Scan barcode
rica014's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Death, War, Blood, Physical abuse, Violence, Suicide, and Colonisation
syd_reads_occasionally's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Physical abuse, Death, Slavery, Colonisation, and Blood
gabriella_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
eleek0609's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Racism, Sexism, Violence, and War
nkmustdie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Xenophobia, War, Deportation, Gun violence, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Rape, Suicide, Bullying, Confinement, Pregnancy, Racism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Violence
hanfaulder's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The narrative follows Okonkwo, a prominent tribal man. He is characterised at the beginning of the story as being the greatest wrestler in all the surrounding villages, and as a warrior, evidenced by the five decapitated heads hanging in his compound. To Okonkwo, who was a weak child with a father who he considered the source of all weakness, his identity as someone "self-made" and strong is the backbone of the story. Even if these qualities ultimately lead to Okonkwo's downfall; they are important signifiers within our protagonists worldview for masculinity and control. The book focuses pretty closely on Okonkwo's perspective - from rising to the hight of the clan's power, into his exile and his ultimate tragedy. Achebe is even-handed in his storytelling: we can see both how and why Okonkwo does what he does. This does not, however, make him a sympathetic character, or even a likeable one, and for me this meant that some of the emotional impact didn't hit quite as hard. The ending, however, did surprise me and leave me a little teary-eyed.
(Light spoilers ahead)
Things Fall Apart is ultimately a story about identity: both wrestling with one's own identity within tradition and community - Okonkwo sees his son Nwoye as weak and effeminate, resembling Okonkwo's own disappointing father, and his treatment of Nwoye ultimately leads to him abandoning his father's beliefs for the White Man's Religion, which Okonkwo considers 'the prospect of anhiliation' - as well as the effect that English Evangelical Missionaries and The Church had upon the peoples of Nigeria. The colonialism in the final half of the book mirrors the narrative of fathers and sons. First of Okonkwo and his relationship to his father and the kind of unhealthy masculinity which it creates within him, and then how Okonkwo is a lacking father in turn to his adopted son Ikemefuna and his eldest son Nwoye.
Furthermore, this comparison is even more apparent when considering the portrayal of women in the book: Ezinma's mother swearing to 'rush into the cave to defend [Ezinma] against all the gods in the world' and resolving to 'die with her', or when Okonkwo is exiled and flees to his motherland, his uncle says that 'when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mother's hut. A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good... but when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you'. The women take on a role that is both looked-down upon by our protagonist, Okonkwo, for being less than, but which is also the only source of comfort, safety and love provided in the book. Ikemefuna thinks of his mother's songs when he is lead away from the village, scared, before he is killed by Okonkwo who 'was afraid of being thought weak'; and at the same time Nwoye cries in his mother's hut, unable to do anything. I could honestly pull-apart the layers of this deceptively short novel for hours.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Murder, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Colonisation, and Death
calamitywindpetal's review
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, Violence, Suicide, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, and Death
amayastar05's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, War, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Murder, and Child death
allieos's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Genocide, Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, War, Death, Misogyny, Blood, and Domestic abuse
colittle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, War, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Suicide, Ableism, Slavery, Racism, Animal death, and Blood