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cantonchillifightclub's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
adrianagoycoolea's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars-anthropological but has very little plot for majority of the book.
My largest complaint is that the lead up to the conflict takes up the majority of the book. I don’t have a problem with long, detailed, and drawn out introductions, but in a 200 page book, 150 pages of scene setting is not for me. Perhaps If the synopsis didnt paint the book to be about colonial deconstruction of already existing societies, I wouldn’t have had as much of a problem with it, but the crux of the book felt rushed and glazed over.
I did enjoy the snippets of folklore and myth that played a role in the tribes religion and daily practices. These are not pieces of information you learn in your 8th grade history class. However, when the Christian missionaries were introduced, the detail of inhumanity and subordination toward the people already living on the land felt watered down and nothing more than what a middle school or early high-school world history class might cover. From a Nigerian author, I would’ve expected the coverage to be represented more authentically.
The ending of this book saved it. In the final paragraph after Okonkwu had taken his life, switching perspectives was just brilliant. The lack of humanity and sensitivity was truly horrific and perfectly epitomized the white-man’s view of the peoples they were colonizing:
“The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading. One could almost write a whole chapter on him. Perhaps not a whole chapter but a reasonable paragraph, at any rate. There was so much else to include, and one must be firm in cutting out details. He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger”
My largest complaint is that the lead up to the conflict takes up the majority of the book. I don’t have a problem with long, detailed, and drawn out introductions, but in a 200 page book, 150 pages of scene setting is not for me. Perhaps If the synopsis didnt paint the book to be about colonial deconstruction of already existing societies, I wouldn’t have had as much of a problem with it, but the crux of the book felt rushed and glazed over.
I did enjoy the snippets of folklore and myth that played a role in the tribes religion and daily practices. These are not pieces of information you learn in your 8th grade history class. However, when the Christian missionaries were introduced, the detail of inhumanity and subordination toward the people already living on the land felt watered down and nothing more than what a middle school or early high-school world history class might cover. From a Nigerian author, I would’ve expected the coverage to be represented more authentically.
The ending of this book saved it. In the final paragraph after Okonkwu had taken his life, switching perspectives was just brilliant. The lack of humanity and sensitivity was truly horrific and perfectly epitomized the white-man’s view of the peoples they were colonizing:
“The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading. One could almost write a whole chapter on him. Perhaps not a whole chapter but a reasonable paragraph, at any rate. There was so much else to include, and one must be firm in cutting out details. He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger”
tylerouthouse's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-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
4.5
viksquires's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
Another one to revisit. Hardly remember it :/
What I do remember best is the fact Achebe almost lost the manuscript... or it was lost and he had to rewrite it... can't even get my anecdotes straight.
What I do remember best is the fact Achebe almost lost the manuscript... or it was lost and he had to rewrite it... can't even get my anecdotes straight.
paola_mobileread's review against another edition
4.0
This book grew on me - it took me some time to tune in to the style of narration, but after that is plain sailing. The feeling I got is that the story develops at the same psychological pace as event in the life of the main character, Okonkwo: there is a sense in which the first twentytwo chapters set the scene for the last three, where a whirlwind turns everybody's life upside down at an unexpected pace.
The last chapter, indeed the last three pages are almost shocking, and the ultimate message of this book comes really forcefully through them: the dissolution of everything, the devastating force of the colonizing force.
When it comes to colonialism, Achebe is extremely effective in conveying a lot in a single sentence:
There is so much in that "one of the messengers" and "quite unnecessarily": we don't need to know who the messenger is, it's just an underling, but he can wield power on the other men.
A powerful book.
The last chapter, indeed the last three pages are almost shocking, and the ultimate message of this book comes really forcefully through them: the dissolution of everything, the devastating force of the colonizing force.
When it comes to colonialism, Achebe is extremely effective in conveying a lot in a single sentence:
Spoiler
Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at his friend's dangling body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself and now he will be buried like a dog...” He could not say any more. His voice trembled and choked his words.
“Shut up!” shouted one of the messengers, quite unnecessarily.
There is so much in that "one of the messengers" and "quite unnecessarily": we don't need to know who the messenger is, it's just an underling, but he can wield power on the other men.
A powerful book.
emeraldgarnet's review against another edition
3.0
Previously I had studied some of Achebe's poetry at school and enjoyed it. This book continued in much the same vein.
Things Fall Apart introduced me to a new perspective (life for a people pre-contact with colonialists).
Things Fall Apart introduced me to a new perspective (life for a people pre-contact with colonialists).
creana's review against another edition
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
crissybls's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
That ending gave the book a lot of effect..hit me right in the face and left me reeling.
That ending gave the book a lot of effect..hit me right in the face and left me reeling.