Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Under the Udala Trees

Parts of this book are spectacular, amazing use of dreams both culturally and for plot. You genuinely root for the main character, and continuously feel for her. That being said there are parts of this book I wish the author focused more on and I do think the pacing of book in places drags. All things considered if a sequel or spin off for a side character was made, I would read it in a heart beat.

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lindiwe's review

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adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

During the height of the Biafran conflict in 1968, this tale follows Ijeoma. When her father is killed during the war, her life changes as her mother grieves and is separated from her. She is sent to stay with the grammar school teacher, that's when meets Amina, a girl who lost her family during the war, and they establish a relationship that Ijeoma's mother attempts to destroy by cramming the bible down her throat. The author takes us through Nigeria's biafran conflict and how it impacts Ijeoma's childhood, coming to grips with her sexuality, as she marries and goes through motherhood, and marriage problems. A fantastic novel with a remarkable writing style that touches on civil war, bereavement, mother-daughter relationships, religion, lesbianism, and other topics. There was no need for the epilogue, and the blackness and food description were off putting and the way young women's bodies were describe was also problematic for me.

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saintsaens's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

The story and its developments were interesting, tackling a rare subject (lesbianism in Nigeria, a very religious country). Following the span of the main character's life, it was both deeply beautiful at times and very very boring (unfortunately). I felt invested in the book only after a good third of the novel when the main character gets to the boarding school. Before that, the writing was bland, unsophisticated. It did not exactly pick up after, but as the story handled themes and approaches I found interesting, I felt drawn to know what happened. The end was bittersweet, but I can say it was a good read.

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midnightmarauder's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

I really enjoyed reading this book; so much, that I could barely put it down once I began reading it.

Under the Udala Trees tells the story of Ijeoma, a girl who lived in Nigeria during the Biafran war. After

losing her father in an attack

, she and her mother split up, as her mother is distraught about how to live raising a child by herself. This is what ends up with Ijeoma moving away, where she meets Amina.

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,

as they make love to each other, they are found out by the family they're staying with

, and get split up.

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.

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gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I really enjoyed that this was a book that highlighted the interplay between religious bigotry and the LGBTQ community in a non-Western society. Ijeoma was a fantastic and relatable character, constantly torn between staying true to herself and the influences of her religious-propaganda-filled upbringing.

I wish this book had focused a little more on the Nigerian Civil War, a event in history that was very new to me, but I also understand that this book told the story of the war from the lens of a girl who was growing up in the midst of its events. My only big complaint is that her mother

never faced any consequences for being a religious bigot and all-round awful person. Plus that Ijeoma never really reflects on her internalized homophobia as a result of her religious upbringing

Otherwise, I found Chinelo Okparanta's writing style easy to follow, and the story was captivating enough to propel me through the book. For those looking to read this book, I will warn that there are several unsavory topics discussed within and I would check out the content warnings prior to reading!

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sundayray's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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hanreadin's review

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4.0

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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

despite the good writing and dramatic premise, under the udala trees unfortunately proves to be an underwhelming read for me.

i def appreciate okparanta's goal in writing this novel. the horrible plight - both historical and present day - of lgbtq+ folks in nigeria depicted is emotional and harrowing, and i like how the unlikable characters are surprisingly multidimensional. however, i somehow cant quite connect to the characters, esp ijeoma, who always feels a distance removed despite being the narrative voice, thereby affecting my enjoyment of the book overall.

it also feels like many things happen while also not, particularly the novel's last 2/3, after the marriage. focus also seems to be misplaced on certain inconsequential things while important points can feel glossed over.

all in all, though i appreciate the sentiment behind writing this book, ultimately i dont find it to be an enjoyable one.

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