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laaurenhaardy 's review for:
Americanah
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a book I received for my birthday, and it was so good! I already loved Adichie's The Thing Around Your Neck, so I was very excited to read this. The reader follows Ifemelu and Obinze, two high school sweethearts from Nigeria. For college, they end up separated, with Ifemelu studying in the US and Obinze in the UK. We follow their journeys before, during, and after college, and the two don’t return to Nigeria for years.
A major aspect of the novel is Ifemelu’s blog, where she discusses her experiences with the concept of race, which was not something she had discussed or acknowledged in Nigeria. She addresses current events related to race, particularly following Obama's election and its effect on the US population. Her blog becomes quite popular, leading to invitations to give talks at schools and companies.
Another important aspect of the novel is that in Nigeria, Ifemelu comes from a working-class family while Obinze is more wealthy. However, while in the US, Ifemelu's experience is more luxurious, whereas Obinze falls on hard times, his student visa expires, and he has to work illegally to raise money in order to marry a woman for a green card. Eventually, they both return to Nigeria, but Adichie spends the majority of the book discussing their trials and tribulations in getting back. The book highlights the immigrant experience (both legal and illegal), the similarities and differences in the Black diaspora, and love. Overall, this was an amazing book. It was rather long (588 pages long) book, but the chemistry between the two, even when separated by continents, makes it well worth the commitment!
A major aspect of the novel is Ifemelu’s blog, where she discusses her experiences with the concept of race, which was not something she had discussed or acknowledged in Nigeria. She addresses current events related to race, particularly following Obama's election and its effect on the US population. Her blog becomes quite popular, leading to invitations to give talks at schools and companies.
Another important aspect of the novel is that in Nigeria, Ifemelu comes from a working-class family while Obinze is more wealthy. However, while in the US, Ifemelu's experience is more luxurious, whereas Obinze falls on hard times, his student visa expires, and he has to work illegally to raise money in order to marry a woman for a green card. Eventually, they both return to Nigeria, but Adichie spends the majority of the book discussing their trials and tribulations in getting back. The book highlights the immigrant experience (both legal and illegal), the similarities and differences in the Black diaspora, and love. Overall, this was an amazing book. It was rather long (588 pages long) book, but the chemistry between the two, even when separated by continents, makes it well worth the commitment!