Sharanya answers “I am reading Americanah, and I'm about...”

A Goodreads user asked this question about Americanah:

I am reading Americanah, and I'm about half way through. If, for the protagonist, Nigeria is 100 % good, and the USA is 100% bad, why come to the States?

Sharanya The way I see it, the book is much MUCH more than that. It isn't comparing two countries. It is about how different two cultures can be. It highlights…moreThe way I see it, the book is much MUCH more than that. It isn't comparing two countries. It is about how different two cultures can be. It highlights the layers of reality in the lifestyle of an individual who moves to a country with a completely different culture. As social animals, we want to communicate and we fear being considered as an outcast. The book is all about adapting to a new culture but at the same time making an attempt to hold on to the culture and tradition of the place where they originally belonged.(less)

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