Americanah is the 2013 acclaimed novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about two young lovers from Nigeria who dream of a deeply coveted life together in the United States. Ifemelu, an outspoken and opinionated girl is the first to migrate awaiting Obinze to join her later. However, when he is denied entry to the States and winds up in England, the once strong romantic bond they shared starts to weaken as they learn to integrate into the unfamiliarity of Western culture.

This point of view story is told in a reminiscent style. Ifemelu’s narrative recounts life back in Nigeria with Obinze and her early migration to the States, where she recalls desperately trying to find work even by questionable means, struggling to assimilate into the alien customs around her and the spark of former lovers. These flashbacks all occur during the six hours Ifemelu has taken out of her day to get her hair braided. Obinze’s story takes on a similar style, frequenting flashbacks to life in Nigeria and his downward path in the U.K.

Americanah is an honest portrayal of the highly esteemed view of Western culture held by many Africans. An Americanah as they are called in Nigeria, are treated as superior beings for having lived in the States and they are exempted from the scrutiny of others. The book also addresses issues such as racial discrimination and stereotyping by way of Ifemelu’s blog posts and her almost too-good-to-be-true romance with Curt.

As much as I appreciated the candid relevance of the book’s political message, I found it to be a bit too prosiac, especially the inclusion of entire blog posts and Ifemelu’s coverage of the Obama campaign, the dullness of which was very hard to read. I preferred reading Obinze’s POV chapters which conveyed the same political ideas but with less dogma.

I enjoyed the lengthy nature of the book as I would normally prefer reading something I can really sink my teeth into and Americanah afforded me that pleasure, through its skilfully developed characters. Even side characters like Aunty Uju and her son Dike are solid interesting characters, that take you on a journey and grow with every new trial. However, my overall enjoyment of this book was hindered by the dogmatic verbiage or long winded dullness of the pacing. For that reason I rate Americanah..

⭐️⭐️💫

(2.5 stars)

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What excites me about Rooney’s style of writing is just how well she can articulate thoughts and emotions. Her effortless skill to externalise in writing the nature of human relationships is deeply alluring and relatable. I loved the character-driven depth of Conversations With Friends so much so that I was especially keen to read Normal People which was recently published in August 2018. And on that note, if you try to loan it from any library in the next couple months, be prepared for an intimidatingly long queue of reservations and wait times.

In this coming-of-age novel, Connell and Marianne are estranged teenage lovers. They grew up in the same rural part of Ireland, they went to school together and attended the same college. Their strained relationship is a product of their difference in social class and popularity. Marianne’s affluent background affords her family the luxury of having their own cleaner; Connell’s mother, Lorraine to work in their lavish mansion. At school though, Marianne doesn’t fit in; she’s a social outcast whom her peers see fit to constantly taunt and ridicule. Even Connell hides his sexual involvement with her from his mates, pretending to be indifferent towards her in their presence.

The execution of the romance was enjoyable to read as it achieves what I believe a good romance should; it presents the relationship with a challenge, such as their difference in class for example, that must be overcome and in so doing giving the romance an almost forbidden, star-crossed lovers quality….

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