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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
dark
hopeful
sad
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
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
I read this book as a part of Stonehill’s alumni book club. I haven’t been in a book club in years so it’s nice to have recommended titles and discuss the book with others online.
I tried to read Adichie’s Americanah but never finished it, so I’m glad I gave this author another chance through this first book club read. It’s definitely a different style of writing then I am used to, and not as plot driven. I learned so much about the Biafran War which I knew absolutely nothing about prior.
Overall it was a well-written book. Not sure if I would have read it without the guidance of my club, so it’s nice to be exposed to different genres and authors.
I tried to read Adichie’s Americanah but never finished it, so I’m glad I gave this author another chance through this first book club read. It’s definitely a different style of writing then I am used to, and not as plot driven. I learned so much about the Biafran War which I knew absolutely nothing about prior.
Overall it was a well-written book. Not sure if I would have read it without the guidance of my club, so it’s nice to be exposed to different genres and authors.
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
« there are some things that are so unforgivable that they make other things easily forgivable, kainene said. »
this is was so much to take in, so well written. many things could be said about it, but for now i’ll leave it at that.
this is was so much to take in, so well written. many things could be said about it, but for now i’ll leave it at that.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
It’s good, but it’s also quite hard. Goes into detail about the Biafra war, a lot of historical knowledge shared through the story’s of three main narrators.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Rape, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is difficult to get through, not because it's not well written but because the subject deals with the brutal genocide that took place in Nigeria during its civil war in the late 1960's. To read this book is to bear witness to the slaughter of thousands of people.
I was but a child when these events took place, though I recall hearing about the starving people in Biafra. Biafra is the name of the new country that sought independence from Nigeria. With the support of the Western world, Nigeria was able to vanquish the uprising, conquer and kill not only the Biafran troops but many of the civilians of the new country. They also blocked shipments of food so that thousands in Biafra starved to death.
It sounds depressing and many people might turn away from such a story, but it is beautifully written and told through the lives of its main characters, whom the reader grows to love and care about.
Ugwu, at age 13 is lucky enough to leave his village and get a job as "house boy" for Odenigbo, a professor. Odenigbo sees Ugwu's desire for learning and has him enrolled in school. Odenigbo is a radical, who wants a country free of colonialization. He supports the revolution. His mistress, the beautiful Olanna is also a professorwho comes from a well to do family, but is of the Igbo tribe, who are the victims of the mass slaughter, because they are the ones purported to have led the coup (which led to the civil war.)
Ugwu,now 16 years old, Odenigbo, and Olanna are forced to flee the war and soon find themselves living a life completely unlike the one they had previously known. Olanna gets caught up in the violence and witnesses unbelievable atrocities which scar her physically for months.
Reading this I asked myself how I would behave if I lost my home, my job, my security and was forced to live in one room, sharing a bathroom with dozens of strangers? How would I act if I had no electricity and scarcely anything to eat? Would I be the same person I am now?
How the main characters weathered the incredible storm made this a great read, even if it was hard. I like reading historical fiction, too, because it educates me. This book is not for everyone, but I am really glad to have read it.
I was but a child when these events took place, though I recall hearing about the starving people in Biafra. Biafra is the name of the new country that sought independence from Nigeria. With the support of the Western world, Nigeria was able to vanquish the uprising, conquer and kill not only the Biafran troops but many of the civilians of the new country. They also blocked shipments of food so that thousands in Biafra starved to death.
It sounds depressing and many people might turn away from such a story, but it is beautifully written and told through the lives of its main characters, whom the reader grows to love and care about.
Ugwu, at age 13 is lucky enough to leave his village and get a job as "house boy" for Odenigbo, a professor. Odenigbo sees Ugwu's desire for learning and has him enrolled in school. Odenigbo is a radical, who wants a country free of colonialization. He supports the revolution. His mistress, the beautiful Olanna is also a professorwho comes from a well to do family, but is of the Igbo tribe, who are the victims of the mass slaughter, because they are the ones purported to have led the coup (which led to the civil war.)
Ugwu,now 16 years old, Odenigbo, and Olanna are forced to flee the war and soon find themselves living a life completely unlike the one they had previously known. Olanna gets caught up in the violence and witnesses unbelievable atrocities which scar her physically for months.
Reading this I asked myself how I would behave if I lost my home, my job, my security and was forced to live in one room, sharing a bathroom with dozens of strangers? How would I act if I had no electricity and scarcely anything to eat? Would I be the same person I am now?
How the main characters weathered the incredible storm made this a great read, even if it was hard. I like reading historical fiction, too, because it educates me. This book is not for everyone, but I am really glad to have read it.