Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My library copy of Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been in my house for at least four months. I’ve been wanting to read it for so long after hearing about it from just about everybody. After I checked it out, it just sat. After renewing it three times (the limit, equivalent to nine weeks) I had to return it and put it on hold again. I believe at this point I had started it but had to wait to get it back again. Now I’m pushing the three renewal limit again and need to get this book review written so I can return it. Not that I loved having it around because I have. But the first part of my reading got interrupted so many times that whenever I picked it back up I couldn’t remember who people were and what was going on. I don’t recommend doing this. But once I finally settled down into a rhythm I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
You know what? I’m not going to get too deep into this book review. Adichie creates a amazing story of the lives of three characters as they are “swept up in the turbulence” of “Biagra’s impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria in the 1960’s, and the chilling violence that followed” (quoted from book jacket). Adichie did state in her author’s note that she did take some liberties with the Nigeria-Biafra War but I still learned a lot about this conflict that I was completely ignorant on. This is one of those books that makes me grateful for the life that I have.
The story was heartbreaking, the characters wonderful, the narrative enjoyable (well, as enjoyable as a depressing book like this can be). I was so invested in Ugwu’s character that I was sooooo disappointed in a choice that he made towards the end of the book. I really felt like he “let me down” which I thought was superb storytelling on Adichie’s part. Highly recommended and I’m looking forward to reading Purple Hibiscus, also by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie. And can I just mention that she is absolutely beautiful!
Watch the book trailer:
What books have you read that took you forever to get into but you thoroughly enjoyed?
After watching the trailer, I have a question … does the book have anything to do with Catholocism? I ask because the song that the trailer is set to is “Kyrie Eleison”, a part of the Catholic Mass in Latin. It’s lovely, but it’s an odd choice for a book trailer I think. Unless of course there’s some Catholic influence in the book … What do you think?
on July 19th, 2008 at 9:10 pmRight now I am reading ‘Jane Eyre’ for the first time. I saw the movie and loved it, and my friends all love the book. I am just having the hardest time getting into it. It is starting to pick up for me though. I think I am just having a hard time, because I am so excited for Meyer’s ‘Breaking Dawn’ that my mind doesn’t want to go anyplace else. I hope I can finish ‘Jane Eyre’ before B.D. comes.
on July 19th, 2008 at 10:32 pmI’ve heard good things about this book and hope I’ll get to read it soon. For me, Cloud Atlas took a while - 3 months - to get through, but I really enjoyed it.
on July 20th, 2008 at 6:37 amI’m really hoping to read this one soon as I’ve heard so many amazing things about it. I had wanted to make it a selection for my face to face bookgroup, but it is rather long and I didn’t know how people would react to the subject matter (there are a few “serious” readers in the group but mostly not). Anyway, glad it worked out for you despite the rocky beginning! Sometimes it is all about timing with certain books.
on July 20th, 2008 at 9:05 amHeather - Not that I know of. None of the characters are church going people. I can’t quite remember if one of them goes to Mass, or if I’m confusing another story line with this one (that happens when I read so many books close together). It wasn’t heavy with Catholicism and if it was it went completely over my head.
Amy BTW M - I know what you mean. When Breaking Dawn comes out I’m going to have to clear my schedule.
Charley - I haven’t heard of Cloud Atlas before. I’m glad I didn’t end up returning this one unread to the library.
on July 20th, 2008 at 9:08 amI’ve had this book on my list for quite awhile but haven’t secured a copy yet.
on July 20th, 2008 at 4:52 pmI’ve had both this and Purple Hibiscus on my wish list for a while…think I need to pick them up more sooner than later!
on July 21st, 2008 at 5:50 amI’m really glad to read your review of this book. I actually just came across an interview with Adichie in the textbook I am teaching from this summer and she said a lot of things that really resonated with me. I’m looking forward to picking this one up.
on July 21st, 2008 at 6:35 pm