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A review by steelcitygator
No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe
3.0
The follow on to the first of his African Trilogy loses some of the mysticism and flow of the first work but retains an easy and engaging read that feels differently authentic to the changing time period and the changes in society of Nigeria over the two generations after the original work is set. It, for sure in my opinion, is a slightly less interesting work than the first but again provides a valuable look at the lasting impacts of colonial rule after the most violent parts.
Many of my comments from the original could be restated here in terms of writing style, flow, vision, etc. But despite that, the difference between fledgling tradition and independence in the face of cultural conquest to that conquest partially done and everything in flux is an important distinction and makes the work feel both familiar and unique in a way that feels highly intentional.
The whole trilogy being shorter than some books I will read this year means I still highly recommend working through them all. Book two, while a step back, remains asking important questions and doing important reflection not only for Nigeria and Africa or post-Colonial societies but for everyone wrestling with the human cultural condition.
Many of my comments from the original could be restated here in terms of writing style, flow, vision, etc. But despite that, the difference between fledgling tradition and independence in the face of cultural conquest to that conquest partially done and everything in flux is an important distinction and makes the work feel both familiar and unique in a way that feels highly intentional.
The whole trilogy being shorter than some books I will read this year means I still highly recommend working through them all. Book two, while a step back, remains asking important questions and doing important reflection not only for Nigeria and Africa or post-Colonial societies but for everyone wrestling with the human cultural condition.