letterpress's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Even though this book is purely fiction, it can be considered written master class when I comes to the Nigerian American- African American tension. Even though I am not Nigerian I often found myself nodding my head in some of Ifemelus’ American experiences. I even read the scene at the store out loud to some friends because it tickled me so much.
Even though I think I personally enjoyed reading Ifemelus’ perspective. Seeing how the separation was tracked through Obinzes’ eyes was great for context and it made their reunion that much sweeter.
This was a great easy to read comfort from an amazing author.
Even though I think I personally enjoyed reading Ifemelus’ perspective. Seeing how the separation was tracked through Obinzes’ eyes was great for context and it made their reunion that much sweeter.
This was a great easy to read comfort from an amazing author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Suicide attempt
ljpaatan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
tetedump's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault
tramuntana's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: 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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide attempt
hanfaulder's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
In many ways, I feel that Americancanah is a mirror of Homer's The Oddesy. Not in the literal sense, it is not a mimicry or retelling of the Greek classic; but in that the story of Ifemelu and Obinze starts as a journey of their departure from home, from childhood and an innocent love, as well as their journey back home, back to one anther, only to find themselves changed. The novel depicts an oddesy of the immigrant and black experience. I found that it was insightful, compelling and compassionate - a necessary and powerful read, a modern classic even. Adiche writes about intimacy in a way that is beautiful in its mundanity and common-place: the comparisons of sex with food, or the descriptions of small movements, observations about ones lover, made everything suddenly magical, rendered with colour and spice. The people she wrote about breathed on the page, became a part of me, and I could see through their eyes - understood what they loved about a person, and how at the same time they hated them. She has the same effect while writing about environment, but it was her particularly earnest portrayal of characters and their relationships that has struck me as the most profound and enjoyable to read.
It would be too simplistic, I think, to say that Americancanah is just a love story. Yes, it is ultimately a story about love - but it is not singularly about romantic love. It is also about the love of your home, the love of community. The book is long, and there is an almost malaise feeling halfway through, as you see the years of the protagonists lives melt past, and there is a revolving door of minor characters, names and faces which pass by too quickly for you to remember. However, I was certainly never bored, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading Adichie's prose. The length of the story is a part of its art: this is a story about a person's life, and so we endure it alongside them, as they blink and find themselves so far away from where they had started, we too share this feeling. I think it's important to understand this aspect of the book, as it makes all the more clearer Adichie's overarching analysis of the African-black experience of race in the modern West, specifically America, and what this says about the state of racism in the world. I highly recommend this book, as it was a rewarding read.
It would be too simplistic, I think, to say that Americancanah is just a love story. Yes, it is ultimately a story about love - but it is not singularly about romantic love. It is also about the love of your home, the love of community. The book is long, and there is an almost malaise feeling halfway through, as you see the years of the protagonists lives melt past, and there is a revolving door of minor characters, names and faces which pass by too quickly for you to remember. However, I was certainly never bored, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading Adichie's prose. The length of the story is a part of its art: this is a story about a person's life, and so we endure it alongside them, as they blink and find themselves so far away from where they had started, we too share this feeling. I think it's important to understand this aspect of the book, as it makes all the more clearer Adichie's overarching analysis of the African-black experience of race in the modern West, specifically America, and what this says about the state of racism in the world. I highly recommend this book, as it was a rewarding read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: 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).
Yes, it's thick, serious and emotional, BUT every single page is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY (and I'm craving to read so much more).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Racism, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual content, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Racial slurs
jg34's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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? No
3.75
There was a lot of little stories within this book and some where interesting but I honestly could have done without obinze’s story line I found them boring, maybe just because I liked ifemelu so much I wanted to get back to her. So because of this it felt long and dragged out at times. A sort of satisfying ending. Really interesting take of American blackness vs non American blackness I learned a lot!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Infidelity
Moderate: Rape and Deportation
Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, and Excrement
megdye487's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation and Suicide attempt
c_wilkinson's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Suicide attempt