Reviews with content warning for Racism - Americanah

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

79 reviews

katherinemonroe's review against another edition

challenging hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

This was a great read, though perhaps a bit slow to get through. I was assigned this book for summer reading, but I’m definitely glad to have read it. Adichie’s writing is honest and simple without being plain (i.e. not overly pretentious). It’s very readable and well-written, with plenty of astute observations regarding race, class, gender, and love in both America and Nigeria. The main character, Ifemelu, is a self-assured young Nigerian woman from a working class family who comes to the United States to study. She is likable, compelling, realistic, and relatable. Although the novel touches on many relavent social issues, I would categorize it mainly as realistic contemporary fiction. The plot follows Ifemelu (and her former boyfriend, Obinze,) in her experiences in America, her romantic relationships, friendships, family relationships, studies, and day-to-day experiences. Overall, I think it’s a book that everyone should read. My only complaint would be that the ending (though it is a satisfying, albeit a little predictable conclusion) felt a little less nuanced than the rest of the book.

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ellenmurr16's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

1.0

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elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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nmiall's review against another edition

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emotional informative slow-paced

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

5.0

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hannah1992's review against another edition

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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? Yes

4.5

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sarzhaliu's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Procrastinated reading this until now, I get the hype

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lily1304's review against another edition

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reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Disclaimer that the author is transphobic, and publicly defends JK Rowling's transphobia from "cancel culture". I don't know the exact details of the dispute between Adichie and Akwaeke Emezi (a nonbinary Nigerian author, Adichie's former student), but I side with Emezi. More context here: https://time.com/6076606/chimamanda-adichie-akwaeke-emezi-trans-rights-essay/

All that said, I'm a big believer in reading works by flawed authors, and allowing what I know about the author to inform how I read and think about their work.

Americanah definitely felt different on the second reading. I'm not sure how I felt about it in 2016, but this time the mood of the whole book was dissatisfaction and resignation. There is endless description of things Ifemelu and Obinze find ignorant or hypocritical about Nigeria, the United States, England, white people, Black Americans, other Nigerians, etc. All romantic relationships are one-sided or tense or fake unless one or both partners are married to someone else. Ifemelu is a weird main character because she constantly has this feeling of alienation, like every interaction she has with another person is stilted and overanalyzed. I liked the friendship between Ifemelu and her cousin Dike, but even that relationship is full of things unsaid.

That doesn't necessarily mean that Americanah is bad, I think a lot of that must be Adichie's intent. But I finished the book feeling like, what's the payoff? There are moments of levity, and there are aspects of Obinze and Ifemelu's relationship that I appreciate, but overall I found myself frustrated with them both. I'm glad I read it, but I doubt I'll read it again.

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