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cloudwings's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, the book was fantastic, although what I didn't like was the abrupt and depressing ending.
bookzfanatic007's review against another edition
3.0
We have a protagonist who is afraid of failure more than anything else. But he is in no way likable, he's a true asshole. He treats his women and children badly, beats them, scares the shit out of his children. He finds himself against the colonial rule and loathes his fellow clan member for being weak and "womanly".
I really enjoyed this, it has rich story telling and deep commentary on human condition. It explores the clash between Traditional Society and colonialism.
Read time : 4hr 22m
I really enjoyed this, it has rich story telling and deep commentary on human condition. It explores the clash between Traditional Society and colonialism.
Read time : 4hr 22m
lottie1803's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
becca_themoodreader's review against another edition
4.0
Long story short, this book displays what happens when a ritualistic and great African nation with cherished beliefs and norms is invaded without warning by the Christian "Oyinbos" also known as white Europeans.
To begin, this was a mandatory book to read in secondary school and at first glance I thought I would've hated it. But, as my Lit teacher delved into this book, opening my eyes and teaching me to read between the lines, I grew to love this book. It's main character, Okonkwo, is about as strong and impulsive as a man can be and this brought his great demise sadly. Readers would understand why Okonkwo had such passion and determination to not let his village convert to the "white man's way", but the way he went about at it, was shown to be unsound. In addition, I wholeheartedly sympathised with his many wives and children because Okonkwo was a strong man both inside and outside of his house and his family felt the wrath of it, especially his son, Nwoye and adopted son, Ikemefuna.
Also, I get that back then men were seen as the breadwinners and women were there to produce babies and look after them, but good gosh, it's never right to constantly wish your daughter was a boy just because she has "boy characteristics". Like no! In all honesty, this book would've been amazing to me if I didn't feel unnerved every time a gender stereotype was reinforced and pushed onto me.
I won't spoil the book, however, because I believe everyone, no matter the race, should read this book at least once to be enlightened to the African's perspective to what we know in the Western world as the "European imperialism era". However, this book is a pretty controversial book and not for the ones who don't analyse books in their entirety and only read them for fun.
Side note: As a Caribbean, the African names were an absolute joy to pronunciate without butchering them completely and I'm really sure I say all of their names wrong. Also, it felt nice to be reminded of the folklore tales that I grew up hearing as a kid be portrayed in the story as a foreshadowing mechanism.
To begin, this was a mandatory book to read in secondary school and at first glance I thought I would've hated it. But, as my Lit teacher delved into this book, opening my eyes and teaching me to read between the lines, I grew to love this book. It's main character, Okonkwo, is about as strong and impulsive as a man can be and this brought his great demise sadly. Readers would understand why Okonkwo had such passion and determination to not let his village convert to the "white man's way", but the way he went about at it, was shown to be unsound. In addition, I wholeheartedly sympathised with his many wives and children because Okonkwo was a strong man both inside and outside of his house and his family felt the wrath of it, especially his son, Nwoye and adopted son, Ikemefuna.
Also, I get that back then men were seen as the breadwinners and women were there to produce babies and look after them, but good gosh, it's never right to constantly wish your daughter was a boy just because she has "boy characteristics". Like no! In all honesty, this book would've been amazing to me if I didn't feel unnerved every time a gender stereotype was reinforced and pushed onto me.
I won't spoil the book, however, because I believe everyone, no matter the race, should read this book at least once to be enlightened to the African's perspective to what we know in the Western world as the "European imperialism era". However, this book is a pretty controversial book and not for the ones who don't analyse books in their entirety and only read them for fun.
Side note: As a Caribbean, the African names were an absolute joy to pronunciate without butchering them completely and I'm really sure I say all of their names wrong. Also, it felt nice to be reminded of the folklore tales that I grew up hearing as a kid be portrayed in the story as a foreshadowing mechanism.
milkrat's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
3.25
A DAY BEFORE FINALS PAPER TWO RAHHHHH
(i am so cooked)
(i am so cooked)
bookinanook_'s review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Suicide
gadicohen93's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this book within the six hours it takes a jumbo jet to fly from JFK to SF and simply could not put it down. Sure, this is not a sumptuous read: It's simple, straightforward, stripped to the bone. Achebe finds beauty in words that are plain and yet when strung together are quite ravishingly beautiful in their simplicity.
But that’s not really what kept me going. Things Fall Apart is so heartrendingly beautiful because of the full-throttle pump of its plot, the way that the ugly, unlikable protagonist Okonkwo learns to deal with the ways of the less pious, less traditional world, the innumerable motives and drives of each and every one of the supporting characters in their pursuit of their uncomplicated family life.
Perhaps the most beautiful passages occur when Achebe lets us gaze into Okonkwo’s deepest inner emotional core, into his un-poisoned, unadulterated sensitivity. One scene in the particular—when he follows his second wife into the forest in search of the priestess who kidnapped his favorite girl, Ezinma—touched me.
Read this now, please.
But that’s not really what kept me going. Things Fall Apart is so heartrendingly beautiful because of the full-throttle pump of its plot, the way that the ugly, unlikable protagonist Okonkwo learns to deal with the ways of the less pious, less traditional world, the innumerable motives and drives of each and every one of the supporting characters in their pursuit of their uncomplicated family life.
Perhaps the most beautiful passages occur when Achebe lets us gaze into Okonkwo’s deepest inner emotional core, into his un-poisoned, unadulterated sensitivity. One scene in the particular—when he follows his second wife into the forest in search of the priestess who kidnapped his favorite girl, Ezinma—touched me.
Read this now, please.
jellegraaf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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
rhyskr's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.0
I'm not sure how to feel about this book. On one hand I enjoyed diving into Ibo culture and can understand the flaws that come with it are fundamental flaws of man. I also understand why the book came to such an abrupt/unsatisfying ending. However, it left an empty feeling which is probably true to reality. It was surely an interesting read although rather slow at times. I wish I could rate it higher but I just don't enjoy reading about black pain. I wish there were more moments of joy and character development in Okonkwo.