Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Jumătate de soare galben by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

52 reviews

rebcamuse's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is a beautiful and difficult book. Difficult because of the painful narratives of the Biafran War, but beautiful in the characters who are so vivid and real in their flaws, their hopes, and their lived existence. We meet Ugwu, a thirteen year old boy from a small village who works as a servant for Odenigbo, Professor of Mathematics at Nsukka University. Odenigbo's girlfriend, then wife, is Olanna, daughter of the influential Chief Ozobia, and more significantly, twin sister to Kainene, who was one of my favorite characters in the book. Not blessed with Olanna's commonly-accepted beauty, Kainene is fearless, acerbic, and honest (especially in the latter half of the book when war reaches her heart). Kaynene takes up with Richard, an English writer who comes to Nigeria to write a book about the art. Adichie artfully uses Richard to express the more subtle racism (whereas his ex-girlfriend is outright and obviously racist). For example, in Chapter 6, Kainene says to Richard: "...it's wrong of you to think that love leaves room for nothing else. It's possible to love something, and still condescend to it." This powerful statement is made after Richard is called out at a party for going on and on about the amazing details and complexity of some African bronzes, not realizing the implication of his surprise--why would they NOT be amazing and complex? Richard is one of the three main narrative voices and the way he grows, partially due to his love for and relationship with Kainene, is really thoughtful and not a single narrative. None of the main characters are unidimensional. Odenigbo moves from idealist to grieving son. Ugwu moves from innocent to war-worn and morally compromised. But perhaps it is mostly the story of the two sisters, Olanna and Kainene where this book touched me most. The horrors of war have their own narratives, but Adichie does not lose sight of the human story that perseveres -- love, betrayal, friendship, enmity--everyone with a heart that has to question some of the time.

Adichie does not sidestep some of the particulars of the Biafran War, however. The book is an opportunity to understand better (particularly for those of us who were not taught about the Igbo and the Hausa) the complex politics, racism, and global manipulations/voyeurism that brought about between 500,000 and two million Biafran civilians dying of starvation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

demeryg's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.5

I thought this book was fantastic. Though I would say at  points it was slow.  It took me a moment to fall into the rhythm but once I did it was game over! 
I found the topics in this book really educational and relevant to other genocides happening at the hands of USA and Britain. It was informative and also a beautiful story between the mix of characters and their interpersonal relationships.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

thomasdj's review against another edition

dark informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Death

Minor: Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation

dezzella's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.75

I read this book because my best friend's coworker thought I would like it and she was right. This not something I might have picked for myself genre-wise but I really enjoyed it. It reminded me a lot of how I felt reading Michael Ondaatje and Toni Morison in literature classes. The story started out with some interpersonal drama between the characters and took a somber mood toward the end. This does cover events that take place before and during the Nigeria Biafra war. It's an event I didn't know too much about but I felt for the characters during the story. It was a bit emotional hearing about the devastation that was happening but I think it's also very important to be aware and keep learning about these things.

 Overall really well written. I liked how things ended and I am glad I tried a book outside my usual genre. If you're looking for historical fiction that has a more literary feel, I recommend this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

mirandahedvik's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism

rachela_7's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and War

arayo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Infertility, Racism, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Islamophobia, and Pregnancy

sammelito's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Interesting book, shedding light on a part of history I was unaware of, as well as giving insight into a culture foreign to me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Rape

Moderate: Racism, Terminal illness, and Murder

thealbapoems's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This is an absolute gem of a book. It is heart-wrenching, but I loved every piece of it. This was my first Adichie, and she deserves all the glowing recommendations she has. I will re-read in a couple of years. Cannot recommend enough for people who like historical literary fiction. It has love, familial relationships, class struggle, and it is exquisitely written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Violence

Moderate: Racism and War

the_last_bookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Infidelity and Racial slurs