lunaure 's review for:

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

5.0

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Adichie is truly a master at writing complex characters. Kambili's perspective is so powerful in that you almost feel the same painful aching for the validation, love, and pride she craves from her father. Eugene is a man who, in any other book, would be written off as an easily despisable and abusive character with no further reason to question his motives other than malicious intent. In Purple Hibiscus, this character is woven together by the interconnected threads of his political, social, religious, and economic turmoil. They are the raw and real problems that lead a well-respected man to do terrible things, under the misguided notion that he is doing what he thinks is right, or perhaps even the only way things can be done at all.

This book sends a powerful message about the gray areas surrounding familial trauma and grief, narrated through the eyes of the traumatized. The ending left me satisfied and longing at the same time.

Edit: I recently learned of Adichie's transphobic views. Although those views don't really transfer over to this book specifically, or change my overall evaluation of its quality, I'm reluctant to endorse her as a recommended author for this reason. I completely understand anybody who wants to refrain from consuming media by an individual who uses her author platform to spread harmful anti-trans rhetoric.