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nkmustdie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Xenophobia, War, Deportation, Gun violence, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Rape, Suicide, Bullying, Confinement, Pregnancy, Racism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Violence
hanfaulder's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The narrative follows Okonkwo, a prominent tribal man. He is characterised at the beginning of the story as being the greatest wrestler in all the surrounding villages, and as a warrior, evidenced by the five decapitated heads hanging in his compound. To Okonkwo, who was a weak child with a father who he considered the source of all weakness, his identity as someone "self-made" and strong is the backbone of the story. Even if these qualities ultimately lead to Okonkwo's downfall; they are important signifiers within our protagonists worldview for masculinity and control. The book focuses pretty closely on Okonkwo's perspective - from rising to the hight of the clan's power, into his exile and his ultimate tragedy. Achebe is even-handed in his storytelling: we can see both how and why Okonkwo does what he does. This does not, however, make him a sympathetic character, or even a likeable one, and for me this meant that some of the emotional impact didn't hit quite as hard. The ending, however, did surprise me and leave me a little teary-eyed.
(Light spoilers ahead)
Things Fall Apart is ultimately a story about identity: both wrestling with one's own identity within tradition and community - Okonkwo sees his son Nwoye as weak and effeminate, resembling Okonkwo's own disappointing father, and his treatment of Nwoye ultimately leads to him abandoning his father's beliefs for the White Man's Religion, which Okonkwo considers 'the prospect of anhiliation' - as well as the effect that English Evangelical Missionaries and The Church had upon the peoples of Nigeria. The colonialism in the final half of the book mirrors the narrative of fathers and sons. First of Okonkwo and his relationship to his father and the kind of unhealthy masculinity which it creates within him, and then how Okonkwo is a lacking father in turn to his adopted son Ikemefuna and his eldest son Nwoye.
Furthermore, this comparison is even more apparent when considering the portrayal of women in the book: Ezinma's mother swearing to 'rush into the cave to defend [Ezinma] against all the gods in the world' and resolving to 'die with her', or when Okonkwo is exiled and flees to his motherland, his uncle says that 'when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mother's hut. A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good... but when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you'. The women take on a role that is both looked-down upon by our protagonist, Okonkwo, for being less than, but which is also the only source of comfort, safety and love provided in the book. Ikemefuna thinks of his mother's songs when he is lead away from the village, scared, before he is killed by Okonkwo who 'was afraid of being thought weak'; and at the same time Nwoye cries in his mother's hut, unable to do anything. I could honestly pull-apart the layers of this deceptively short novel for hours.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Murder, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Colonisation, and Death
calamitywindpetal's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, Violence, Suicide, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, and Death
arborapollonis'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
3.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Colonisation, and Suicide
Minor: Miscarriage
nick13's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Child death, Racism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Miscarriage, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Infidelity
Minor: Slavery
sas_lk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
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.
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Miscarriage, Grief, Racism, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Child death, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content and Slavery
abiofpellinor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Death, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: War and Sexism
yolie'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? Yes
3.5
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.
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Sexism, Child death, Slavery, Colonisation, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Violence
Although slow paced, as the book goes on you begin to see why ‘Things Fall Apart’.kaddyren's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
Minor: Colonisation
bealmg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Violence, Child death, Death, and Sexism
Minor: Slavery