Reviews

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

africanbookaddict's review against another edition

4.0

http://africanbookaddict.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/the-thing-around-your-neck-by-chimamanda-adichie/
The book is pretty good and a fast read- hence my rating of 4 stars. But I found the endings for most of the stories quite weak. I've read other short story collections and enjoyed them much better Eg: "Happiness, Like Water" by Chinelo Okparanta. I feel like short stories are supposed to end with a bang. I'm used to short stories being extraordinary, shocking, disheartening, exhilarating. Not just 'ok'. My fave stories were: 'A Private Experience' , 'The Shivering' & 'The American Embassy'. The rest were good, but not great. Also because I read 'Americanah' before this book, I found some of the characters from both novels a bit similar.

sohvihihih's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

laurenhurley97's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

moran's review against another edition

dark 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? N/A

5.0

alexainsworth's review

4.5

The Headstrong Historian was my fav!! But per usual they were all so good!

timna_wyckoff's review against another edition

5.0

My elder daughter read this for school and has been bugging me to read it, too, and I finally did. Adichie is such a great writer, and although I personally prefer novels or linked short stories, I found each of these stories to be moving and rich snapshots.

tchaikovskys_ghost's review

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

patmcmanamon's review against another edition

5.0

I'm usually not a big fan of short stories, but this collection is excellent. Adichie's writing style is excellent, and her insight and information about Nigeria, its culture and treatment of women along with its view of the U.S., is instructive and interesting. Love her writing, love her books. Especially loved this book.

elanienneco's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

clearly i loved this i read it in two days!! all of the stories are so beautifully written, so compelling. favs were Jumping Monkey Hill, The American Embassy, The Headstrong Historian (reminded me a bit of Ambiguous Adventure) and Tomorrow is Too Far. and The Thing Around Your Neck. And Monday of Last Week. all of them. so good. 

pauline_b's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars