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lilystheme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Violence
Moderate: War, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
alex_wordweaver'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, War, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
willowbiblio'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
5.0
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I was deeply moved by this book. It felt like a different version of a story I'm very familiar with, what life could have been like for people I love very much if they had made different choices.
The description of Aminita as a shadow was so inspired because it conveyed how completely she was integral to Ijeoma's personhood. As was the moment when Ijeoma believed Aminita must have died when she didn't show up, because for Ijeoma, the only thing that would keep her apart from Aminita was death. It was interesting that Ijeoma then chose the same route, marrying a man, and enacted her own betrayal against Ndidi but still saw herself as the victim when she thought Ndidi wasn't writing her letters.
Okparanta shifted her descriptions of Chibundu from open and handsome with perfect teeth to "monster-like" as their relationship deteriorated. The description of him "writhing into" her invoked the imagery of a snake, correlating back to her refrain on Adam and Eve. I also loved her use of dreams as introspection/self-reflection for the characters.
I was really impressed by this book, especially how at the end Okparanta addressed that our own awakenings may be someone else's tragedy.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Murder, Homophobia, and Hate crime
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
bookishpip'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
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Violence, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
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
saintsaens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Bullying and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Hate crime, War, Violence, Murder, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Rape, and Miscarriage
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
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
rachbake's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Death, War, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
go2hellstephanie's review
- 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
Set during and after the Nigerian Civil War, Under the Udala Trees tells the story of Ijeoma, a lesbian during a time where it is not safe to be one. It is also a story about religion--the questions, the oppression, and the answers it holds.
This book is beautiful. Okparanta's writing is brilliant and insightful, and I felt all of Ijeoma's emotions so strongly. I felt her joys and her tragedies, and I loved it all. Her major relationships--with her mother, with Amina, with Ndidi, with Chibundu, and with Chidinma--all impact her so deeply, and all were explored so beautifully.
This is a lovely story of gay relationships and of religious trauma, but a religion that can also heal. One of my absolute favorite reads this year.
Graphic: Violence and Homophobia
Moderate: Rape