Adichie’s writing is honest and simple without being plain (i.e. not overly pretentious). It’s very readable and well-written, with plenty of astute observations regarding race, class, gender, and love in both America and Nigeria. The main character, Ifemelu, is a self-assured young Nigerian woman from a working class family who comes to the United States to study. She is likable, compelling, realistic, and relatable. Although the novel touches on many relavent social issues, I would categorize it mainly as realistic contemporary fiction. The plot follows Ifemelu (and her former boyfriend, Obinze,) in her experiences in America, her romantic relationships, friendships, family relationships, studies, and day-to-day experiences. Overall, I think it’s a book that everyone should read. My only complaint would be that the ending (though it is a satisfying, albeit a little predictable conclusion) felt a little less nuanced than the rest of the book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Racism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
ellenmurr16's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
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