miranda_bird's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
liber_invia's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
phillysaurus's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
4.25
Beautiful flawed characters and a world falling apart around them. Excellent writing, very good book, but not an 'enjoyable' read.
inathi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
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
5.0
bexhobson's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kathryn14's review against another edition
4.0
Adichie is SUCH a magical storyteller.
For the most part, everything was so intricate and engrossing. Lost a bit of the flow and pace in the fourth part and the ending just felt a bit stunted, BUT such an intriguing and interesting read.
A strong 8/10
For the most part, everything was so intricate and engrossing. Lost a bit of the flow and pace in the fourth part and the ending just felt a bit stunted, BUT such an intriguing and interesting read.
A strong 8/10
erin1096's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 ⭐
The content is incredibly heavy and worth reading for the history and perspective alone. The book follows the lives of several Nigerians in the years leading up to the declaration of Biafran independence and the war that followed. The book's graphic depictions of violence and human suffering are haunting. The story forces you to reckon with the generations of trauma imposed upon a people by the political actions of powerful nations.
This is the fourth book of Adichie's that I've read and not my favorite of them. The things that I loved about Adichie's writing the first time around are starting to feel a little monotonous as her voice rings strongly through each character in all of her books. This is not inherently a knock on this book or any of her others, but if you dislike one, you probably won't be a fan of the others. She writes a certain kind of strong, educated woman very well.
The content is incredibly heavy and worth reading for the history and perspective alone. The book follows the lives of several Nigerians in the years leading up to the declaration of Biafran independence and the war that followed. The book's graphic depictions of violence and human suffering are haunting. The story forces you to reckon with the generations of trauma imposed upon a people by the political actions of powerful nations.
This is the fourth book of Adichie's that I've read and not my favorite of them. The things that I loved about Adichie's writing the first time around are starting to feel a little monotonous as her voice rings strongly through each character in all of her books. This is not inherently a knock on this book or any of her others, but if you dislike one, you probably won't be a fan of the others. She writes a certain kind of strong, educated woman very well.