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Americanah

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Start date: August 15, 2014

Finish date: September 1, 2014

Discussion: Reading List

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What Members Thought

Dec 25, 2013 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: location-africa, location-nigeria, read2014, reading-envy-podcast, international-book-club, around-the-world

"...The word Americanah, such a Nigerian word, [is] used to describe someone who had lived abroad for so long, they no longer understand the nuances of being Nigerian." - from GoodReads reviewer Somi

I had to read this book in two days to be prepared for book club, and I may need to come back to this review after that discussion. I was not originally planning to read this book. Not another book set in Nigeria, I thought. And then reading the description, I thought not another book about immigration! I was pleased to find that while Nigeria and immigration are present in this novel, that isn't what it is about. Instead it is about the nuanced issues surrounding race, particularly for black people in our very global world. Through the characters of Ifemelu and Obinze, Adichie explores the experience of young Nigerians relocating and then moving back home again. So many books stop with people moving to America and the difficulties their children have in not really belonging anywhere, but not many people focus on returnees.

Ifemelu also experiences the startling differences between being Non American Black (NAB, her abbreviation) and American Black, aka African American. The character starts an anonymous blog, the entries of which are included in the novel at an increasing rate towards the end.

I feel, like many reviewers, that Ifemelu was an unpleasant person. She was very critical, of her home and parents, of the friends she left behind, of the American academics and the poor Africans trying to make a living in America. She never settles in and becomes an actual part of anything, but holds herself aloof, even in her romantic relationships when she is with anyone who didn't live through her childhood with her.

Some people see the author in Ifemelu. I'm not sure this bothers me. Why should someone talking about race be pleasant and likeable? To make it go down easier? Would that make me feel more comfortable? I'm reading this book from the perspective of white privilege after all, a fact the author reminds me of repeatedly. It is probably better to just listen and see that this is probably a very thinly veiled fictionalized account of her own frustrations over ignorance from most groups. Perhaps we can view the novel as her attempt to help educate us, a way of reaching out.

To hear more about Adichie's perspective on her own novel, please watch this video discussion on postcolonial literature between Adichie and Zadie Smith. Really great, and she doesn't hold back.

Discussed on Episode 4 and Episode 6 of the Reading Envy podcast! Once as a book selection and once during the Bailey's Women's Prize discussion. ...more

36 likes · Like · see review

Jul 25, 2014 Sherry rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-list, kindle

I am a white woman who grew up in the Jim Crow south. It has taken a lot of reading, thinking, and caring to try and extricate myself from the legacy of racism I grew up with. I was lucky to have a mother and father who taught me better, but others in my family (most notably my grandfather) were flagrant, unapologetic racists. I thank Adiche for helping Americans see how they look like from the outside.

I am guilty for seeing Africa as "having one story" as she talks about in her TED talk here: h ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 04, 2015 Kecia rated it really liked it

Shelves: nerdy-girls, obama, nbcca-winner, africa, usa

What a beautiful mess of a book! I'm not sure if this is a love story with issues of race thrown in, or a story about race with a love story thrown in. Either way it only works because of Adichie's exquisite writing.

I read a few chapters of this novel at my neighborhood coffee shop. Just a few months ago tear gas deployed on the front steps, even though the coffee shop was a designated safe spot, the night a Grand Jury decided not to bring charges against the police officer who shot and killed What a beautiful mess of a book! I'm not sure if this is a love story with issues of race thrown in, or a story about race with a love story thrown in. Either way it only works because of Adichie's exquisite writing.

I read a few chapters of this novel at my neighborhood coffee shop. Just a few months ago tear gas deployed on the front steps, even though the coffee shop was a designated safe spot, the night a Grand Jury decided not to bring charges against the police officer who shot and killed Mike Brown in Ferguson. A spray painted banner hangs outside that reads "End Institutionalized Racism." A few windows in my neighborhood are still boarded up from the riots that night, but most have been replaced. The news headlines over the 10 days I spend with this novel are dominated by the 50th anniversary of Selma; a fraternity at Oklahoma University and racist chants; another unarmed black teen is shot and killed by police, this time in Madison, Wisconsin; and city leaders in Ferguson resign after the DOJ issues a report on systemic problems in that city's government. Two police officers are shot in Ferguson and the media floods back to STL. In this place, at this time, I read Adichie's slap down of Americans on issues of race. Her bite is sharp. It stings because she speaks truth. She even goes after the most well-meaning persons and subtle hints at race. No one is spared Adichie's criticism when it comes to race.

Adichie had a lot to say and it needed to be said, but I think the weakest parts of the novel are the parts in which race plays the biggest role. The entire story involving Blaine could have been cut and the story would still have worked. Blaine seemed to exist only to give Adichie a platform for Ifem's blog. And the blog never fit Ifem's voice. That whole section sort of bogged down the novel IMHO.

And then there is the love story. It was all too-too good to be true. The three main men in Ifem's life Curt, Blaine, and Obinze are all too storybook perfect. They are all wealthy and they all worship the ground Ifem walks on. Blaine was the only man to have any flaws, and those flaws were slight. I wish Adichie could have given Ifem real men, instead of three Prince Charmings.

Even with all of its flaws and cringe worthy moments this is still one fantastic read. It will take you outside of yourself. It will make you think about life and your place in the world in new ways…and for me that is the hallmark of a great read. Now I need to find a good recipe for vegetarian jollof rice!
...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 18, 2013 Rashida rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, africa, herstory, diaspora

Loved this. Loved this. Loved this. I stayed up until 4:30 in the morning to beat a looming library deadline and do not regret it at all. I just kind of wish that I hadn't finished because then I would have an excuse to go buy it. I will try to gather my thoughts and have an actual substantive review. But man, Adichie is a smart woman and I am a little jealous. ...more

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Dec 09, 2015 Andi rated it it was amazing

I loved this book - characters, setting, themes, language - all of it was thoughtful and beautiful and engaging. The ending has left me pondering about whether I liked it, but not because it was well-crafted. Rather, I'm pondering whether I find the choices made by the characters at the end to be good or not. To me, that's the sign of a great book.

Also, the book is both intensely funny and powerfully poignant. Absolutely wonderful. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 04, 2016 Jayme Pendergraft rated it it was ok

Shelves: src-winter-2015-2016, 2016

It was just way too long for not a lot to happen. Had it been shorter I would have given it a better rating.

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May 15, 2014 Jennie rated it really liked it

Shelves: bookclub, african-americans, women, africa

I struggled to find a thread of the story to latch onto, and I struggled to find a character who could be "mine". However, the story of coming up and making independent (and sometimes terrible) decisions was compelling. I recommend this book to illustrate coming of age and finding a home. ...more

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Sep 22, 2014 Joyce rated it liked it

Shelves: book-club-choice, the-great-american-read

My son and I both read this. At its heart it appears to be a love story and it brought to mind Wuthering Heights with a better outcome. I found myself rooting for true love to win out. The racial aspects were also deeply fascinating.

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