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caitlinattemptstoread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
2.0
It wasn’t a bad book, but I have a low tolerance for tragedy these days. This was sad, horrifying, violent, and depressing. (It’s about a civil war and a lesbian Nigerian girl growing up in Africa’s second most religious country.) I appreciate that there was a hopeful ending, but it was not a happy one.
The book reflects reality and maybe I’m rating it so low because I can’t stomach our reality anymore. We spend so much time looking at the past and allowing it to dictate our present. I’d rather continue to envision a better future than continue to draw on the grief and pain of the past.
The book reflects reality and maybe I’m rating it so low because I can’t stomach our reality anymore. We spend so much time looking at the past and allowing it to dictate our present. I’d rather continue to envision a better future than continue to draw on the grief and pain of the past.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Violence, War, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Islamophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Rape
cheesepuppy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Hate crime, Blood, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: War
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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? No
4.75
Under the Udala Trees made me feel an extreme range of emotions. At times, there was joy for fresh young love. At others, there was anger at an unjust world. The strongest emotion I remember this book evoking is fear. Near the middle to end of the book, a once neutral relationship deteriorates into an extremely emotionally and sexually abusive one, and it is the imprint of those scenes that have left me with a raw, unsafe echo of a feeling in my chest. It’s not my favorite emotion to carry with me after I finished reading a book, but it means that the book made an impression.
And how could it not?
Ijeoma’s story is one of heartbreak and denial. Growing up during and after the Nigerian Civil War, Ijeoma remembers the pain of her country. A similar turmoil lives within herself as she fights to love freely in a society that would rather stone her to death than abide a same-sex relationship. Through Under the Udala Trees, we watch as Ijeoma discovers her sexuality and falls in love only to have her heart broken time and again. We watch as those closest to her try to cast the devil out, and those she once trusted betray her in the worst ways. We also watch as she loves, dances, and thrives within the quiet moments of her personal joy. I wish I could say Under the Udala Trees is a well-balanced book of joy and sorrow, but I would be lying. There is a lot more hardship in this book than there are triumphs, but it’s Ijeoma’s strength that impressed me through the entire novel.
This is a character-driven book, which means there was no particular plot but instead we follow Ijeoma as she grows up. As such, the pacing could be a bit slow at times. Okparanta’s writing never falters, and I found she has an intense ability to dunk the reader into a trough of emotions. Okparanta does an excellent job of stringing the world together in the background and still bringing it vividly to life. It was easy to become engrossed in Under the Udala Trees, and I was surprised how quickly I finished it. I spent so much time feeling a mixture of fear, regret, and foolish hope that the book flew past.
Unfortunately, acceptance of a variety of sexual identities is still not recognized in certain countries, including Nigeria where this book takes place. Situations identical to Ijeoma’s remain common. It is important to be educated and to fight for the rights of members of the community in countries that are less understanding. From an American perspective it’s easy to forgot that other countries are less excepting of members of the Pride community here, and even in our own culture, we still fight so many homophobic people. Under the Udala Trees reminded me to be grateful for the freedom I have to be a member of the LGBTQIAP+ community without fear prosecution.
This book overwhelmed me with emotion, although I really appreciated it’s scholarly approaches as well. If you have a chance to pick up a copy, I recommend reading Under the Udala Trees some lazy August afternoon. While it is by no means a “feel good“ book, I’m glad I read it once.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment and Grief
leweylibrary's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Truly such a powerful and beautifully written book
Quotes
- "I'm looking for my mother," A small voice now came crying, distinct from all the rest, a girl's, 4 or 5 years old. Something Mama used to say: If you were looking for something, chances are you will find it in the last place you think to look. I wondered if the girl would find her mother in the graveyard. (15)
- And as for eggs, they were a thing like peace of mind, like calm, even like a smile. They were a thing we had begun to have only once in a while. (22)
- Why was it that these questions never came up at church? Why was it that people never asked any questions at church? Instead, everyone nodded, and cried "Amen" after everything father Godfrey said, and clapped, no one asking him to explain anything... I wondered what father God free would say if I can fronted him with these questions. Would he even know the answers? How much did pastors pretend to know? (81)
- Her grasp was tight, painfully even. Loosen up, I imagine saying to her, to her fingers. Loosen up. And I imagine the reply something like this: This is anger. It does as it pleases. (129)
- If you set off on a witch hunt, you will find a witch. When you find her, she will be dressed like any other person. But to you, her skin will glow and stripes of white and black. You will see her broom, and you will hear her witch cry, and you will feel the effects of her spells on you. No matter how unlike a which she is, there she will be, a witch, before your eyes. (196)
- "My point is that business is the reason for things like doctrines. Business is the reason for words like 'abomination.' bottom line is, take your abomination with a grain of salt. My sense of it is that some things are called abominations that really aren't." (232)
- I suppose it's the way we are, humans that we are. Always finding it easier to make ourselves the victim in someone else's tragedy. Though it is true, too, that sometimes it is hard to know to whom the tragedy really belongs. (320)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Homophobia, Hate crime, Murder, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
rheah's review
5.0
A beautiful but difficult read. The kind of books that leave you with a hole in your heart and tears in your eyes at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, War, Grief, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, and Rape
bleepbloop's review against another edition
sad
tense
slow-paced
2.0
Bleak
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
cassandrackcity's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Violence
khymihr's review against another edition
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, and Religious bigotry
edgyveggie's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.75
The story of a queer woman from her childhood to motherhood, set in Nigeria during and after the Nigerian Civil War of the late 1960s. I read this for a queer African literature class, and we discussed how it is and is not a coming out novel. Overall, this novel is beautifully written with well developed characters and a moving plot. It also includes in depth commentary on homophobia within Christianity, which is woven into the narrative in an ingenious way by Okparanta. This novel makes you think, cry, laugh, and will warm your heart. Overall, it captures a non-western queer story in a beautiful way, suited for people in the community and those who want to better understand what it means to be queer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Homophobia
Moderate: Violence
narbine's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Torture, War, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death, Lesbophobia, Violence, Death of parent, Outing, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy