I just finished Americanah by Adichie. I’ve been through some past posts but just wanted to share my opinion.
Personally, I thought it was really good I would give it an 8/10. I’m not a big fan of the ending, before reaching the last part or two I was hoping they wouldn’t get back together in any sense; that they’d just meet up with a certain energy between both of them, thinking about what could have been. I think that would’ve been more realistic and more poetic, instead it was kind of hopelessly romantic (maybe I am just a pessimist). I also think it could’ve been shortened, although the writing was truly beautiful and the book has altered my way of thinking.
Also, not a critique just an observation, but I did not like Ifemelu. I saw someone say Adiche tried to make her a goddess, but I really disagree. Ifemelu is so realistic to me, and that’s why I’m able to dislike her. She’s rude and self-absorbed, but what really bothers me is how she conforms but then critiques the people who she conformed to.
by inspiresmug
2 Comments
I loved this novel. I agree Ifemelu isn’t a great person and I also wasn’t thrilled with the ending. She just did not care who she was gonna hurt to get what she felt she needed. Overall though I thought it was a great book, one of the best I’ve read.
Great novel, and I often attribute it to influence my thinking on the position of POC, and white privilege. Americanah has many passages on the POV of people of color that I simply never thought of. I read it in 2014, when ‘woke’ wasn’t a buzzword yet, and it’s really one of the books that formed my perspective and shifted my way of thinking.