Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

113 reviews

danidanseuse's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and War

andeulea's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Chimamanda Adichie is great at humanizing characters amidst war. While the Biafran War was a central theme, the focus on the characters' emotions and thoughts takes precedence.

War is undeniably devastating, people in first-world countries (like me) may struggle to comprehend the impact on every individual affected by such atrocities. Adichie skillfully avoids confining characters into these "victim" stereotypes, portraying each one as uniquely human, with inherent flaws and individuality, both within and beyond the context of war. It prompted my reflection on the consciousness of every individual, highlighting shared dreams and desires.

Adichie also weaves three distinct narratives, each representing a unique perspective of the war and family – Olanna, Ugwu, and Richard. These perspectives collectively contribute to a rich and comprehensive portrayal of the war and its impact on their lives, families, and community.

I'm grateful to be exposed to narratives that we don't hear about in our history classes. Would recommend this if you're interested in historical fiction and curious about the Nigerian Civil War. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War

anagrace's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, and War

mscalls's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death and Colonisation

iszys's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, and War

cheekmeat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and War

Moderate: Rape

neela's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

everything was set up so well- i became very invested in the characters
the descriptions of graphic realities of war were intense but so memorable even just reading about them makes me think about the long term effects on people that lived through it.
so much happens in this book!!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, and War

amgarrido's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I have no words - I have been trying to think of a review that will do this book justice in the two months or so since I finished reading it but can’t.

I continue to be equal parts devastated and enamoured.

I strongly recommend you watch Chimamanda’s interviews about ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ on YouTube if you’d like some additional context, or want to understand how her family’s reality enmeshed with creative licence and imagination to create this novel.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

eelizard's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

thealbapoems's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is an absolute gem of a book. It is heart-wrenching, but I loved every piece of it. This was my first Adichie, and she deserves all the glowing recommendations she has. I will re-read in a couple of years. Cannot recommend enough for people who like historical literary fiction. It has love, familial relationships, class struggle, and it is exquisitely written. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Violence

Moderate: Racism and War