Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Americanah follows Ifemelu from Nigeria under military dictatorship, to America - land of the free, and the brave. In Nigeria, Ifemelu had family, friends and Obinze, the love of her life. In America, she has nothing and almost no one. Obinze plans to join her later.

I loved the beautiful descriptions of life in Nigeria - despite the difficulties, there was love, warmth, pain, turmoil. It all felt very real. I also thoroughly enjoyed the bewilderment Ifumelu felt as she tried to become “Americanah”. The deep and profound racism that she encountered is described without anger, and brings an understanding of the feelings and emotions - the need to leave your home country, the never fitting in anywhere, and the complete displacement and loss associated with immigration.

She later returns “home”, and while the story is long and detailed, it leaves you satisfied. It spans continents, generations, and showcases the people that made difficult choices, why, how and the effects.

Worth reading.

4 stars

ISBN: 9780307271082

More Books, or click the pic.

SaveSave