A review by emmabeckman
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

5.0

I really really liked this one. I thought it was a really excellent reflection on how someone can be both surrounded by their culture and separated from it. I thought the voice in this novel was really distinct; moments that stand out in that way include whenever Kambili is thinking about Father Amadi, and also the repeated moments when Kambili wishes that she had been the one who said something. On the former, I thought Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie did an exceptional job of portraying the inner thoughts of a teenage girl. On the latter, I think it really showed the reader how much Kambili craves approval, especially from her father but also from anyone who intimidates her. I thought the characters were all quite well developed and individual--there was no one who blended together with anyone else. Really, the thoughtfulness of this novel is what pushed it to 5 stars for me.

Additionally, I think this book would be great for young adult readers, but it is definitely written for an adult audience. CW/TW for the book: physical domestic abuse, death