Title: Americanah
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
First published May 14, 2013
477 pages, Hardcover
Rating: 4.32
Overview
In Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, two young Nigerians in love, who leave their country for the West. Ifemelu goes to America where she faces the harsh reality of being black in a society that isn’t always accepting.
Meanwhile, Obinze goes to London where he lives an undocumented life. After fifteen years, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, reigniting their love for one another and their homeland.
Adichie’s novel is a powerful exploration of race, identity, and the immigrant experience.
About the Author
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was raised in Nigeria and has gained worldwide recognition for her writing. Her work has been translated into more than 30 languages and has been featured in publications such as The New Yorker, Granta, and the Financial Times.
Adichie is the author of several novels, including Purple Hibiscus, which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and Americanah, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was named one of the Top Ten Best Books of 2013. She has also written a collection of short stories called The Thing Around Your Neck.
Adichie has been invited to speak at events around the world and her 2009 TED Talk, The Danger of a Single Story, is one of the most-watched TED Talks of all time. Her 2012 talk on feminism has started a global conversation and was published as a book in 2014.
Her most recent book, Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, was published in March 2017.
Adichie has received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship and splits her time between the United States and Nigeria.
Editoral Review
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a beautifully crafted novel that weaves together themes of race, identity, and belonging in both America and Nigeria. Adichie is a Nigerian-born author who has gained a reputation as a master storyteller, known for her ability to tackle complex social issues with grace and candor.
At its core, Americanah is a novel about two lovers, Ifemelu and Obinze, who grow up in Nigeria but are forced to leave their home country due to political turmoil. Ifemelu moves to the United States to attend college, while Obinze ends up in England.
The novel follows their separate journeys as they navigate various forms of racism and prejudice that threaten to tear them apart. Throughout the novel, Adichie skillfully explores the nuance of race and identity politics, particularly within the American context.
She does not shy away from depicting the insidious ways in which people of color are either excluded or forced to conform to white standards of beauty and success. Ifemelu, in particular, serves as a compelling protagonist whose observations cut straight to the heart of systemic racism, while also grappling with her own identity as a Nigerian woman living in America.
Adichie’s prose is beautiful and insightful, painting a vivid portrait of both Nigeria and America. She captures the complexities of both cultures with nuance and empathy, delving deep into the historical and cultural significance of each.
Through her characters, Adichie demonstrates how these two countries are both interconnected and yet vastly different, particularly with regards to issues of race and identity. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its exploration of how race and identity intersect with gender, particularly through Ifemelu’s experiences as a black woman in America.
Adichie does not shy away from depicting the ways in which black women are doubly marginalized, facing both racism and sexism on a daily basis. This makes Ifemelu’s journey particularly compelling and poignant, as she grapples with issues of social mobility, love, and self-discovery in a society that seems bent on crushing her spirit.
Another strength of the novel is Adichie’s ability to write complex, multifaceted characters. While Ifemelu is undoubtedly the novel’s central figure, all of the major characters are given ample time to shine and evolve over the course of the novel.
Obinze, for instance, is a fascinating figure whose experiences in England run parallel to Ifemelu’s in America. His search for meaning and self-discovery is just as compelling as Ifemelu’s, making for a rich and rewarding reading experience.
Despite its many strengths, there are a few areas where the novel falls short. While Adichie’s prose is beautiful, there are times when the pacing can drag, particularly in the middle sections of the book.
Additionally, some readers may find the novel’s heavy focus on race a bit overwhelming, particularly if they are not accustomed to reading books that deal with these themes. In conclusion, Americanah is a beautifully crafted novel that explores themes of race, identity, and belonging with sensitivity and nuance.
Adichie’s prose is breathtakingly beautiful, and her characters are complex and multifaceted. While the novel has a few weaknesses, it is overall a compelling and thought-provoking read.
I would recommend it to anyone interested in grappling with issues of race and identity in America and beyond, as well as to fans of Adichie’s other works. I give it a score of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
