kcgarris's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the way achebe sets up the downfall of ezeulu in the eyes of umuaro and in the last few pages of the book knocks down the dominoes that he had set up was almost visceral. when and thats when you can tell what’s about to happen it’s chilling knowing that the church is going to take every advantage of it.
Spoiler
obika diessimplycelestial's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
amakaazie's review against another edition
4.0
What a delightful book. I enjoyed it a lot. A story about Ezeulu a chief priest of Ulu that bound six villages in eastern Nigeria during colonial times. He took his priesthood seriously but the new religion (Christianity) became a challenge.
Well written with beautiful poetic proverbs that captivated me. I can’t believe how much more I am now enjoying these books I read with less enthusiasm as a child. Sometimes it’s only in re-reading a book that one can appreciate the beauty of that book. I definitely recommend 👍🏾
Well written with beautiful poetic proverbs that captivated me. I can’t believe how much more I am now enjoying these books I read with less enthusiasm as a child. Sometimes it’s only in re-reading a book that one can appreciate the beauty of that book. I definitely recommend 👍🏾
zoya_neela's review against another edition
3.0
This was the second Achebe book that I read. According to a bindup that I have of the physical books, "Arrow of God" is the second book in the trilogy. It is easy to see why "Achebe is considered the father of modern African literature" (front cover of African Trilogy Penguin Classic, 2017). Further down on the inside front cover, Toni Morrison describes the prose as "crystalline". I easily see myself reading the rest of Achebe's works, after completing this trilogy. Plus, adding these three books, possibly at different times, to re-read.
"Arrow" has a large cast of characters, and at times it was a challenge keeping track of everyone and their motivations. Part of that is easily because I was listening, rather than reading. The other part is due to my colonized ear that finds names from the continent a challenge.
I thoroughly enjoyed the parables, and the turns of phrase that were used throughout the story. While west Africa is only home to me through stories, there are some things that are universal across Africa.
One of my favourite parts of the story was seeing the colonizer through the eyes of the African as written by an African author. So refreshing!
"Arrow" has a large cast of characters, and at times it was a challenge keeping track of everyone and their motivations. Part of that is easily because I was listening, rather than reading. The other part is due to my colonized ear that finds names from the continent a challenge.
I thoroughly enjoyed the parables, and the turns of phrase that were used throughout the story. While west Africa is only home to me through stories, there are some things that are universal across Africa.
One of my favourite parts of the story was seeing the colonizer through the eyes of the African as written by an African author. So refreshing!
bub_9's review against another edition
3.0
Again, n.b. review of Things Fall Apart. Except, this is surprisingly bulkier and drags more than the other two, and I did think that it was penalised correspondingly, being clumsier and less convincing as a result.
ophelia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
adperfectamconsilium's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
'Who was Ezeulu to tell his deity how to fight the jealous cult of the sacred python? It was a fight of the gods. He was no more than an arrow in the bow of his god. This thought intoxicated Ezeulu like palm wine.'
Set in Igboland in Nigeria this is a novel of a community and its traditions under threat.
Ezeulu is chief priest of the god Ulu, worshipped by the six villages of Umuaro.
The colonial white government and its influence is encroaching on their way of life as is the introduction of Christianity in the area.
Ezeulu's power and leadership is increasingly being questioned and coming under threat from tribal rivals also within his own family.
When his headstrong nature and unbending belief in Ulu threatens the yam harvest and points to famine will he survive? Is he really untouchable as he believes?
It's a fascinating novel as I'm woefully ignorant about Igbo culture. As such I found it a difficult read despite it being well written.
The six villages had similar names and it wasn't easy remembering which characters were related to other characters or which village they belonged too.
Although it reads well as a standalone novel it also forms part of Achebe's African trilogy and I can't help wondering whether I'd have liked this more and had greater understanding if I'd read Things Fall Apart first.
An important portrayal of faith and tradition but I struggled with this one and I think that's just me rather than the writing so I would still recommend it.
Set in Igboland in Nigeria this is a novel of a community and its traditions under threat.
Ezeulu is chief priest of the god Ulu, worshipped by the six villages of Umuaro.
The colonial white government and its influence is encroaching on their way of life as is the introduction of Christianity in the area.
Ezeulu's power and leadership is increasingly being questioned and coming under threat from tribal rivals also within his own family.
When his headstrong nature and unbending belief in Ulu threatens the yam harvest and points to famine will he survive? Is he really untouchable as he believes?
It's a fascinating novel as I'm woefully ignorant about Igbo culture. As such I found it a difficult read despite it being well written.
The six villages had similar names and it wasn't easy remembering which characters were related to other characters or which village they belonged too.
Although it reads well as a standalone novel it also forms part of Achebe's African trilogy and I can't help wondering whether I'd have liked this more and had greater understanding if I'd read Things Fall Apart first.
An important portrayal of faith and tradition but I struggled with this one and I think that's just me rather than the writing so I would still recommend it.
mikehuffman's review against another edition
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
flaudfrawed's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5