Tyler read and liked SVK's review of Things Fall Apart:

"First half tells story of Okonkwo and his village Umuofia, his fall from grace, exile, and return. The reader is introduced to various tribal customs and their rational. The patriarchal village has a clear code of moral conduct, but it’s clouded ...more First half tells story of Okonkwo and his village Umuofia, his fall from grace, exile, and return. The reader is introduced to various tribal customs and their rational. The patriarchal village has a clear code of moral conduct, but it’s clouded by superstition and pagan beliefs. Ancestors are held in high regard—elders dress in masks and impersonate ancestors in court proceedings. Children are valuable, but boys are better. Twins are thought to be evil and are cast into the evil forest to die. If a woman repeatedly loses her babies—the baby is believed to be an evil spirit which reincarnates itself again and again. Men own their many wives and children—but cannot beat them on holy days. Women leave their motherland to live among their husband’s village.

Okonkwo is a warrior, known for strength in wrestling and harsh control of his wives and children. He see his son Nwoye as weak.

After a neighbouring village rapes a daughter, the village Umuofia obtains a prisoner. The boy, Ikemefuna, is assigned to Okonkwo’s house and is raised as a son. Years later the elders decide to kill him. Even though Okonkwo is advised to have no hand in the death of a boy who calls him “father”, he is afraid to show weakness. When the injured child runs to him for help, he finishes him off with his machete.

Last half tells story of English missionaries who proseletize and trample on the people’s ancient customs. Mr. Brown is a rare man among them, respected even among the villagers because he values restraint among the converts. He does not aim to offend the people and their customs. He is known for having dialogue with men—learning about their religion as well.

After Mr. Brown leaves, Mr. Smith takes his place. Smith is heavy handed. He does not seek to understand the people’s customs or accommodate them in any way. Under his watch a convert desecrates an ancestor, during a sacred ceremony. The village leaders respond by burning down the church. Men from the “white government” come to sort this out, ask to meet with the village leaders. The white men come peaceably, but turn on the elders, shaving their heads, withholding food, and humiliating them. They fine the village and ask for payment in village food/currency. After the six elders are released, they hold meeting to decide whether to go to war. Okonkwo wants war, even if he must fight alone. When white court messengers come to break up the meeting, Okonkwo decapitates one.

The court messengers return for Okonkwo the next day. The elders lead the white men to Okonkwo’s body which hangs from a tree—driven by the white men to kill himself. They ask for help bringing the body down because it is against their custom to touch a man who has killed himself. The people’s great anguish at losing Okonkwo is lost on the main messenger who thinks only of the book he will write—how to “pacify” the “primitive” tribes. He orders the people and the body to be brought to court.

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