mags_'s review against another edition
3.0
I'll say 2.5 stars. I didn't exactly like the book, but it was better than just okay. All in all, though, an interesting read and a great way to see the other side of imperialism.
sneephallow's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The last sentence will leave you thinking for the rest of your days.
cocoawolf29's review against another edition
4.0
Very well written, with a lot of symbolism that makes the story 10 times better if you get it. good book for school, especially if one of your teachers is focusing on Africa
damski's review against another edition
As a white English man I find it difficult to place my opinion in here but overall I liked it
hr676's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kryskross's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bolynne's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best required reading I had in high school. It's one books that should be taught, but needs to be taught well and carefully as it seemed many of my classmates thought it was "boring" or "just about yams". Personally I found it to be heart-wrenchingly sad but powerful.
trilobite's review against another edition
4.0
What you're supposed to get out of this book is how Christian missionaries from Britain essentially destroyed dozens of small villages in Nigeria with their white Jesus teachings. But instead I came away from this book with a new understanding of why Christianity can be so appealing.
In these Nigerian villages there was a custom of regarding as evil, women who had given birth to twins. Any twins who were born were immediately taken out into the woods by the villagers and left to die on the bare ground. Not only would the mother grieve for the loss of her babies, but she was forced to carry out the rest of her life in the shadow of superstition; rejected and regarded with hatred and distrust, living as an outcast in her own village.
Another custom in these Nigerian villages was to reject and drive out of their community anyone who killed another person outside of wartime (with the exception of new born twins of course) even if it was an accident. There was a villager who had accidentally killed another man and he was forced to live as a complete outcast. No one in any of the villages would take him in, offer him food or drink or have anything to do with him. He would try to travel to new places and sooner or later his deed would be revealed and he would be driven out all over again.
When the Christian missionaries came to Nigeria, guess who were the first converts? Women who had given birth to twins and men who were responsible for the death of another outside of war. The women who had given birth to twins would fall on their knees and weep when the words of a new teaching that did not condemn them would reach their ears. The out-casted men who had killed others would plant their faces in the ground in gratitude upon hearing that their crime could be forgiven.
In these Nigerian villages there was a custom of regarding as evil, women who had given birth to twins. Any twins who were born were immediately taken out into the woods by the villagers and left to die on the bare ground. Not only would the mother grieve for the loss of her babies, but she was forced to carry out the rest of her life in the shadow of superstition; rejected and regarded with hatred and distrust, living as an outcast in her own village.
Another custom in these Nigerian villages was to reject and drive out of their community anyone who killed another person outside of wartime (with the exception of new born twins of course) even if it was an accident. There was a villager who had accidentally killed another man and he was forced to live as a complete outcast. No one in any of the villages would take him in, offer him food or drink or have anything to do with him. He would try to travel to new places and sooner or later his deed would be revealed and he would be driven out all over again.
When the Christian missionaries came to Nigeria, guess who were the first converts? Women who had given birth to twins and men who were responsible for the death of another outside of war. The women who had given birth to twins would fall on their knees and weep when the words of a new teaching that did not condemn them would reach their ears. The out-casted men who had killed others would plant their faces in the ground in gratitude upon hearing that their crime could be forgiven.
jerryw's review against another edition
4.0
ive always hated myself for not reading this sooner. it's really about darn time.
tfa is known as *the* seminal african novel to read, and one of the first of its kind. there's one indisputable thing about that statement, its importance is so immense to humankind that it really is a must read. but i would venture to say that it's a gross misinterpretation of the common statement to view it as solely "african" or representative of an african experience.
in fact, one of the biggest takeaways you can get from reading tfa is that, like achebe's compatriot adichie says, there's no single story. tfa straddles pre and post colonial igboland, right and wrong, masculinity and femininity, strong and weak, black and white, the honorable and the shameful. one of the most profoundly significant messages of this book is that there rarely are extremes, and that there's layers and ambiguity, especially pertaining to the west african/igbo experience. being the first "african novel", it combines elements of european and african literature, and presents a story that's multifaceted, in contrast to the white-authored literature of africa that preceded achebe. these characters, like okonkwo, breathe and walk and think and be proud and make mistakes.
although the story may seem like it centers on okonkwo, our macho independent honorable village patriarch, it doesn't necessarily always put him in the positive light. he beats women and children senselessly from periodic impulses and has a perpetual fear of weakness that breaks people around him, and ultimately himself. the story also exposes the very much dark measures of the white missionaries and colonists, of their hypocrisy and facades. it also shouldn't be lightly put how desperately demolishing the suffering is under an all powerful white colonial population. the blood splattered, checkered past of subjugation is presented so intimately truthful too. it is for this nuance and variety of viewpoints that i think gives this book so much value for the reader.
i highly recommend watching john green's crash course vid on this. released 8 years ago, and having rewatched it just now - still a gem can confirm. point is there's so much more to be broken down here i can't possibly get to everything here.
really is a very important read. 10/10 recommended for everyone.
tfa is known as *the* seminal african novel to read, and one of the first of its kind. there's one indisputable thing about that statement, its importance is so immense to humankind that it really is a must read. but i would venture to say that it's a gross misinterpretation of the common statement to view it as solely "african" or representative of an african experience.
in fact, one of the biggest takeaways you can get from reading tfa is that, like achebe's compatriot adichie says, there's no single story. tfa straddles pre and post colonial igboland, right and wrong, masculinity and femininity, strong and weak, black and white, the honorable and the shameful. one of the most profoundly significant messages of this book is that there rarely are extremes, and that there's layers and ambiguity, especially pertaining to the west african/igbo experience. being the first "african novel", it combines elements of european and african literature, and presents a story that's multifaceted, in contrast to the white-authored literature of africa that preceded achebe. these characters, like okonkwo, breathe and walk and think and be proud and make mistakes.
although the story may seem like it centers on okonkwo, our macho independent honorable village patriarch, it doesn't necessarily always put him in the positive light. he beats women and children senselessly from periodic impulses and has a perpetual fear of weakness that breaks people around him, and ultimately himself. the story also exposes the very much dark measures of the white missionaries and colonists, of their hypocrisy and facades. it also shouldn't be lightly put how desperately demolishing the suffering is under an all powerful white colonial population. the blood splattered, checkered past of subjugation is presented so intimately truthful too. it is for this nuance and variety of viewpoints that i think gives this book so much value for the reader.
i highly recommend watching john green's crash course vid on this. released 8 years ago, and having rewatched it just now - still a gem can confirm. point is there's so much more to be broken down here i can't possibly get to everything here.
really is a very important read. 10/10 recommended for everyone.
odenkirk's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-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
5.0
The simplicity of the prose and narrative belies more complex themes about personal composure during times of cultural strife. I do wish more African novels than this one were discussed in American academia, however.