Scan barcode
sakisreads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Absolutely adored this book! đ I really found myself loving Ifemelu throughout; she was such a well-thought out character. Her blog was brilliant too! It was very interesting watching her hash out race in America as well, and watching Obinzeâs journey as a parallel to it in England. I have already recommended this book to a friend and will continue to recommend it to many more! Thank you Chimamanda Adichie â¨
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, and Racism
samdalefox's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
3.25
I found this a difficult book to rate. There are so many amazing aspects to it (listed below), yet I was getting impatient as was a bit let down by the end. If I had to sum it up to a new potential reader, think 'Where The Crawdads Sing' but about a Nigerian woman who emigrates to America.
As with long literary novels, Americanah has all the usual pros going for it: excellent character development, and rich scene setting and storytelling over the lifetime of the characters, so you really get to know them. I read this via audiobook and I found that listening to the different accents and knowing how to ponounce African names correctly enhanced my enjoyment significantly.
Pros that are significant to this book in particular: a candid telling of different immigration experiences, an insight into identity crises (quietly but powerfully told through the character Dike), cultural and historical commentary on Nigeria and American in the early 21st Century, and a whole breadth of exploration of race and being a non-American Black woman - from family dynamics, to hair, to accents, to education, to religion, to food, to aesthetics, to colorism, to sex and relationships, this book is a comprehensive insight into a Nigerian Black woman's life supported wonderfully by her blog entries specifically posing questions and observations about race.
The cons are mostly personal to me, I don't think they detract from the writing of the book. The one I was most disappointed with is how Ifemelu (the protagonist) seems constantly defined by her relationships to men. This of course, could be the point, because of the clear consistent love between her and Obinze, or a criticism of hetero patriarchal culture - expressed clearly in the closing chapters in Lagos when Ifemelu writes about her friend Ranyinudo. I just wish throughout the narration of her life, we got a little more about Ifemelu, and not just Ifemelu-and-her-boyfriend-at-the-time. I was also getting frustrated towards the end when Ifemelu and Obinze were circling each other BUT NOT ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING UNTIL THE LAST BLOODY MOMENT.
As with long literary novels, Americanah has all the usual pros going for it: excellent character development, and rich scene setting and storytelling over the lifetime of the characters, so you really get to know them. I read this via audiobook and I found that listening to the different accents and knowing how to ponounce African names correctly enhanced my enjoyment significantly.
Pros that are significant to this book in particular: a candid telling of different immigration experiences, an insight into identity crises (quietly but powerfully told through the character Dike), cultural and historical commentary on Nigeria and American in the early 21st Century, and a whole breadth of exploration of race and being a non-American Black woman - from family dynamics, to hair, to accents, to education, to religion, to food, to aesthetics, to colorism, to sex and relationships, this book is a comprehensive insight into a Nigerian Black woman's life supported wonderfully by her blog entries specifically posing questions and observations about race.
The cons are mostly personal to me, I don't think they detract from the writing of the book. The one I was most disappointed with is how Ifemelu (the protagonist) seems constantly defined by her relationships to men. This of course, could be the point, because of the clear consistent love between her and Obinze, or a criticism of hetero patriarchal culture - expressed clearly in the closing chapters in Lagos when Ifemelu writes about her friend Ranyinudo. I just wish throughout the narration of her life, we got a little more about Ifemelu, and not just Ifemelu-and-her-boyfriend-at-the-time. I was also getting frustrated towards the end when Ifemelu and Obinze were circling each other BUT NOT ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING UNTIL THE LAST BLOODY MOMENT.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Racism, and Racial slurs
justovereherereading's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was a great read. I loved learning a little more about Nigerian culture and then seeing American and British culture from an African perspective. It challenged my views on race throughout the book, and learnt even more about white privilege.
I really enjoyed seeing the two main characters grow and loved there deep connection.
Iâve read a few books this year where race is a main theme and itâs been eye opening. Thank you for opening my eyes to things that I havenât see before.
I really enjoyed seeing the two main characters grow and loved there deep connection.
Iâve read a few books this year where race is a main theme and itâs been eye opening. Thank you for opening my eyes to things that I havenât see before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Death of parent
hotkoolaidpotato's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Sexual content
nicole_schmid's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Suicide attempt
Minor: Classism, Death, Racism, and Sexual content
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dieses Buch ist einfach nur ehrlich. Viele Erlebnisse von Ife haben mich einfach so getroffen, weil sie mir auch passiert sind und ich sie einfach nur als normal abgetan hab. Ich habe aus diesem fiction-buch mehr gelernt als aus manchem non-fiction Buch. Mein einziger Kritikpunkt: die Ăbersetzung. Ich empfehle allen, die Interesse an dem Buch haben und Englisch kĂśnnen, die Originalversion. Man merkt einfach, dass die Ăbersetzung ins Deutsche (und das meine ich Ăźberhaupt nicht als Beleidigung) von einer WeiĂen geschrieben wurde. Das fände ich auch sonst gar nicht schlimm und ich bin mir sicher die Ăbersetzerin hat sich MĂźhe gegeben, aber bei vielen Dingen hat ihr das Detailwissen und der Wortschatz gefehlt und vor allem bei vielen der Themen hätte ich es wichtig gefunden wenn zumindest eine Afrodeutsche hinzugezogen worden wäre. Ich bin mir sicher Anette Grube ist eine gute Ăbersetzerin, aber bei diesem Projekt konnte sie nicht so wirklich glänzen. Ich wĂźrde mir wĂźnschen, dass Verlage endlich auf sowas achten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Grief, Hate crime, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
dear_alice's review
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book took me a little while to get into, but I have decided already to reread this book. There is just so much in this story to make me think, I can't absorb all of it in one read. Absolutely loved it, would highly recommend. No fictional book has made me think about race issues and my own white privilige this much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Racism, and Racial slurs
hot_water's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Infidelity, Hate crime, and Grief
caitlingrammer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and War
seanml's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book says SO so many things about a myriad of different topics. Unfortunately I couldnât even begin to address every single one. So Iâll choose 3:
1. Obviously there is somewhat of an overarching plotline, but much of the book is our protagonist(s) getting through life. Usually I donât like books that just âfollowâ someone for lack of a better word, but Adichie instills such reality into every character that no person is boring because I as a reader can believe there really is more to them. I also love that there were no unrealistic âI can explainâ moments, even when Adichie had ample opportunity to do so.
2. Thank you, Chimamanda for recognizing how ludicrous academic discourse can sound.
3. And lastly, I was tensed up all the way until the FINAL line. Those last chapters played with my heart TOO much!
Either way, most definitely a 8/10 at LEAST.
1. Obviously there is somewhat of an overarching plotline, but much of the book is our protagonist(s) getting through life. Usually I donât like books that just âfollowâ someone for lack of a better word, but Adichie instills such reality into every character that no person is boring because I as a reader can believe there really is more to them. I also love that there were no unrealistic âI can explainâ moments, even when Adichie had ample opportunity to do so.
2. Thank you, Chimamanda for recognizing how ludicrous academic discourse can sound.
3. And lastly, I was tensed up all the way until the FINAL line. Those last chapters played with my heart TOO much!
Either way, most definitely a 8/10 at LEAST.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death of parent, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Hate crime, and Sexism