On May 14th 2020, Americanah marked 7years since it was published. Adichie summarized it to be a book about (old fashion) love, race and hair.
I began reading Americanah in 2018 as PDF, then in 2019, I began all over again. Americanah will be the first novel that had me do this. I've read over 125 pages via PDF but when I turned open the hard cover, "Princeton smelt as nothing" called my attention again and I started all over. Smiles.
Americanah for me is a political fiction, fierce and bold, that unearthed situations we try so hardly to cover, played with the idea so long that we get so roped in. It humanized humanity and makes thrilling subjects that by societal standards should be frowned at.
It's about family and how it changes over time, touches a bit of religious hypocrisy.... - of Aunty Uju's Sister praising God for Miracles he does for Aunty Uju, knowing fully well that the General was the God who supplied all the needs. Of giving corrupt diabolic men front pews in church simply because they have the money - adapting, especially into a society where you get to 'discover' yourself.
It's like Adichie said, a book of love. Love so pure. Soul mate. And ehrrm how you can be a victim if you stand between love's way. (special tribute to Kosi. *Blow her a kiss*)
And then, economic homosexuals. - Men who slept with Generals for oil blocks and contracts (I read this line like 5 times to be sure it is what I'm reading and not me reading meaning into it) Men who have wives and children, upright men, responsible men catering for their family, with their families in their heart who will do everything clean to provide for them, and ehrrm bend a little as long as it tips the account some more and does not harm to any other. And then go home to command the house like the men they are. How Adichie managed to unearth this part of a gender she doesn't belong to makes me laugh.
A book of who knows who, -Obinze and chief- loyalty, and a thousand shades of the beauty of humanity.
It will remain one of the most educative and entertaining fiction I read last year, one that has sparked a thousand questions and controversy that have formed the basis of some of my discussion topic.
Happy 7th. Americanah.
It held me spellbound for 4 solid days, and when it finally came to an end, I wished Adichie hadn't stopped at "Ceiling, Come in".
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