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A review by _askthebookbug
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
5.0
#bookrecommendation - Americanah.
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"The only reason you say that race was not an issue is because you wish it was not. We all wish it was not. But it’s a lie. I came from a country where race was not an issue; I did not think of myself as black and I only became black when I came to America." - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
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I often devour Chimamanda's books within couple of days but this took me close to two weeks. Perhaps it had to do with the intensity of the story or with the issue that it addresses. Today when I finished reading it, I sit back and think about Adichie's courage and honesty while she wrote this novel. Americanah is a take on racism, interracial relationships, immigration and the unfairness of life that has been thrusted into the faces of Non American Blacks. I found this book beautifully daunting for it made me appreciate the frankness with which she speaks about what it's like to be a black person in a country of white people.
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This is the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, two teenagers in love who flee from Nigeria to the glittery world of America. Ifemelu moves first to get a degree and she recounts the nightmares she had to go through desperate to earn money. She talks about her friendships and relationships with white and black men and how at home she felt with them, yet feeling disconnected after a while. Obinze on the other hand describes his experience of working in England with fake documents and his attempt at marrying a stranger to get his stay approved. I especially enjoyed Ifemelu's blog references as she addresses many instances about how different people like her felt amidst others. The ending took me by surprise and I'm glad she decided to end it on that note.
Rating - 5/5.
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"The only reason you say that race was not an issue is because you wish it was not. We all wish it was not. But it’s a lie. I came from a country where race was not an issue; I did not think of myself as black and I only became black when I came to America." - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
•
I often devour Chimamanda's books within couple of days but this took me close to two weeks. Perhaps it had to do with the intensity of the story or with the issue that it addresses. Today when I finished reading it, I sit back and think about Adichie's courage and honesty while she wrote this novel. Americanah is a take on racism, interracial relationships, immigration and the unfairness of life that has been thrusted into the faces of Non American Blacks. I found this book beautifully daunting for it made me appreciate the frankness with which she speaks about what it's like to be a black person in a country of white people.
•
This is the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, two teenagers in love who flee from Nigeria to the glittery world of America. Ifemelu moves first to get a degree and she recounts the nightmares she had to go through desperate to earn money. She talks about her friendships and relationships with white and black men and how at home she felt with them, yet feeling disconnected after a while. Obinze on the other hand describes his experience of working in England with fake documents and his attempt at marrying a stranger to get his stay approved. I especially enjoyed Ifemelu's blog references as she addresses many instances about how different people like her felt amidst others. The ending took me by surprise and I'm glad she decided to end it on that note.
Rating - 5/5.