Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

52 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, and Suicide

Minor: Racism

colittle's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Sexism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, War, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Suicide, Ableism, Slavery, Racism, Animal death, and Blood

mmiirrpp's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I recommend also reading Achebe's essay "Africa's Tarnished Name" to get more context on his motivations behind writing this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Colonisation, Death, Racism, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Miscarriage and Grief

zacharie's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Domestic abuse, and Murder

bookish_bry's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was pretty dark in a lot of places often in a pretty casual ways. Okonkwo was not a very sympathetic character, but I think that actually served the message of the book well. Even though I wasn't a fan of the main character, I still sympathized with him in the end.

Even though this was a book very much concerned with the clash of cultures, I think that the generational divide between Okonkwo and his father and then Okonkwo and his son is something we see everywhere. Both Okonkwo's strengths and weaknesses were in direct reaction to his father's life and likewise Nwoye's were a result of Okonkwo's.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, Slavery, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicide, War, Child abuse, and Child death

Moderate: Animal death, Torture, and Blood

witchythey's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

this is an excellent narrative, beautifully woven. it tells the story of a man whose life is fueled by anger and power, but who is clearly tamping down some very tender emotions. his relationship with his daughter ezinma was one of my favorite dynamics in the book; the gender roles within their family are so interesting and complicated. achebe beautifully illustrates the village's rich cultural and religious traditions, as well as okonkwo's place within those systems. the book grapples with many serious topics and the elders often offer timeless wisdom. this was a very enjoyable and thought provoking read, if a bit dark

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Suicide, War, Racism, Violence, Child death, Colonisation, Gun violence, Infertility, and Murder

fnreb's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, and Gore

allysllvn's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I found this book really interesting and intriguing. There’s many heavy topics, but how they were handled and seen in the community was interesting. The ending is as definitely… something. It was jarring and sudden, but I believe that was the point, even if it felt as if the ending had been broken off to me. Overall, I enjoyed reading it :).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, and Suicide

Moderate: Colonisation, Death, War, Infertility, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Blood

Minor: Gore, Animal death, and Gun violence

dank_pikachu's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Infertility, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Miscarriage, Murder, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Suicide, Sexism, Racism, Religious bigotry, Gun violence, and Child abuse

alexandra_skl's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Really deep exploration of the impact of colonization. Heartbreaking but an important read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Suicide, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Sexism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Racism