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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
short stories by a Nigerian author, some set in the US, some in Nigeria
These short stories pull at my heartstrings. I love Adichie’s writing, and I will probably read everything she ever publishes.
I enjoyed most of the stories. The themes revolve around thing Chimamanda usually writes about, so no big surprises there.
I always find "new inmigrants in America" stories very interesting, and there are a couple of those there. I find it amusing how people always picture this inmense source of wealth just waiting for them to tap into it, but reality is not quite like that. It is also fascinating to see the mentality behind those who try (and always fail lbr) to adapt 110% to the new place to not be seen as other.
I always find "new inmigrants in America" stories very interesting, and there are a couple of those there. I find it amusing how people always picture this inmense source of wealth just waiting for them to tap into it, but reality is not quite like that. It is also fascinating to see the mentality behind those who try (and always fail lbr) to adapt 110% to the new place to not be seen as other.
This book is filled with amazing stories, a lot of them felt like only the start and how I wished I could've learned more about these characters and their lives. The voice actor was once again stellar, I could listen to her for days.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
I admit I did not read this but listened to the audiobook. Nevertheless it was fantastic! The reader did both Nigerian and American accents beautifully, and at last I got some understanding of what American English sounds like to foreign ears,( harsh and ugly.) These stories are mostly all somber and deal with heavy issues, the conflict between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria leading to bloody riots, the murder of a four year old whose father wrote an article questioning the ethics of their government, the selling of medicines which are actually not medicine causing people to die, the treatment of women who are sexualized and viewed as less than, and then of course racism, both in Africa and especially in America. The author writes from a feminist point of view, and each story draws the reader in. She is able to paint a compelling portrait in a short time leaving you wanting more. I read this for book club and one person stated that she got tired of every story being one of victimization and felt that they were all following a pattern. I listened to this twice and my experience was different. The topics are heavy, but the female protagonist of each story has such an astute way of seeing and remarking on the events that are unfolding that she appears if not empowered, self aware and on her way to empowerment. I have not read Americanah by this same author, but it is now top of my list.
fast-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
I'm about two stories shy of finishing this. Her descriptions of the small details of life in contemporary Nigeria are so pithy and fantastic and heartbreaking and sometimes hopeful. (I especially love the story on the African writing workshop; I feel like I met similar white Africans in Zimbabwe, and could picture them so well.) There is so much truth and emotion in these stories that I had to put the book down for a while to digest what I'd already read.
*Read again December 2018* Each time I read another story I felt like this one was my favourite, no this one, this one... Each story brilliant in it’s own right!
* Jan 2015* The second book in a row I have given my rare 5* to. I really enjoyed Adichie's Half A Yellow Sun, but I would say this surpassed even that! Each short story was an intense as her whole novel; the characters fully formed, fleshed put and instantly believable.
The stores have a shared theme - the distance between home and a new life in a new culture and the issues which arise. As someone who works with (the children of) refugees settling into a new.country, language and culture it brought some other issues to think about.
Please.write more...
* Jan 2015* The second book in a row I have given my rare 5* to. I really enjoyed Adichie's Half A Yellow Sun, but I would say this surpassed even that! Each short story was an intense as her whole novel; the characters fully formed, fleshed put and instantly believable.
The stores have a shared theme - the distance between home and a new life in a new culture and the issues which arise. As someone who works with (the children of) refugees settling into a new.country, language and culture it brought some other issues to think about.
Please.write more...