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nick13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
This book gets a three star simply because it is a story that needs to be read. Other than that, I liked how slow the first part is to contrast how fast colonialism took over Africa and how amazing complicated the main character is. This is all to say that this story has the groundwork to be absolutely astounding, yet at no point was my interest peaked. This is due to instead of engrossing rge reader into the story, it instead keeps this standoffish narration akin to a nonfiction. And if this were a nonfiction it would've been amazing for what it is, but it's not which lead this story to just not have the same impact it should.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Minor: Slavery
sas_lk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don't even know where to start. The way Achebe wrote this novel was so clever, I get why it has become a classic.
First, the character of Okonkwo is so well written - you can truly feel his desperate need to prove himself, and you can truly feel the trauma that causes him to act and think the way he does.
The way Achebe slowly built up the dread, until it is all you feel, was so well done. And then, knowing Africa's history, you feel the pain of what happens next so powerfully.
I could write a booklong review about it, but I don't think I could do it justice. Incredible novel.
First, the character of Okonkwo is so well written - you can truly feel his desperate need to prove himself, and you can truly feel the trauma that causes him to act and think the way he does.
The way Achebe slowly built up the dread, until it is all you feel, was so well done. And then, knowing Africa's history, you feel the pain of what happens next so powerfully.
I could write a booklong review about it, but I don't think I could do it justice. Incredible novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual content and Slavery
kenzieb8's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
yolie's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.5
A commanding book, and completely understandable why it is seen as a pioneer of the African literary scene.
Things Fall Apart - whether through inaction or due to the actions of others. This book albeit slow paced, introduces you to a Nigerian community not yet influenced by Christianity and this it follows strict traditional African spirituality and practises. It chronicles a society so rich in culture and identity and its eventual collapse due to the arrival of evangelists.
The book takes a really long time to hit its stride, and despite it being a short novel, it often feels longer than it was.
While newer fiction and writers can be praised for their (better) command of language and storytelling, Chinua Achebe achieved a feat no other African writer had done at the time and this book - in the context that it came out in - is remarkable.
Things Fall Apart - whether through inaction or due to the actions of others. This book albeit slow paced, introduces you to a Nigerian community not yet influenced by Christianity and this it follows strict traditional African spirituality and practises. It chronicles a society so rich in culture and identity and its eventual collapse due to the arrival of evangelists.
The book takes a really long time to hit its stride, and despite it being a short novel, it often feels longer than it was.
While newer fiction and writers can be praised for their (better) command of language and storytelling, Chinua Achebe achieved a feat no other African writer had done at the time and this book - in the context that it came out in - is remarkable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, and Colonisation
Moderate: Violence and Religious bigotry
Although slow paced, as the book goes on you begin to see why ‘Things Fall Apart’.booksngrannies's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Colonisation
kaddyren's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
not for me… very slow and boring in my opinion. ending hit very hard but the middle was very unmemorable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
Minor: Colonisation
monjure's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Suicide
sama_'s review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
kyra_joy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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? No
5.0
Though some of things that happen in this book are quite terrible it is an amazing read. and even though it is fictional the story tells from a perspective that I haven’t read before and it was enjoyable. The use of Ibo words throughout the story really helped to bring the world alive. And the description of tribal life, culture and belief was probably my favourite part. I also think that this story shares a piece of the history of colonization that is hunting and makes you reflective. Definitely will be reading more of his work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, War, and Classism
meganeorcx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Disliked the first part of the book. It was interesting learning about Igbo culture but the misogyny was painful and it was hard to connect to the characters. The second and third parts, however, were much more interesting. The struggle with Christianity added a lot more depth to the plot and made me feel more engaged as a reader. The story overall was very masculine and depressing, but the ending was incredible and worth pausing my own perspective for to fully understand its significance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, and Colonisation
Minor: Racism