Reviews

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

jwave08's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

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

4.0

ali_winden11's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective

3.25

smfrazer's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars. Not quite as good as Americanah and Half a Yellow Sun, but still excellent.

dkahn17's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.5

coralena's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Violence

sbreadsfantasy's review against another edition

5.0

Purple Hibiscus is my favorite Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie book I’ve read thus far.

The dialogue is powerful. The characterization is strong.

Most importantly, through the story of Kambili’s family, Adichie subtly illustrates the way colonization is still damaging Nigeria and its people without ever saying the word. This book is striking and powerful.

knightowl67's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.25

chl0beau's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-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? Yes

4.0

Loved this book. Was a gripping read that I couldn’t put down. I’ve read a few of Adichies works and this one didn’t disappoint. It follows a young Nigerian girl and her family throughout the tumultuous political and social unrest in Nigeria. However this book felt more intimate and far more personal than Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun as it looked more closely at the family and particularly Kambilis’ coming of age experience. 
I enjoyed how deeply connected as a reader you become to Kambili and indeed the whole family. Adichie manages to explore sensitive and provocative issues such as childhood trauma/abuse. 
I loved this book and would impress it on anyone. 

nabend23's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad

3.5

eonl_1's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0