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emzhay's review
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Death, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Hate crime
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Rape, and War
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
anansi_tales's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Rape, Sexism, Homophobia, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, War, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
haley1999's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Rape
Minor: War
ruhru38sb's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Rape
willowbiblio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
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I was deeply moved by this book. It felt like a different version of a story I'm very familiar with, what life could have been like for people I love very much if they had made different choices.
The description of Aminita as a shadow was so inspired because it conveyed how completely she was integral to Ijeoma's personhood. As was the moment when Ijeoma believed Aminita must have died when she didn't show up, because for Ijeoma, the only thing that would keep her apart from Aminita was death. It was interesting that Ijeoma then chose the same route, marrying a man, and enacted her own betrayal against Ndidi but still saw herself as the victim when she thought Ndidi wasn't writing her letters.
Okparanta shifted her descriptions of Chibundu from open and handsome with perfect teeth to "monster-like" as their relationship deteriorated. The description of him "writhing into" her invoked the imagery of a snake, correlating back to her refrain on Adam and Eve. I also loved her use of dreams as introspection/self-reflection for the characters.
I was really impressed by this book, especially how at the end Okparanta addressed that our own awakenings may be someone else's tragedy.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Murder, Homophobia, and Hate crime
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
rionstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Infidelity, War, Misogyny, Outing, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Miscarriage
bekatron3000's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Miscarriage and Rape
Moderate: Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
saintsaens's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Bullying and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Hate crime, War, Violence, Murder, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Rape, and Miscarriage
midnightmarauder's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Under the Udala Trees tells the story of Ijeoma, a girl who lived in Nigeria during the Biafran war. After
Amina and Ijeoma are in love with each other, during a time where homosexuality was very looked down upon in Nigeria (and still is today). One night,
Ijeoma knows in her heart that she is a lesbian, but it isn't allowed by the citizens of Nigeria, nor her mother. So, she is led into years of self-hatred and loathing, wanting so desperately to be allowed to be who she is, but instead being forced to pretend to be something she isn't.
I found myself sympathizing deeply with Ijeoma. As a black lesbian myself, I know what it's like to be at war with yourself, being both so sure of your own feelings, yet conflicted about them, all at the same time. Just wanting to fit in and be like everyone else, but also struggling with it because you're not like everyone else, and not comforming should be allowed.
Chinelo Okparanta, the author, leaves an author's note about the current stance on which Nigeria has on homosexuality. They have criminalized it, and are listed as the second most religious country in the world. It makes me wonder how many more people like Ijeoma live in that country, forced to hide their love from the world.
Graphic: Lesbophobia, War, Xenophobia, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Genocide
Moderate: Misogyny, Hate crime, and Mental illness
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault
emmagiverny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Homophobia
Moderate: Grief and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexism and Rape