Purple Hibiscus in Read a book from each country

Aug 07, 2019 Salma Saeed rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

ايه الجمال ده!
جميلة.. واقعية.. مؤلمة
الرواية ببساطة بتحكى عن كامبيلى
بنت عندها 16 سنة باباها غنى جدا.. متدين جدا..صارم جدا.. بنت حياتها ماشية بالمسطرة و بالورقة و القلم
كل حاجة ليها معاد الاكل الشرب النوم الصلاة المذاكرة القعاد مع مامتها... باباها هو اللى ماسك كل خيوط حياتها
و هى مش عارفة تشوف الدنيا من اى زاوية غير الزاوية دى جداول و قوانين و عقاب...
لغاية ما يجي اليوم اللى تزور هى و اخوها عمتهم و أولادها اسبوع و يشوفوا الحياة بشكل تانى و ازاى أن الناس بتعيش عادى بيضحكوا و يغنوا و يتكلموا فى اى وقت ...more

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Feb 09, 2025 Rachel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: africa, religion, read-in-2025, family-drama, around-the-world-challenge-2025, audiobooks, aty-in-52-books-2025, scribd, girl-power, historical-fiction

#ReadAroundTheWorld #Nigeria

This is the powerful and moving debut novel by award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, nominated for the Booker award. The story follows 15-year-old Kambili and her brother Jaja, living in Enugu in the 1980s, in an affluent privileged household, shortly after a military coup in the country.

The book begins rather slowly, setting the scene of the oppressive, regimented and stifling household that Kambili lives in. Her father Eugene is a “Big Man”, a p #ReadAroundTheWorld #Nigeria

This is the powerful and moving debut novel by award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, nominated for the Booker award. The story follows 15-year-old Kambili and her brother Jaja, living in Enugu in the 1980s, in an affluent privileged household, shortly after a military coup in the country.

The book begins rather slowly, setting the scene of the oppressive, regimented and stifling household that Kambili lives in. Her father Eugene is a “Big Man”, a prosperous businessman, who is an ardent Catholic, supporter of the church, and runs a newspaper that refuses to kowtow to the corrupt and repressive government. Eugene is treated with deference and respect everywhere he goes, but in his own home the good man becomes a tyrant and abuser. Kambili has ambivalent feelings towards her father, encompassing both love and fear, and an irrepressible desire to please him.

The diligent and probably pathologically quiet Kambili, who rarely speaks and never smiles, begins a journey of change when she and Jaja spent a week with her Aunty Ifeoma and their cousins in Nsukka. Aunty Ifeoma is a university professor struggling to make ends meet and stay one step ahead of the oppressive regime that dictates their futures on a whim. Although Ifeoma is also religious, she lacks the fanaticism of Eugene, and encourages her children to speak and to think, and to embrace their Igbo heritage. Kambili is initially nonplussed by the animated conversation, the joy, laughter, and at times chaos around her. She finally is able to spend time with her grandfather Papa-Nnukwu, who her father has shunned as a “pagan” but Aunty Ifeoma assures her he is a “traditionalist”. Kambili also becomes enamoured of the dynamic and handsome priest Father Amadi.

The tension in the story ratchets up as Jaja begins to defy the status quo and challenge the authoritarian regime of his father. The ending is unexpected and slightly rushed but overall this was a fantastic read and I would recommend it highly. Be aware there are several confronting scenes of domestic abuse. 4.5 stars.
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