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aleksander_at_sea's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Suicide, and Racism
Moderate: Murder and Violence
rica014's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, War, Blood, Physical abuse, Violence, Suicide, and Colonisation
zoegg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
2.75
i really enjoyed delving into the world of igbo traditions and culture! although i felt like the story took a bit to get to the main source of conflict, i feel like the contextualization in the first half was necessary to truly and thoroughly understand just how disruptive the colonial presence was to what had existed prior. that being said, my main hang up with this book was okonkwo. his abusive, aggressive, and short-tempered nature towards his wives and children made me feel very disconnected from him as a character, and at times, made it difficult to continue the story. however, even with my dislike for him, it was easy to sympathize with his anger towards the christians and their usurping of his beloved village’s culture. it made me often think of modern day missiontrips — are they connected to the colonial roots of religion as depicted in this book??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexism
Moderate: Violence
hardcoverhaven's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Racism, Violence, and Colonisation
dreamwifu's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this was a school read, but it was truly so interesting until it came up to the second half of the book that made my brain hurt a little. i was so interested and immersed in the culture, but the colonalism aspect truly ruined such a beautiful story which i guess was the point of adding it. the end was actually a great way to end this, so i still think of the book highly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Colonisation
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Child abuse
Minor: Gun violence
abmochapman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
“A man's life from birth to death, was a series of transition rites which brought him nearer and nearer to his ancestors.”
Things Fall Apart remains a literary masterpiece almost three decades since its release. At first slow and meandering, offering a survey of Igbo culture prior to the devastation of British forces, this novel shows just how quickly and suddenly a people can be made to fall apart when faced with colonial rule and violence.
Things Fall Apart remains a literary masterpiece almost three decades since its release. At first slow and meandering, offering a survey of Igbo culture prior to the devastation of British forces, this novel shows just how quickly and suddenly a people can be made to fall apart when faced with colonial rule and violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Murder, Animal death, Colonisation, Racism, War, Slavery, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Child death, and Violence
liiminal's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Just finished the book and I had to legitimately just stare outside my window for a few minutes.
Achebe's compelling writing pulls you into the Igbo culture, until you feel like you're with them amongst the palm trees and the red earth. Okonkwo as a character is someone I would probably absolutely hate but I couldn't help but feel bad lol.
Really good book, perfect if you wanna contemplate on the loss of African (or just native tribal) culture due to colonisation, and patriarchal society and how it affects not just women but men too. Also for the descriptive food. Palm wine, anyone?
Achebe's compelling writing pulls you into the Igbo culture, until you feel like you're with them amongst the palm trees and the red earth. Okonkwo as a character is someone I would probably absolutely hate but I couldn't help but feel bad lol.
Really good book, perfect if you wanna contemplate on the loss of African (or just native tribal) culture due to colonisation, and patriarchal society and how it affects not just women but men too. Also for the descriptive food. Palm wine, anyone?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicide
kthickett's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Racism, Violence, and Colonisation
eleek0609's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Racism, Sexism, Violence, and War
ashleymg99's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a book that I somehow missed reading this in my high school English curriculum. I decided to finally pick it up for the StoryGraph read the world challenge, and because one of my friends said this was their favorite book.
I can’t recommend the Crash Course video on this book enough- after reading it, it enhanced my understanding of text and provided a lot of additional context, that I will summarize below:
Chinua Achebe was uniquely positioned to tell this story because of his background. With a father who was an evangelical Christian and extended family that was part of traditional Igbo culture - he offers a criticism of European colonialism that neither demonizes nor exhalts either culture. It’s a wonderful first-hand account of the customs of the Igbo people, and an amazing edition to my read the world challenge!
I can’t recommend the Crash Course video on this book enough- after reading it, it enhanced my understanding of text and provided a lot of additional context, that I will summarize below:
Chinua Achebe was uniquely positioned to tell this story because of his background. With a father who was an evangelical Christian and extended family that was part of traditional Igbo culture - he offers a criticism of European colonialism that neither demonizes nor exhalts either culture. It’s a wonderful first-hand account of the customs of the Igbo people, and an amazing edition to my read the world challenge!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Murder, Violence, and Suicide