A review by readingoverbreathing
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

As is sometimes the case with classics I read on my own, I wish I had had the opportunity to read this in a classroom setting, as I think I would have gotten a lot more out of it. I am of course quite familiar with the history in play here, but far less so with the culture and traditions, and how they connect the events of the story, especially in the break between the first and second parts.

I found that pivotal event, where Okonkwo kills one of his clansman (not a spoiler, as it's mentioned in the back cover copy on my edition) rather anticlimactic and confusing, and it was really after that point that I felt I lost most of my connection with the story.

I can totally see why this is a classic and why it was so influential in terms of African and world literature, but for me personally it did not have the profound impact or connection that I was really hoping for.
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