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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cried so much and still want to cry more 🥲
emotional
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Rape, War
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
Before I read this book, I was unaware of the Nigerian civil war i.e. Biafra War.
From the beginning, Adichie transports us to early 1960s Nigeria through the diverse lens of various classes, sexes, and race of characters. I instantly loved Ugwu, one of the lower-class characters serving as a house boy in a professors home.
Adichie is a masterful storyteller. She captured the heart, the character flaws and visceral reality of a nation and people group plunging into a Civil War.
It felt like I was reading personal narratives as opposed to fictional characters. It left me bereft and emotional but as a quote in the book says about the difficulties we go through, “It did not kill me, it made me knowledgeable.”
I’m grateful for the knowledge this narrative imparted.
As genocide continues in Gaza and Russia continues to invade Ukraine, the quote, “The World Was Silent When We Died” stays with me. I will carry this story and continue to speak out on the atrocities that America, just like in the 60s, refused to fight.
From the beginning, Adichie transports us to early 1960s Nigeria through the diverse lens of various classes, sexes, and race of characters. I instantly loved Ugwu, one of the lower-class characters serving as a house boy in a professors home.
Adichie is a masterful storyteller. She captured the heart, the character flaws and visceral reality of a nation and people group plunging into a Civil War.
It felt like I was reading personal narratives as opposed to fictional characters. It left me bereft and emotional but as a quote in the book says about the difficulties we go through, “It did not kill me, it made me knowledgeable.”
I’m grateful for the knowledge this narrative imparted.
As genocide continues in Gaza and Russia continues to invade Ukraine, the quote, “The World Was Silent When We Died” stays with me. I will carry this story and continue to speak out on the atrocities that America, just like in the 60s, refused to fight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, War
I found myself researching the Nigerian civil war while reading this, and I am glad for a novel that makes me want to learn more about its contents. It was a slow start for me, but after the first 3 chapters I was truly invested in the characters and their experiences.
“The world was silent when we died”
“The world was silent when we died”
The real tragedy of our postcolonial world is not that the majority of people had no say in whether or not they wanted this new world; rather, it is that the majority have not been given the tools to negotiate this new world.
It took me a little longer to read than normal because it is a very heavy read. I mean it's about the Biafran genocide and follows an Igbo family as they are displaced multiple times in the "war". An incredibly emotionally dense novel.
And the ending is so devastating, yes it's the end of the war but couldn't leave without one last ruinous incident that absolutely shattered me.
I cannot recommend this enough to learn more about Biafra and the political past of Nigeria through fiction.
And the ending is so devastating, yes it's the end of the war but couldn't leave without one last ruinous incident that absolutely shattered me.
I cannot recommend this enough to learn more about Biafra and the political past of Nigeria through fiction.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No