Outstanding
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Set in the 1960s, leading up to the and through the Nigerian-Biafra war, Half of a Yellow Sun follows the lives of a small group of the break away nation. The main characters include Olanna and Kainene, twin sisters, well educated the daughters of a wealthy Chief. Both are tall and slender, Olanna is beautiful and caring but Kainene lacks her good looks, and by contrast she is efficient and ruthless. Richard is a young Englishman captivated by Africa, tall and handsome, he falls for Kainene. Odenigbo is a university lecturer and Olanna's lover, a passionate revolutionary and supporter of Biafra. Then there is Ugwu, the first character we encounter as the young village boy is on his way to meet Odenigbo and hopefully employment as his houseboy.
Written in the third person, it is however through the perceptions of the main characters that we follow the story, very much through the eyes of Ugwu as well as through Olanna and Richard. Ugwu is only thirteen when he starts as Odenigbo's houseboy; part educated but unacquainted with many modern conveniences he proves true to his claim when first meeting Odenigbo: "but I learn fast, sah". He is loyal and devoted to his master and Olanna when she eventually moves in, and subsequent events prove their love for him. While far from perfect, these main characters have many redeeming features, and as the story unfolds one becomes increasingly drawn to them and soon passionately involved in their lives.
Inevitably the story touches on the tragedy of the war, and while it does not involve itself with the actual warfare to any extent, it does touch on the politics of the war and the international response both in terms of arms support and to the suffering in Biafra, and it also highlights the terror of the war and the atrocities carried out; each horrifying in its own way. But this is only ever in as much as is required to lend authenticity to the story.
It is a beautiful and outstanding novel, a story of love and loyalty, at times a traumatic story as the ravages of war take their toll, but always a story with hope. As the book draws to its conclusion, as each tries to come to terms with the aftermath it is at times very sad and very moving; but just as we think the book will leave us feeling down, and perhaps feeling that Ugwu has been forgotten by the writer, the very last line is bound to bring a smile to out lips.
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Outstanding
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Set in the 1960s, leading up to the and through the Nigerian-Biafra war, Half of a Yellow Sun follows the lives of a small group of the break away nation. The main characters include Olanna and Kainene, twin sisters, well educated the daughters of a wealthy Chief. Both are tall and slender, Olanna is beautiful and caring but Kainene lacks her good looks, and by contrast she is efficient and ruthless. Richard is a young Englishman captivated by Africa, tall and handsome, he falls for Kainene. Odenigbo is a university lecturer and Olanna's lover, a passionate revolutionary and supporter of Biafra. Then there is Ugwu, the first character we encounter as the young village boy is on his way to meet Odenigbo and hopefully employment as his houseboy.
Written in the third person, it is however through the perceptions of the main characters that we follow the story, very much through the eyes of Ugwu as well as through Olanna and Richard. Ugwu is only thirteen when he starts as Odenigbo's houseboy; part educated but unacquainted with many modern conveniences he proves true to his claim when first meeting Odenigbo: "but I learn fast, sah". He is loyal and devoted to his master and Olanna when she eventually moves in, and subsequent events prove their love for him. While far from perfect, these main characters have many redeeming features, and as the story unfolds one becomes increasingly drawn to them and soon passionately involved in their lives.
Inevitably the story touches on the tragedy of the war, and while it does not involve itself with the actual warfare to any extent, it does touch on the politics of the war and the international response both in terms of arms support and to the suffering in Biafra, and it also highlights the terror of the war and the atrocities carried out; each horrifying in its own way. But this is only ever in as much as is required to lend authenticity to the story.
It is a beautiful and outstanding novel, a story of love and loyalty, at times a traumatic story as the ravages of war take their toll, but always a story with hope. As the book draws to its conclusion, as each tries to come to terms with the aftermath it is at times very sad and very moving; but just as we think the book will leave us feeling down, and perhaps feeling that Ugwu has been forgotten by the writer, the very last line is bound to bring a smile to out lips.
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A love and war story
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Half of a yellow sun captured me right from the start.
The novel begins in Nigeria during the early 1960's, when the fresh independent state is already showing signs of fragilities , bound to worsen in the coming years.
The plot revolves around the life of five main characters: Odenigbo, a leftist intellectual, who teaches at Nsukka University; Ugbu, his houseboy, who comes from a rural village; Olanna, Odenigbo's lover, a beautiful and generous woman, daughter of an Igbo chief; Kainene, Olanna's twin, an enigmatic and fascinating character, very dissimilar from her sister; Richard, an English writer, who is entranced by Kainene and becomes a supporter of the Biafran war of independence.
The story follows these characters as they are caught up in the terrible war that tore apart Biafra in the late sixties , and try to survive in a harsh world.
In my teens I was deeply touched by the drama of Biafra struggling against Nigeria, so when I saw the book, I decided to read it immediately, in order to understand better the story of such wretched people.
I must admit that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's narrative voice is very powerful. She has managed to write a novel that has a strong emotional impact on the reader, describing the suffering and the degradation of the Biafran people as Biafra separated from Nigeria in 1967 and civil war erupted.
Through the vivid prose of the writer, you can see how the effects of colonialism were responsible for the Biafran tragedy in the dark times of the Biafran-Nigerian conflict.
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A beautiful piece of work
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It is rare to find a book that captivates you so much that you cannot put it down, but, at the same time, you feel at a loss when you've finished reading it. This book was that, and more. It is quite simply one of the best books I have had the pleasure to read. I was completely engrossed from start to finish. I didn't know much about the history of the Biafran war before reading this. The book inspired me to read more about the conflict and has educated me on this period in Nigerian history. It's a wonderful read, which inspires all kinds of emotions. I would highly recommend it.
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Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka finally have a successor!!
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I think my title says it all!!
I read Purple Hisbicus and raved about it and have bought several copies for friends and family just for them to share in the momentous experience. I was eagerly looking for ward to her follow up and had already heard good things about it after it was released but having read it all those positive reviews I feel were understated.
This book is quite simply amazing!! It is quite frightening to think the author is younger than myself (early 30's) as she writes with an authority borne of several more decades experience of life. She writes with an assurance that would make you think she was alive during the biafran war (which she wasn't).
The characters in the book are so real and richly depicted that one could spend many hours reflecting on the various facets of their personlaities and why they make the choices they made. As a Nigerian, she pitches the Nigerian character and attitude exactly right and paints a very reaslistic picture of the Nigeria I grew up in, I can hear the traffic and smell the cooking from street sellers emanating from the pages as I read on a flight. None of the characters are one dimensional and many of their experiences can provide lessons for us today even as we debate the merits of wars fought in our time.
I can not over estimate what a triumph this book represents. I am a great fan of contemporary African writing and am a fan of Soyinka, Achebe, Dangbarembga, Ngugi and others but Ngozi Adichie truly belongs in their company and we have a member of the new generation who is worthy to be compared with the accomplishments of the old and may in time even surpass them. I recommend this book to anyone, African or otherwise for sheer delightful and powerful writing. You will not be disappointed. I can't wait for her next book!!
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