Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2013)

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie



                This book is an experience and for that reason I am having a really hard time trying to summarize what I just read. The plot revolves around Ifemulu, a Nigerian woman returning to Nigeria after living in the United States for over a decade, and Obinze, the man she loved when she first made the move to the United States. The narrative changes from the present to the past, from Obinze to Ifemulu. But this novel is about the experience of living in both Nigeria and the U.S. It’s about the struggle to form bonds with people in a new world, the struggle to keep love alive across an ocean and the issue of race in America and how people are perceived because of their race.
                There was only thing that I didn’t care for in this novel and that was the constant change in narrative between the past and the present. In my opinion it impacted the pacing of the plot and interrupted the rhythm of the story. That is literally my only complaint about this novel. Beyond that I really enjoyed this novel. Adichie’s character were beautifully sculptured and her world was incredibly detailed. The love story of Ifemulu and Obinze, their parting and the continuation of their lives was plausible and heartbreaking at times. There was so much emotion and so many painful choices.

                Adichie is a great writer and she has an amazing eye for small details in human interactions which she expresses in her writing. Her observations force you to be honest in how you view people, race, and relationships. I appreciate that. I really liked the story. I loved that the dynamic focused on discovering race and the difference between being an American Black and a Non-American Black. So many intricacies that people don’t understand and wouldn’t understand unless they had conversations with those who have these experiences or read books like this.  I give this 4 out of 5 stars.

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