Reviews with content warning for Rape - Half of a Yellow Sun

Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

172 reviews

matcha_pages's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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islamaunder21's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Best book I've read all year. This was such a heart-breaking and devastating read but Adiche's skilful and captivating writing made it worth it. I really respect how well she is able to portray the moral ambiguity and complexity of each of the characters whilst still maintaining the reader's attachment and empathy:
Richard's subtle fetishisation of black women and urge to be one of the Biafran people without being fully self aware of the role of the British empire and his privilege, yet his love of Kainene and devotion to the Biafran cause, Olanna's kind nature, her relentless love for Baby, yet her betrayal of her sister, Odenigbo's admirable strong will and forward-thinking yet his lack of faithfulness to Olanna, Ugwu's thoughtfulness and genuine dedication and care for his Master's family yet his objectification of women, and Kainene's level headedness and forgiveness, and yet her mysteriousness and possible ifidelity in her relationship with Richard.
There is so much perfectly crafted underlying commentary in this book about class, race, gender dynamics, privilege and empire and ''Half of A Yellow Sun'' deserves to go down in history as a classic- I can imagine this book being studied in schools and universities. For me this book didn't quite make it to 5 stars because I did find some elements of the book to be quite dragged out and whilst I got that this was intentional, I did find Ugwu's oversexualisation and objectification of women to be a bit overdone.

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crazytourists_books's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

During the 80s and early 90s in Greece, something that adults couldn't tolerate (adults that lived through the famine of the German occupation) was the waste of food. Kids were too often persuaded to finish their food given as example the kids of Biafra (and later Ethiopia) that were starving. A country that no longer existed, the death of children that were probably not even an afterthought in Europe, played such a vital role in our upbringing.
This story is an important one to tell (and read about), and it should not be told by white bystanders.
Adicie writes really well, I liked her prose, and I enjoyed her use of Igbo throughout the novel. The characters could have been better developed, though, their behaviour more realistic.
A good book overall. It is very sad that Adicie has sided with the TERFs , I am not someone that can easily separate the art from the artist, especially when the artist is still alive. Even though this book is of a genre that I enjoy I wouldn't have read it if it wasn't given to me a few years ago. Now I can let it go, and with it, Adicie.

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bee_a_friend's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense

5.0

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sineaderoo's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

A stunning book.
You are lulled into false security as you get to know the three point of view characters and the world of 1960s Nigeria. And then the first coup happens, and counter coup, massacres, war and starvation.
Beautifully written and brutal. The things people do. The ways people survive... or do not.
The audiobook was excellent.
Well worth your time.

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selimhannah's review against another edition

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informative inspiring sad 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

4.25

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bmpicc's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad slow-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

4.0

Character development galore, vivid detail, & so much history.

I was not familiar with the Biafran war. While a lot of this was heartbreaking it was also beautifully written. Honestly, several sections felt like I was reading a memoir rather than historical fiction.

“This was love: a string of coincidences that gathered significance and became miracles.”

“Grief was the celebration of love, those who could feel real grief were lucky to have loved.”

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