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space_hag's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dawndiscusses's review
4.0
I listened the audiobook on recommendation and was pleasantly surprised. Adichie avoids obvious assertions, and poor characterization - instead choosing to take a more grounded approach at understanding, and yes still condemning, this largely influential family. I found the writing engaging and the voice acting well-performed.
lesegod's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
danacanterino's review against another edition
3.0
3/5
Lo empecé a leer sin saber de qué iba, solo porque adoro a Chimamanda. Y me entero de que habla de Trump y su familia, y la verdad, estuvo interesante.
Melania me cayó bien, leería un libro entero de esto ajaja
Lo empecé a leer sin saber de qué iba, solo porque adoro a Chimamanda. Y me entero de que habla de Trump y su familia, y la verdad, estuvo interesante.
Melania me cayó bien, leería un libro entero de esto ajaja
esmeem's review against another edition
4.0
This was both hilarious and terrifying at the same time. Poor Melania... Poor America...
anotherlovesong's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
pewterwolf's review
4.0
Review Taken from The Pewter Wolf
The Arrangements: A Work of Fiction is a short story commissioned by the New York Times, who went to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and other authors to write any aspect of the 2016 Presidential Elections. Chimamanda's tale is the first to be published (the others will be coming in the near future, I believe) and it takes the story of Mrs Dalloway and spins it on its head with Melania Trump being Mrs Dalloway in this fictional imagining of Melania's day...
So, you might ask, why did I want to listen to this 30-odd minute reading of this short story? Several reasons. One is the narrator - I have only heard January Lavoy a few times in other audiobooks and I knew I would enjoy her reading of this satire.
The second was Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. After reading [b: We Should All Be Feminists|22738563|We Should All Be Feminists|Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1430821222s/22738563.jpg|42278179], I wanted to read more Chimamanda's writing, but have been a bit overwhelmed on where to start. I do have Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions on my kindle, but have been uncertain on when I should read it. But, when I saw this, I felt ready to attack it. It felt right to listen to this story in the current political climate in both the USA and in UK/Europe.
This story/satire intrigued me. I know it's fiction and I would have loved to be a little longer (this could have been longer and it still would have worked, in my opinion), but it made me tilt my head and go "what goes on behind closed doors? Does Melania like Donald's thirst for power? Does she like his children from his previous marriage? What if she's lonely? Or struggling with her sexuality? What if?"
It is a short story so you are skimming, but there was something here I sunk my teeth into. I enjoyed the writing, the reading and the ideas of The Arrangements so I think, next year, I am going to try my hardest to read [b: Americanah|15796700|Americanah|Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356654499s/15796700.jpg|21519538] or one of her other titles.
The Arrangements: A Work of Fiction is a short story commissioned by the New York Times, who went to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and other authors to write any aspect of the 2016 Presidential Elections. Chimamanda's tale is the first to be published (the others will be coming in the near future, I believe) and it takes the story of Mrs Dalloway and spins it on its head with Melania Trump being Mrs Dalloway in this fictional imagining of Melania's day...
So, you might ask, why did I want to listen to this 30-odd minute reading of this short story? Several reasons. One is the narrator - I have only heard January Lavoy a few times in other audiobooks and I knew I would enjoy her reading of this satire.
The second was Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. After reading [b: We Should All Be Feminists|22738563|We Should All Be Feminists|Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1430821222s/22738563.jpg|42278179], I wanted to read more Chimamanda's writing, but have been a bit overwhelmed on where to start. I do have Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions on my kindle, but have been uncertain on when I should read it. But, when I saw this, I felt ready to attack it. It felt right to listen to this story in the current political climate in both the USA and in UK/Europe.
This story/satire intrigued me. I know it's fiction and I would have loved to be a little longer (this could have been longer and it still would have worked, in my opinion), but it made me tilt my head and go "what goes on behind closed doors? Does Melania like Donald's thirst for power? Does she like his children from his previous marriage? What if she's lonely? Or struggling with her sexuality? What if?"
It is a short story so you are skimming, but there was something here I sunk my teeth into. I enjoyed the writing, the reading and the ideas of The Arrangements so I think, next year, I am going to try my hardest to read [b: Americanah|15796700|Americanah|Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356654499s/15796700.jpg|21519538] or one of her other titles.
salam_'s review
4.0
Chimamanda's writing is SO Beautiful! I'm making my way through her writings, and this short story was like a delicious taste of what her pen can do.
The Arrangements has everything a short story needs and requires to do.
A perspective, interesting and fresh. Explored to the fullest.
An internal monologue, clear and conscious.
A series of uneventful events, that seem mundane, but tell you more about the bigger picture than a 2-page description.
And my favorite, an ending that is neither open nor a happy predictable one. Just right!
The Arrangements has everything a short story needs and requires to do.
A perspective, interesting and fresh. Explored to the fullest.
An internal monologue, clear and conscious.
A series of uneventful events, that seem mundane, but tell you more about the bigger picture than a 2-page description.
And my favorite, an ending that is neither open nor a happy predictable one. Just right!