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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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Reading List

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What Members Thought

Aug 16, 2014 Jane rated it really liked it

Shelves: family-story, reading-for-a-second-time, womans-story, race, feminism, coming-of-age-novel, marriage, grief, friendship

The first time I read this book, two years ago, I found the narrator, Ifemelu, way to judgmental. This time, I realized that the author has done this intentionally in order to create a lens by which we can see the many facets of race in America. We view African Americans, American Africans (Ifemelu is from Nigeria, and has come to study in America). We also see examples of white privilege and racism within both African American and African communities. Ifemelu is a strong female character. She i ...more

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Jun 19, 2014 Kai Coates rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: s14-bookish-challenge

I almost rated this book five stars because I loved the characters and Adichie's writing. It lost a star towards the last third of the book. I felt that Ifemelu's time with Blaine was drawn out to give Adichie more time to expound on race relations in America. Her perspective was one of the things I loved best about the book, but that section became kind of preachy for me. I also thought both her American boyfriends, Blaine and Curt, were more stereotypes than actual characters.

The parts I loved ...more

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Aug 10, 2015 Faezeh rated it it was amazing

Really enjoyed this book, not just because of its fluidity and engaging story telling, but because it touched on so many issues that are highly important and are worthy of discussion. As an immigrant I could really relate to Ifem's struggles in dealing with her new environment. I was also very impressed with the authors view on race and it really made me think about how I view racial issues. I completely recommend this book. ...more

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Mar 21, 2021 Elizabeth rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Really enjoyed my t8me with this book. Some wonderful writing and humor, and full of observations about people and relationships. I learned while laughing and feeling things. :)

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Jan 08, 2015 Rosana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio-books, 2015

To say that Americanah shines as a commentary on race and class is an easy statement, but what really impressed me was the scope of Adichie’s attempt in this book, and that she does keep it together to the end. Adichie manages to bring to life so many characters with diverse backgrounds. Most characters do have race in common, however their histories and backgrounds are distinct, and this is what – I think – she set herself to demonstrate.

Other reviewers complain that as a love story this boo ...more

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Mar 11, 2014 William rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014

An excellent book. It follows Ifemelu and Obinze on their joint and separate paths. Meant for each other but separated by fate and the paths they must follow in their individual search for meaning and self-fulfillment. Obinze must suffer failure and humiliation before he finally finds success ( but not happiness)where he least expects it - back home in Nigeria. Ifemelu finds success in America but is unable to come to terms with her true identity - her African heart.
The issue of race is explored ...more

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May 07, 2015 Lisa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-on-kindle

*I had to read this over the course of a few months as I made it 50% through before it was sent back to the virtual Overdrive library.

This story exposed a life different from my own. It is important to see yourself in the pages of a book or on a screen, but also to experience life through someone else's eyes and experiences. Reading with an open mind can take you outside of your own experience no matter if that story is told from the point of view of someone of another race, gender, etc.

I didn' ...more

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