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vas_17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Deportation, Racial slurs, Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, and Emotional abuse
kathis_wonderland's review
- 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
3.75
I wanted to read this book for a very long time. And now I am not fully sure what to think about it. In general, I liked the book. It felt very authentic and gave me a new insight into Africans’ experiencing racism in the US and Europe. It really broadened my horizon. The plot was very diverse. We heard about race and racism, about everyday racism, normal life, struggles, love and relationships.
However, the story was very long. Some scenes were not interesting at all and seemed to make the story longer. I was very confused at the beginning of the book. The author was jumping around within the plot, talking about the present and then jumping back to the past, writing several chapters about Ifemelu's youth and then suddenly jumping back to the present again. This confused me a lot in the beginning. Therefore, it took me ages to get into the story and to start liking it. I found Ifemelu's actions often questionable. She was cheating on her boyfriends a lot. And if there is one trope I don't like in books, it is cheating!
In the end, I started to like the book more and more. We got different perspectives and read about lots of different experiences. The love between Ifemelu and Obinze was really nice. I expected something different from the book, but in the end was pleased. I can recommend it!
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Deportation, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Classism, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Cultural appropriation, Adult/minor relationship, and Slavery
yourlocalscrivener's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Once I readjusted my preconceived notions about the story, I came to enjoy it. It tackles quite a few dark topics besides racism (read trigger warnings). Adichie's writing of the flash backs and flash forwards requires an active reader. Nevertheless, her writing style kept me going even when the story dragged for me in the second half. Also, as other reviewers have noted, the ending is comparatively abrupt to the rest of the story, and... morally questionable.
The book did encourage me to reflect on myself though, in a non-pretentious way.
Overall, it didn't encourage me to seek out more literary fiction, but I'm definitely willing to give Half of a Yellow Sun a go for Adichie's writing.
Graphic: Racism, Deportation, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
nataliebootlah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Ifemelu and Obinze are in love but are forced to move away from one another. Ifemelu moves to America with hopes that Obinze will follow by way of London. Soon fifteen years have passed without seeing one another. And so goes the tale of the journeys that will eventually lead them back to Nigeria and to each other.
I’m not sure how I felt about this one. The book description is of a love story, but it seemed the love story was more of a plot device. To me, the spotlight focused on the experiences surrounding immigration, race, and identity that Ifemelu and Obinze each faced during their respective immigration into the US and the UK. That element of the story was done well and it opened my eyes to experiences I would otherwise never experience firsthand.
That being said, I couldn’t connect to or even root for Ifemelu and Obinze’s relationship. It fell flat to me and I was left wanting more out of their individual journeys. Ultimately, not my favorite read.
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content
purplehulk713's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Cursing, and Racism
erikaaden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
But that’s about it. For me the book was a little too slow and the ending really sucked.
So that being said, still glad that I read it, just will be donating the book immediately and will not recommend to friends like I had planned.
Graphic: Sexual content
hotkoolaidpotato's review against another edition
5.0
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
- 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
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Suicide attempt
Minor: Classism, Death, Racism, and Sexual content
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
- 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
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
hot_water's review against another edition
- 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
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