Sunday, November 15, 2015

Americanah, A novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie



Ifemelu (Ifem) is from Nigeria.  She moves to the US, goes to school, gets a job, starts a blog and then moves back to Nigeria.  Blaine is her last lover in the US and she breaks up with him just before moving back.

Obinze is her first love (in Nigeria) and you would think they would be together forever, but then she moves to America and she does not return his calls, letter or messages. 

They have their own experiences - Ifemelu in America where she prospers and Obinze in London, where he does not.  He ends up being deported back to Nigeria and then becomes wealthy in Real Estate.  Ifem returns to Nigeria on her own free will.  They both encounter racism in their respective lives. While in America, Ifem starts a blog that addresses that concern and its about the differences between Black Americans and Black non-Americans.  It is a big hit and she does manage to gain sponsors until she shuts the blog down when she decides to return to Nigeria.

When Ifemu returns to Lagos, she gets herself a job and establishes herself before contacting Obinze.  They have a love affair.  Things got messy as they usually do when one of the two are married. 

I thought the authors’ writing was clear and concise.  She touched on points that affect people’s lives today and globally – race and relationships. 



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