sweekune's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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
3.75
3.75/5
Audiobook narrated by Adepero Oduye.
Short but powerful. A woman gives birth to her baby. She reflects on many aspects of her life and the reality of being a black woman and black mother in the modern day.
- There are layers and layers of thought, feeling and reflection in just over an hour of book. So many subjects are looked at fleetingly but intently: the duplicity of parenthood, men's knowledge of how female bodies work, relationship changes and expectations, family changes and upheaval, pregnancy and its strains, pains, joys and worries.
- As a mother, this resonated with me. Birthing a baby is more than just the physiological process and everything about your life will affect how you manage, feel about and approach aspects of bringing life.
Short and reflective. Would be great for readers looking for books that make you think.
Audiobook narrated by Adepero Oduye.
Short but powerful. A woman gives birth to her baby. She reflects on many aspects of her life and the reality of being a black woman and black mother in the modern day.
- There are layers and layers of thought, feeling and reflection in just over an hour of book. So many subjects are looked at fleetingly but intently: the duplicity of parenthood, men's knowledge of how female bodies work, relationship changes and expectations, family changes and upheaval, pregnancy and its strains, pains, joys and worries.
- As a mother, this resonated with me. Birthing a baby is more than just the physiological process and everything about your life will affect how you manage, feel about and approach aspects of bringing life.
Short and reflective. Would be great for readers looking for books that make you think.
anneduff's review against another edition
5.0
WOW!! How can someone convey so much in so few words? This is an exceptional short story that left me wanting more. Read it. You won't be sorry.
vibecalledjess's review against another edition
5.0
Elegant and poignant
Beautifully written short story on the conflicting depth of emotions that Zikora experiences, through childbirth and her reflections on loss and her complicated relationship with her mom.
Beautifully written short story on the conflicting depth of emotions that Zikora experiences, through childbirth and her reflections on loss and her complicated relationship with her mom.
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Misogyny
Moderate: Grief, Abortion, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Excrement, Body horror, Religious bigotry, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Vomit, Blood, Racism, and Miscarriage
flaviasantos's review against another edition
5.0
Only problem is that it ended too fast.
Chimamanda always making us feel shit.
Chimamanda always making us feel shit.
fidoe's review against another edition
4.0
Week 53 Book 101
Zikora by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Rating: 4/5
Adichie is such na articulate writer, whose books always touch my heart. Zikora is a short story about a woman who is abandoned by her perfect boyfriend the moment she becomes pregnant. I could relate to it even more as I'm pregnant myself at the moment. A beautiful read, even if the ending left me wanting more. Must read, available on Kindle unlimited.
Zikora by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Rating: 4/5
Adichie is such na articulate writer, whose books always touch my heart. Zikora is a short story about a woman who is abandoned by her perfect boyfriend the moment she becomes pregnant. I could relate to it even more as I'm pregnant myself at the moment. A beautiful read, even if the ending left me wanting more. Must read, available on Kindle unlimited.
doctabird's review against another edition
3.0
I'm realizing more and more that I'm not a huge fan of short stories. I really enjoyed Adichie's writing style and voice, but at the end of the story, I looked up and said, "That's it??"
kassielovestoread's review against another edition
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? No
3.5
This was a short story I wanted to read to complete the "Z" requirement for my alphabet challenge. I did enjoy the book, it was brief but packed with a lot of character conflict that I found really interesting to read. The writing style was not my favorite- it's a pet peeve of mine when authors break from a scene to recount a memory longer than a sentence or two and I found that this author managed to do it a ton of times throughout this very short story, LOL. I think when authors do that, they can rarely re-transition back to the original scene without it being abrupt or awkward.
Anyway, it's a worthwhile read! Check trigger warnings beforehand.
Anyway, it's a worthwhile read! Check trigger warnings beforehand.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Rape
georginaflorence's review against another edition
5.0
Stunning, heartbreaking, hopeful short story. A Black woman surviving the murderous, oppressive American healthcare system, and grieving personal expectations vs reality.
lydiaer's review against another edition
5.0
Read or listen to this story again and again. Adichie tells the story of generations, detailing Zikora's journey into motherhood and showing us how she navigates life. She shows us how we can make excuses for others and hear what we want to hear instead of seeing what is laid out before us. Like most short stories, every re-reading reveals more to the reader than the one before it.