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amyvl93's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
This novel follows Ijeoma from her childhood and her loss of her father to her adulthood, where she attempts to balance her sexuality with what is expected of her by a society that sees homosexuality as an abomination. Okparanta has a really beautiful writing style, which make at times become overly lyrical, but does keep you hooked when you're reading the novel. The sense of place within the novel is also very powerful, from Ijeoma's childhood home to boarding school to her mother's shop that she sets up.
The experience of the LGBTQ population in Nigeria is something that I knew very little about, and this is a very good, if upsetting, light shone on their experience. I did feel that at times Okparanta's messaging was a little too on the nose, and we spend a lot of time looking at Bible passages. I'm also not sure if the non-linear timeline in the beginning of the novel quite worked, given we know from the blurb what the 'reveal' is.
On the whole, I'm glad that I got to read this novel.
Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Homophobia
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Grief, and Domestic abuse
bekatron3000's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Miscarriage and Rape
Moderate: Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
katiehoneydew'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
3.75
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Hate crime and War
Minor: Domestic abuse
emilysbookishlife'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
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia
Minor: Physical abuse and Sexual assault
dfrancis'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Homophobia, War, Death, Hate crime, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
lindiwe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Homophobia, War, Body shaming, Death, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Sexual content, and Violence
wreathedinviolets'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: Homophobia, Death of parent, Death, and Hate crime
jupytwo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Always learn where traditions come from before following them blindly. Religious trauma is infectious.
Graphic: Homophobia and Violence
Minor: Suicide
mariacandet'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
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia, and Hate crime
midnightmarauder'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
Under the Udala Trees tells the story of Ijeoma, a girl who lived in Nigeria during the Biafran war. After
Amina and Ijeoma are in love with each other, during a time where homosexuality was very looked down upon in Nigeria (and still is today). One night,
Ijeoma knows in her heart that she is a lesbian, but it isn't allowed by the citizens of Nigeria, nor her mother. So, she is led into years of self-hatred and loathing, wanting so desperately to be allowed to be who she is, but instead being forced to pretend to be something she isn't.
I found myself sympathizing deeply with Ijeoma. As a black lesbian myself, I know what it's like to be at war with yourself, being both so sure of your own feelings, yet conflicted about them, all at the same time. Just wanting to fit in and be like everyone else, but also struggling with it because you're not like everyone else, and not comforming should be allowed.
Chinelo Okparanta, the author, leaves an author's note about the current stance on which Nigeria has on homosexuality. They have criminalized it, and are listed as the second most religious country in the world. It makes me wonder how many more people like Ijeoma live in that country, forced to hide their love from the world.
Graphic: Lesbophobia, War, Xenophobia, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Genocide
Moderate: Misogyny, Hate crime, and Mental illness
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault