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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
I'm still trying to decide if 3 stars is entirely accurate, or if I want to bump it up to 4.
First off, a bit about Adichie herself. Craftswoman of the "We Should All Be Feminists" speech (great, by the way). Featured on Beyoncé's latest album, in the song ***Flawless, in case you were wondering who that random empowering speech-interjection came from. Author of (I think) three other titles.
AMERICANAH is, by definition, a great novel. Adichie writes with the grace and skill of someone twice her age, making deft sociopolitical observations and writing visceral scenes. My problems were very much "it's not you, it's me." Being nearly 600 pages, AMERICANAH contains a lot of story, and it isn't told chronologically, which I'm fine with, but the story was too ambitious, too sprawling, for my taste. I've always been a "why tell a story in 20 pages when you can do it in 5" kind of reader, and this book specifically counteracts that reading style. Impatience, maybe, is what I possess? Regardless, AMERICANAH is well-written, well-characterized, and a sensible Top 10 book of the year by NYT. I'll be on the lookout for Adichie's other titles, because while AMERICANAH was a bit overbearing, I'd love to hear more of her wise observations, more of what she has to say.
First off, a bit about Adichie herself. Craftswoman of the "We Should All Be Feminists" speech (great, by the way). Featured on Beyoncé's latest album, in the song ***Flawless, in case you were wondering who that random empowering speech-interjection came from. Author of (I think) three other titles.
AMERICANAH is, by definition, a great novel. Adichie writes with the grace and skill of someone twice her age, making deft sociopolitical observations and writing visceral scenes. My problems were very much "it's not you, it's me." Being nearly 600 pages, AMERICANAH contains a lot of story, and it isn't told chronologically, which I'm fine with, but the story was too ambitious, too sprawling, for my taste. I've always been a "why tell a story in 20 pages when you can do it in 5" kind of reader, and this book specifically counteracts that reading style. Impatience, maybe, is what I possess? Regardless, AMERICANAH is well-written, well-characterized, and a sensible Top 10 book of the year by NYT. I'll be on the lookout for Adichie's other titles, because while AMERICANAH was a bit overbearing, I'd love to hear more of her wise observations, more of what she has to say.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was so immersive and packed with so many different storylines, but I felt like the reunion of Ifemelu and Obinze was a bit rushed at the end after so much build up.
I also enjoyed Ifemelu’s plot more than Obinze’s (minus all of thecheating at the end), especially her blog posts and discussions on race in America.
I also enjoyed Ifemelu’s plot more than Obinze’s (minus all of the
I absolutely loved this book. I loved taking a vacation in her life. I'll miss this book and look forward to reading it again.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
What I appreciated most about this book how it mixes personal stories with larger social issues. Ifemelu's blog, where she openly talks about race and identity, effectively showcases Adichie’s insights, making the book both interesting and thought-provoking. The characters are deep, and their real-life experiences connect with readers, providing a thoughtful look at belonging and self-discovery. Adichie’s skillful storytelling and sharp observations make Americanah significant and memorable read that stays with you after you finish it.
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated