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mayankshah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is so highly rated by all for a very good reason. I loved this book and, by the end, I felt entirely in sync with the characters. I love the fact that the book is not a stand-alone story and is so much more in depth, picking up in the middle, taking us forward and backward and, at the end, leaving us with the sense that there is still more to come. I love books that leave me space to imagine during and afterwards.
The writing is outstanding, showing exactly why this author is so highly rated by everyone. The characters are lovable and well developed, their interactions, stories and motivations are so understandable and their mistakes so forgivable because they come out of the page as fully formed people, making the reader treat them as friends. The love story is central to the book while not being central to the book, in a way that makes us feel the love between the characters and want them to be together.
The book does all of this, with some incredibly gripping writing while tackling important issues around race and immigration, opening readers to viewpoints they may not have considered previously and allowing the reader to really understand the characters' opinions. I also found that I learned a lot about Nigeria as a whole and felt myself wanting to travel there and experience the country for myself - always a sign of good writing from a book set somewhere else!
A must-read for anyone, this book will grip you, move you and make you fall in love just as the characters do!
The writing is outstanding, showing exactly why this author is so highly rated by everyone. The characters are lovable and well developed, their interactions, stories and motivations are so understandable and their mistakes so forgivable because they come out of the page as fully formed people, making the reader treat them as friends. The love story is central to the book while not being central to the book, in a way that makes us feel the love between the characters and want them to be together.
The book does all of this, with some incredibly gripping writing while tackling important issues around race and immigration, opening readers to viewpoints they may not have considered previously and allowing the reader to really understand the characters' opinions. I also found that I learned a lot about Nigeria as a whole and felt myself wanting to travel there and experience the country for myself - always a sign of good writing from a book set somewhere else!
A must-read for anyone, this book will grip you, move you and make you fall in love just as the characters do!
over_the_annabowes's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
bgmartin0696's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jr2234's review against another edition
4.0
This book was beautifully written and I appreciated the questions on identity it raised. Some parts were disconnected and the conclusion was predictable, but I still enjoyed and would recommend for those who like slow-moving plots.
klarapohankova's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kat7890erina's review against another edition
DNF at 10%
I couldn't get into this one. It was a book club read and I know that others in the group are really enjoying it, especially those listening to the audiobook.
For me, I can't get a sense of where the story is heading. The snapshot-scenes are interesting and the social commentary too, but it doesn't feel cohesive to a plot and this is where it's lost me.
I couldn't get into this one. It was a book club read and I know that others in the group are really enjoying it, especially those listening to the audiobook.
For me, I can't get a sense of where the story is heading. The snapshot-scenes are interesting and the social commentary too, but it doesn't feel cohesive to a plot and this is where it's lost me.
iriswindmeijer's review against another edition
5.0
Americanah is a great novel and made me realize how much racism there is in America. I’d love to read Ifemelu’s blog, her view on the American people is very interesting. The dialogue is superb and keeps you reading, this novel has got a lot to tell.
The romance is endearing, Ifemelu and Obinze both experience their feelings towards each other in ways that make me, the reader, experience them as well. The complexity of their relationship is explained very well by Adichie while we follow the couple in multiple countries: sometimes together, sometimes not. Nevertheless, there is so much more than romance to this novel, since it also touches upon so many aspects of immigration, race and racism towards the African Americans.
The plot is very interesting, the flashbacks fill in on Ifemelu’s story while she is getting her hair braided to leave America. The impact of this novel is immense, there is a lot going on but Adichie manages to explain and illustrate what is wrong with America, and why the African Americans want to become ‘Americanah’ but also want to stay true to their own identity. In one of her blogs, Ifemelu states “Dear Non-American Black, when you make the choice to come to America, you become black”. In Americanah, her identity is shaped by others.
Ifemelu is a strong woman with her own will. When she breaks up with her boyfriend because she cheated on him, she corrects him when he says “you gave him what he wanted”. She denies and says “I took what I wanted”.
Adichie knows how to make the characters feel real and evoke their emotions. I was kept on the edge until the very end of this novel. This novel is an eye-opener, one of the best books I’ve read lately.
The romance is endearing, Ifemelu and Obinze both experience their feelings towards each other in ways that make me, the reader, experience them as well. The complexity of their relationship is explained very well by Adichie while we follow the couple in multiple countries: sometimes together, sometimes not. Nevertheless, there is so much more than romance to this novel, since it also touches upon so many aspects of immigration, race and racism towards the African Americans.
The plot is very interesting, the flashbacks fill in on Ifemelu’s story while she is getting her hair braided to leave America. The impact of this novel is immense, there is a lot going on but Adichie manages to explain and illustrate what is wrong with America, and why the African Americans want to become ‘Americanah’ but also want to stay true to their own identity. In one of her blogs, Ifemelu states “Dear Non-American Black, when you make the choice to come to America, you become black”. In Americanah, her identity is shaped by others.
Ifemelu is a strong woman with her own will. When she breaks up with her boyfriend because she cheated on him, she corrects him when he says “you gave him what he wanted”. She denies and says “I took what I wanted”.
Adichie knows how to make the characters feel real and evoke their emotions. I was kept on the edge until the very end of this novel. This novel is an eye-opener, one of the best books I’ve read lately.
caitlinbennett's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
classicalice123's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0