Half Of A Yellow Sun
February 08, 2016
I deem it fitting
that I start my first book review series with a post of the critically
acclaimed and winner of the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction Chimamanda Ngozi
Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun. The reason I chose to review this book first
even though I have read Purple Hibiscus and currently reading her latest
offering Americanah; I wanted to read about the book that put her on the map
and earned her the many respects around the world.
I must say that
the book has delivered to its promise. The clever and intelligent writing made
my morning and evening train trips to and fro work very pleasant and something
to look forward to everyday. At times, even the 40 minute rides felt like 10
minutes.
The book takes us
back to a time in Africa, rather Nigeria in particular where the continent was
plagued by civil war and colonialism. The scene is set at a time when the Igbo,
Yoruba and Hausa people were fighting for power. Even during this time, life
still had to go on. The book focuses on a young woman by the name of Olanna,
who was from a well off family. However this lady chose love over comfort and
royalty, like they say "love can make you do strange things that you would
not normally do". She was in love with a university professor, and that is
where she found comfort and her heart felt at peace . However, that did not
mean that there were no challenges in their relationship. She has faced trials
and tribulations, especially from her mother-in-law who was not receptive of
her. She felt she was not good enough for her son because she was a city girl
whom in her mind, could never take care of her son like a village woman would.
Not only that, even when her man(Odenigbo) threw himself at alcohol just so he
could forget for a moment just what was going on around him, even that did not
deter her to give up on their love.
If I were to list
all the things that have gone wrong in her relationship with Odenigbo, I would
spoil it for you and make you not want to read it. In a nutshell, the book is
about the end of social and colonial oppression in the 60s, young love, what
class and wealth means to different people.
I recommend it to
anyone who wants a captivating read that will make you open your mind about the
things we see and experience around us. Again, this book is simply impressive
and well written. I urge you to go and pick your copy if you have not done so
yet... Till next time, cheers for now....
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