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Aitziber
I'm not sure you want so much an answer, as you want to express your opinion in the Q&A section. May I suggest you write a review?
Yoana
Because people like different things. Some of us care about race, society and culture and love to see them interwoven in fiction.
Rachel
Did you not feel that there was a story here? The fact that it wasn't told in chronological order doesn't make it any less of a cohesive narrative. There are two main characters, a cast of interesting and well-fleshed-out supporting characters, a series of conflict that represent one major conflict between home/familiar and away/adventure, and the story of a young woman who leaves home, learns a lot, and comes back - essentially the basic narrative for all stories.
Karis
People experience the world in different ways. This character's experience in America was about race, and for a black person in this country, it is impossible to not have race be a part of their human experience. Us white people don't have to see the overt impact our race has on our lives - that is our privilege. Her story of understanding what it means to be black in America is the story. You may not identify with the characters or like the love story or see the multiple conflicts, but that doesn't make this book any less of a story. In fact, it kind of shows your privilege, that you don't see how a person will absolutely walk through the world differently (especially in the US) when they are black, or that it would be so important for all of us to learn about this type of experience, or that a person's story can be so entangled with their race in a country that still employs systematic and legal racism.
Corinne Copelan
I love this book so far! And even if I am not from Africa, I am from France, you would think it doesn't touch me, but it does in a big way. Everything somebody feel when newly in America, the good and the bad, so well described. The way people talk to you, like you must be stupid if your English is not perfect, or if you misspell something. It doesn't matter that you were an A Student growing up, read French, English, Russian Literature, are fluent in many languages...etc, I have been living now more than 30 years in America and this book still speak strongly to me. We are not criticizing America like if it is a bad country, but because we have more perspective than somebody born and raised here. And we still feel like we have to prove that we are good enough to be here, because of our accent.
I came to America because my husband is born and raised an American, and I didn't want him to become a truck driver if we lived in France. I knew he would do much better, as a reporter/journalist in his own country. So not everybody comes here for the great american dream.
I came to America because my husband is born and raised an American, and I didn't want him to become a truck driver if we lived in France. I knew he would do much better, as a reporter/journalist in his own country. So not everybody comes here for the great american dream.
Anna
Funny how condescending most answers, from people who presumably liked the book, to this question are! I'll assume you really wanted to open a discussion about the hype about this book vs. your own disappointment with it.
I had the same problem as you. I find precisely that the ratio of story to lecture leaves me wanting more story or less lecture. Especially, I found the lecture bits repetitive and not all that insightful, if you have ever thought about race at all. And the large cast of "single use" characters that are only introduced so that Ifemelu can lecture them some more just bogs down what little narrative there is. It was s also hard to believe that anybody could make a living off such banal and patronising blog posts (maybe that's part of the fiction in the book?).
What I did like was the comparison of non-American blacks to African Americans as this is a topic that I have not really engaged with before. I also liked the first part of the book that is set in Nigeria.
There is a lot of mention of the switches in time and place in the book. There are a lot of these although it was always very clear who was talking and when.
To attempt to answer you real question: I don't know why this is so popular. People who didn't like this book have praised her previous books. And when Adichie actually bothered to tell a story in this book, I found it compelling, although stretched too thin by the polemic. And otherwise, maybe they genuinely liked the book? Maybe the racial issues were actually new (or not lessened by constant repitition) to the fans of the book? I also find that often fans of a writer will just love everything of that same writer.
I don't know if I am interested enough to read any of Adichie's other books (this really exasperated me), but if so I'll try Half of a Yellow Sun.
I had the same problem as you. I find precisely that the ratio of story to lecture leaves me wanting more story or less lecture. Especially, I found the lecture bits repetitive and not all that insightful, if you have ever thought about race at all. And the large cast of "single use" characters that are only introduced so that Ifemelu can lecture them some more just bogs down what little narrative there is. It was s also hard to believe that anybody could make a living off such banal and patronising blog posts (maybe that's part of the fiction in the book?).
What I did like was the comparison of non-American blacks to African Americans as this is a topic that I have not really engaged with before. I also liked the first part of the book that is set in Nigeria.
There is a lot of mention of the switches in time and place in the book. There are a lot of these although it was always very clear who was talking and when.
To attempt to answer you real question: I don't know why this is so popular. People who didn't like this book have praised her previous books. And when Adichie actually bothered to tell a story in this book, I found it compelling, although stretched too thin by the polemic. And otherwise, maybe they genuinely liked the book? Maybe the racial issues were actually new (or not lessened by constant repitition) to the fans of the book? I also find that often fans of a writer will just love everything of that same writer.
I don't know if I am interested enough to read any of Adichie's other books (this really exasperated me), but if so I'll try Half of a Yellow Sun.
Lisa Lilly
This question fascinates me because what I love about this book is how the author manages to include such a strong story, compelling characters, commentary and race and culture, and stunning writing into one book. I normally read far more structured novels (suspense, horror, thrillers, mysteries), so I often avoid books that aren't genre as I find less attention to plot and characterization. Here, I was happily surprised to love the plot and characters as much as everything else. It just shows how different readers can have a vastly different reaction to a book.
Reborn
I just finished it. It's popular because it's politically correct. I've read one other Adichie and it was excellent. This book was a mistake on her part. It's hypocritical on top of everything else wrong with it.
Paul
Wow, did you actuall finish the book, I have, and I laughed and cried in equal measure as I read the final words.
She has written a powerful love story and yet manages to show us how migration affects people emotionally.
The plot is strong, the characters real, and their stories believable.
It is not a thriller, and the so-called lectures are windows into the soul of the characters and of nation states.
At this moment when nationalism is a rising force this speaks of a power of love and is able to explain why the US still stutters to understand it's own racial history and present.
She has written a powerful love story and yet manages to show us how migration affects people emotionally.
The plot is strong, the characters real, and their stories believable.
It is not a thriller, and the so-called lectures are windows into the soul of the characters and of nation states.
At this moment when nationalism is a rising force this speaks of a power of love and is able to explain why the US still stutters to understand it's own racial history and present.
Sharon
I agree I have been forcing myself to finish it but it is like reading a repetitive history book and listening to a long droning lecture. There is no great story here and the characters are boring and bitter!!
Monica Lövström
First a disclaimer: My comment concerns the Swedish translation of this book. Maybe that's a better version? Maybe that's why I don't understand those people who say that the book sucks and that there is no story. I'm halfway through, and so far it's a very pleasant and interesting journey together with Ifemelu.
If I change my mind before the end, I will write a new comment here. Promise!
If I change my mind before the end, I will write a new comment here. Promise!
Jesica Love
I'm so confused because I loved both Ifemelu and Obinze. By the time I was finished with the book, I felt like they were my friends. Yes, they are both flawed, but isn't that what makes us human? I think the bigger question is why are you so afraid of feeling something outside of your bubble? I actually did care about the experience of a Black immigrant in America. It's something I might not have experienced otherwise.
Dea Elmi
Why read it if you are opposed to what it's about? Also your question is a complete non-sequitor. Maybe you ought to write a review?
Debra
Actually I care about the characters and there is definitely a story. A person's life experience is what stories are about.
Shaunah Margaret
Completely agree with you.
Julietta
First of all, it's so popular because the author makes you deeply care about Ifemelu and long for her and Obinze to get back together. The characters are well delineated making them relatable and causing empathy from any reader who can picture themselves in their shoes.
Secondly, the blog helps all races to better understand Black Americans' lives and situations. Sometimes an outsider, such as Chimamanda from Nigeria, can better explain the differences they see. I was particularly impressed by how she was not "black" until she got to the USA.
Thirdly, the author's style flows easily allowing the reader to fly through her book to get to the ending.
I'm sure I'm missing a few more reasons, but you get the idea!
Secondly, the blog helps all races to better understand Black Americans' lives and situations. Sometimes an outsider, such as Chimamanda from Nigeria, can better explain the differences they see. I was particularly impressed by how she was not "black" until she got to the USA.
Thirdly, the author's style flows easily allowing the reader to fly through her book to get to the ending.
I'm sure I'm missing a few more reasons, but you get the idea!
Tariqah
There used to never be such a thing as a "stupid question" until you submitted this.
Obviously you just didn't understand the work, nor cared to. It's not anyone else's problem, thus why it's as popular as it is and the author is benefiting so well. If her salary makes you green with envy, sit there with a green face and deal with it.
Obviously you just didn't understand the work, nor cared to. It's not anyone else's problem, thus why it's as popular as it is and the author is benefiting so well. If her salary makes you green with envy, sit there with a green face and deal with it.
Erick Stow
Because you white. #notwoke lol
S
Looks like the book is more autobiography than novel. The author is a blogger, too. The autobiographical nature of the book reveals itself in that the main character is the only non-flat, non-stereotypical character.
Fiona Hurley
It's popular because her other books had "a great STORY, characters the reader can care about, conflict, rising action, etc.", so many readers bought this one in the hope of similar. Try reading Half of a Yellow Sun, if you haven't already.
Farhanah Wyse
I don’t really know why you don’t see the greatness of this book and why you don’t really care about the characters but this book does have rising action and conflicts but it can;t easily be detected by everyone because of it’s unconventional narrative or plot structure. For a book to be great in the eyes of a reader, it takes the connection a reader makes with the book. Does he see what the author saw when he or she was writing the book?. Does the reader understand which angle the author is coming from?. It's all about that and if you can find the deeper meaning or message of the book. This is a great book in every way but not everyone can see that.
Jeanne
This story had great characters and a solid story line. You can disagree with some of the politics and the points raised -- and I do -- but you can't argue that there were no compelling characters or story line.
Desirae Murray
Because, the novel in itself is more relatable within our society today. By using blog posts, Ifemelu is expressing and exposing the fallacies of what is happening in America and Nigeria; also, Obinzie's terrible experience in trying to gain citizenship in Britain and becoming a wealthy man at Nigeria through illicit means show reader's the realities of a broken dream. Both character's are immersed into tribes that may seem normal, but in reality it's plain crappy. So, the ideal great story in essence is based upon individual experience, no tale or novel has a happy ending; the ending depends upon the author.
Jeannine
I have to say I am struggling to get through this. About 150 pages in. Boring writing. I really don't care about the characters. Not interested in their culture.
Lisa
I agree, this book is very lengthy and a lot of rambling. Like others I am trying hard to force myself to finish reading this but Im waiting for it to get good. I am glad to know I am not the only one not feeling this book.
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