Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
/An interesting take on the lives of Nigerians during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). The effect the war is having on the lives of Nigerians is represented through the lives of about five characters. The story jumps around in time showing life for the family and associates before and during the war. “English people who thought they understood Africans better than Africans understood themselves. . . “ The story is a candid view of the struggle for survival and autonomy within a volatile African landscape. It looks back at a revolutionary period and expresses both hope and irony about the past and the future.
The book is about the intersection of class and race; we see inside Nigerian society as a young woman, Olanna, struggles to find her place. Her parents see her as a sexual pawn for developing wealth and political importance. If you are looking for a book that helps explain some aspects of the Nigerian Civil War of the late 1960s, this is a good narrative for helping one understand the intricacies of political and social dynamics of that time.
The major female protagonist’s twin sister Kainene, a doppleganger, seems to understand the struggle Olanna feels while still deriding Olanna for her interest in her revolutionary lover.
A couple of poignant quotes:
Richard—He thought about how easily those Igbo words had slipped out of him. “I am a Biafran.” He did not know why, but he hoped the driver would not tell Kainene that he had said that” (404).
Susan—longer than another week. “These people never fight civilized wars, do they? So much for calling it a civil war.” Susan paused. “I rang the British Council in Enugu and I can’t believe our people there are still going off to play water polo and have cocktails at the Hotel Presidential! There’s a bloody war going on” (405).
Review by Dale Marie Taylor, Ph.D. Literary Studies, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Author of A Home for Easter, Hester’s Journey, Carrie’s Song — at Amazon and ebook retailers.
Historical Fiction, African History
Book reviews Nigerian, Book reviews by Dale Marie Taylor
Comments (0)
Newest First
Preview Post Comment…
email: dmarietaylor@gmail.com
Powered by Squarespace
By using t