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christianoliverio 's review for:
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
Things Fall Apart had a slow start, but once those dang Europeans come along, it gets really good and far more depressing. That being said, you learn a lot about precolonial Igbo, how a polygamic family operates, how men are supposed to react to change and uncertainty when strength is valued above all else.
The novel wrestles with how a man of tradition and honor has to wrestle with the constantly changing society. By the end of the novel, Okonkwo's world has entirely fallen apart (I see what you did there!) and we get to experience him trying to deal with his worldview being shattered around him. But I love that he sticks to his values, despite the many broken relationships he causes, oftentimes within his own family.
Perhaps my favorite relationship is between Okonkwo and his daughter Ezinma, who is shunned by the village but loved by her father. Also her backstory is very tragic in the best of ways! Really the entire family has other complicated relationships, reflecting and contrasting with Okonkwo through all sorts of ways: His eldest is weak and thus unloved. His daughter is strong, but a girl so he cannot show her affection lest he be viewed as weak. His adopted son challenges him, leading to some very fun conflict.
Been a while since I read this, so I might be remembering some things wrong; BUT you should totally read this as a firsthand witness of late Igbo tribalism and early colonization of Nigeria. I especially loved seeing how both the privileged and weak Igbo reacted to this new power coming in.
The novel wrestles with how a man of tradition and honor has to wrestle with the constantly changing society. By the end of the novel, Okonkwo's world has entirely fallen apart (I see what you did there!) and we get to experience him trying to deal with his worldview being shattered around him. But I love that he sticks to his values, despite the many broken relationships he causes, oftentimes within his own family.
Perhaps my favorite relationship is between Okonkwo and his daughter Ezinma, who is shunned by the village but loved by her father. Also her backstory is very tragic in the best of ways! Really the entire family has other complicated relationships, reflecting and contrasting with Okonkwo through all sorts of ways: His eldest is weak and thus unloved. His daughter is strong, but a girl so he cannot show her affection lest he be viewed as weak. His adopted son challenges him, leading to some very fun conflict.
Been a while since I read this, so I might be remembering some things wrong; BUT you should totally read this as a firsthand witness of late Igbo tribalism and early colonization of Nigeria. I especially loved seeing how both the privileged and weak Igbo reacted to this new power coming in.