A stunning book that I hesitated to buy because of all the hype around it. Pardon me, I am a little sceptical when there is a lot of buzz around new books. I regret having bought Red Carpet, Inheritance of Loss, House of Blue Mangoes, Babyji among others. S had picked up the book and convinced me to read it, I agreed half heartedly.
There has been so much written and said about the book and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that I will not attempt too much more. I think she is a brilliant, brave and sensitive writer. The writing at times is so poignant that one is certain that this one developed from personal experiences and personal tragedies. She mentions in one of her interviews that she lost her grandparents and that her father had to flee from the University town during the war.
Half of a Yellow Sun deals with love, relationships, betrayal and distrust. The characters are human and appealing in the fact that they are all grey. Above all, the war is like a character in itself, the puppeteer who controls destinies and actions. The plot develops through the eyes of Ugwu, Olanna and Odenigbo. The novel motors along, almost idyllic at the beginning and the war turns everything topsy turvy. The naive boy Ugwu becomes a soldier and participates in a heinous gang-rape and it signals his passage from innocence to depravity. And interestingly he is the one who finally writes a book on the war and not Richard, the English writer.
Olanna, the beautiful and sensitive heroine goes through love, pain and insecurity and finally loss. Odenigbo is larger than life at the start and ends with a whimper, a far cry from the rebel and activist that he once was. For me Kainene seemed a very interesting person. She is inscrutable and self-absorbed but she also is caring and forgiving in her own way. I like the way ‘the incident’ between Richard and Olanna is kept in suspense and the narrative revolves around it. The theme is universal and is relevant in any setting.
Just the kind of book one would like to gift to someone. Happy reading.
Dave, as a matter of fact i happen to have a copy of this book (which, incidentally, was presented to me
) and have been putting it off for a while. The very idea of war and soldiers (and now as mentioned by you gang-rape) is certainly not appealing. However, books written from an author’s own experience can and should never be ignored.
In the past decade African writers have gained significant prominence with their award winning work and continue to do so at present. I am now gearing up to attack the book
.
Well, one cannot wish away the horrors of war, its unfortunate but a fact. I would urge you to read it despite your reservations and I promise you will be richer for the experience.
Could you please review a nice thriller?
Rock on okay….will check everytime I want to buy a book!
So i finally read this. Odenigbo definitely ends with a whimper. Just going to prove all men are the same, whichever continent, community, country they belong to.
Otherwise its fast paced, doesnt drag for even a bit and is mostly brilliant. Thinking of getting the Purple Hibiscus.