Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

25 reviews

shadow_cat94's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-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? No

3.5

I've only started to dip my toes into realistic fiction, but this one didn't really strike my attention. I felt like I'd rather read Ifemelu's blog than this book as it bounced around from her drama. I also felt like Obinze's story was underdeveloped as a mirror to Ifemelu's as an immigrant experience. His deportation was lacking exploration and the afterwards was ignored entirely.

It did explore the existence of race in America and the various nuances (or lack thereof) that it exists in the American society from a black person's perspective while not being an African American.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Deportation

Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent

sarasimper's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Deportation

Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcohol

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad 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

4.75

Having been through several relocations myself as immigrant, expat, repatriated, work visaed, and soon to be overseas retired in multiple countries, so much of this book touches me and speaks to me on multiple levels, including race as a western (American) construct. Some of it is obviously only what I can imagine or empathize with since I’m not Black, but it was illuminating to me in many ways because of that reason too. Brilliant!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

theangelssing's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

theangelssing's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

melist6's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Sexual assault

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Classism

Minor: Cultural appropriation

mauricekofi's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

gracej66's review against another edition

hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I loved how openly and directly this book discussed issues of race in America, and also in Nigeria. It was interesting to see the contrast between how race is relevant in both places but in different ways. Adichie’s directness about the subject was refreshing and eye-opening, and put into words many feelings I’m sure many Black people have had but may not have been able to articulate. I also enjoyed seeing how thoroughly Adichie described the experiences of Ifemelu in the U.S. and Obinze in the UK. The carefully chosen anecdotes from their lives abroad gave a strong context for each character when they returned to Nigeria.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide attempt

m4rtt4's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

I'm so glad I have finally finished this thick-ass gigantic masterpiece of a book — once again it reminded me why Adichie was, is, and will be one of my favourite authors. So many important things so creatively and credibly — incredibly — told, and as someone who is neither Black or African or American I learned a lot from reading this. I'd like to give an example quote to convince y'all reading my review to find the courage to grab this book, but honestly I'd have to cite every other sentence (and that alone should convince you :)
Yes, it's thick, serious and emotional, BUT every single page is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY (and I'm craving to read so much more).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Sexual content

alicelalicon's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Deportation

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and War