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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5. The author is a gifted writer. Which is why I’m not sure why this book was hard for me to get through. It wasn’t until over 100 pages in that I was invested in the characters. Of the almost 600 pages, most of it is back story. It is robust and full of vivid detail of 2 starkly different countries, and comparing race relations in the US to those in Nigeria was fascinating and a delight to read. However, in relation to the two main characters, they actually don’t meet in the present time until there are only about 100 pages left, where it begins to feel rushed, and almost out of character. In this sense I think the book blurb is slightly misleading. This is a small stylistic preference I think, because overall the grandness of the author’s story is beautiful, and her thoughts on racial justice from the vantage point of a Non-American Black woman were incredibly frank and insightful. For those points alone this book would still be great. For those who love the details of time and place in a book, and long and languid backstories, this is definitely for you.
The best part of this book was the excerpts from the blog written by our Nigerian heroine Ifemelu,
after moving to the US and "becoming black". The experiences of Nigerians in Nigeria and after
immigration to the US and UK were interesting, and Ifemelu was relatable and complex. I had a few
issues with what happened between her and Obinze. Memorable.
after moving to the US and "becoming black". The experiences of Nigerians in Nigeria and after
immigration to the US and UK were interesting, and Ifemelu was relatable and complex. I had a few
issues with what happened between her and Obinze. Memorable.
Took me longer than I expected to get through, but was worth it all in the end. Beautifully written. Chimamanda is an amazing writer
I found out that this author has made transphobic comments so I will stop reading until she has changed her views publicly. Off to go support trans&queer Nigerian authors now.
A love story told through the lens of race, immigration, and class. A moving book that could have done with a good editor to cut it down to its key beats.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
I don't like Ifemelu. She's a lousy friend, has a superiority complex, becomes classist even to her family and then interrupts Obinze's life after years of ignoring him. But, who said a bad character makes a bad book? Ifemelu's narratives as a racialised person are close and accurate. She has a coherent growth as a person, showing how a woman can achieve wellbeing and career success, and still be a person full of complexities, immature and with a range of decisions that are quite questionable.
That's why I really liked this book, because she is a real person, I know her. She was my classmate in high school, or maybe a co-worker, perhaps I talked to her at a party. I can feel with her her sufferings, live her consequences, mourn her misfortunes and celebrate her triumphs. Of course, I insist, I would never be her friend, but that's OK. At least I had the pleasure of sharing the experience of a black immigrant, of a middle-class woman, of a girl who struggled to be a professional, and you don't read that all the time.
That's why I really liked this book, because she is a real person, I know her. She was my classmate in high school, or maybe a co-worker, perhaps I talked to her at a party. I can feel with her her sufferings, live her consequences, mourn her misfortunes and celebrate her triumphs. Of course, I insist, I would never be her friend, but that's OK. At least I had the pleasure of sharing the experience of a black immigrant, of a middle-class woman, of a girl who struggled to be a professional, and you don't read that all the time.