Americanah is a book of great impact and importance. Chimamanda ngozi adichie, the author, most recently, of the orange prizewinning half of a yellow sun, has. The chapters are also scattered with posts from ifemelus blog about race in america. This book is a 20 novel about the journey of two young nigerians in love, and their pursuit to navigate to and through america. If you loved americanah, try reading these 9 books, too.
Americanah tells the story of a young nigerian woman, ifemelu, who immigrates to the united states to attend university. If you like our questions please feel free to use them and dont forget to join the conversation online at. Chimamanda ngozi adichie on americanah books podcast. Adichies bestselling novel americanah was selected as one of five awardwinning books to be considered for the one book, one new york program, according to vanguard newspaper. Its a story of relocation, farflung love and life as an. Fearless, gripping, spanning three continents and numerous lives, americanah is a richly told story of love and expectation set in todays globalized world. A few days later obinze brings his license to register for the marriage. The novel traces ifemelus life in both countries, threaded by her love story with high school classmate obinze. More than that, it is an important book and yet one that never lets its importance weigh down the need to.
Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie the boston globe. Americanah author explains learning to be black in the. Chimamanda ngozi adichie is the author of purple hibiscus, which was longlisted for the booker prize, half of a yellow sun, which won the orange prize for fiction. A recipient of a macarthur fellowship, she divides her time between the united states and nigeria. Adichie is a macarthur fellowship winner and author of the novels purple hibiscus and half of a yellow sun. Fearless, gripping, at once darkly funny and tender, spanning three continents and numerous lives, americanah is a richly told story set in todays globalized world. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie 9780007356348.
Ifemelu and obinze are young and in love when they depart militaryruled nigeria. Chimamanda adichies americanah is about a young nigerian woman who moves to the u. Nyongo optioned the film rights for chimamanda ngozi adichies americanah in may, and. Chimamanda ngozi adichie chimamanda ngozi adichie on americanah books podcast the nigerian author came to the guardian book club to talk about race, politics and hair in her latest novel. The seattle times one of the best books of the year. Listen to americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie at. Ifemelu, a nigerian woman living in america, gets her hair braided at an african salon. Chimamanda ngozi adichies work has appeared in various publications, including the new yorker, granta and zoetrope.
While americanah is a tale of individual characters, it is also a sweeping analysis and critique of race and racism in america, england, and nigeria, and the novel is peppered with adichies biting observations on the. Shortlisted for the baileys womens prize for fiction a delicious, important novel the times alert, alive and gripping independent some novels tell a great story and others make you change the way you look at the world. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. This is the one book by an african writer that has spoken to me more than any other. Ifemelu and obinze are young and in love when they depart militaryruled nigeria for. Americanah is both intellectually expansive and urgently intimate, a story about the crushing experience of finding your way in a new land and the physical and emotional lengths one goes to in order to feel whole again. They were sanctified, the returnees, back home with an extra gleaming layer 408. Americanah is a 20 novel by the nigerian author chimamanda ngozi adichie, for which adichie won the 20 national book critics circle fiction award.
Americanah is a fictional story which relays the importance of telling stories of race, and immigration. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in americanah, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. He hears someone in the office complaining that all the marriages being registered are shams, and he is suddenly afraid. Half of a yellow sun is set during the biafran war during the 1960s. Listen to americanah audiobook by chimamanda ngozi adichie. She is the author of the thing around your neck and of 2 novels, purple hibiscus and half of a yellow sun, which won the orange prize and was a nbcc finalist. She interacts with the women there and remembers her past. Nigerian born author chimimanda ngozi adichie has written a powerful, politicallycharged novel in americanah, and book groups should take note americanah is the story of a nigerian woman, ifemelu, who moves to the united states to further her education and spends her years abroad analyzing and processing what it means to be a nonamerican black.
Ifemelubeautiful, selfassuredleft nigeria 15 years ago, and now studies in princeton as a graduate fellow. After reading americanah i immediately dove headlong into adichies backlist. Chimamanda ngozi adichies americanah is the winner of the. About the author chimamanda ngozi adichies work has appeared in numerous publications, including the new yorker and granta. So i read it anyway which took little time and it succeeded in raising my curiosity about the book even more. The bestselling novel from the awardwinning author of we should all be feminists and dear ijeawele. One of thenew york timess ten best books of the year winner of the national book critics circle award for fiction an npr great reads book, a chicago tribune best book, a washington post notable book, a seattle times best book, an entertainment weekly top fiction book, a newsday top 10 book, and a goodreads best of the year pick. One of the new york timess ten best books of the year winner of the national book critics circle award for fiction an npr great reads book, a chicago tribune best book, a washington post notable book, a seattle times best book, an entertainment weekly top fiction book, a newsday top 10 book, and a goodreads best of the year pick. Babette audant suggests the following piece in connection with teaching americanah. Chimamanda ngozi adichies novel americanah is the inaugural pick for the one book, one new york program, a. Americanah is painful in the second way under chimamanda ngozi adiches incomparably observant, intelligent eye, the u. After reading this book i really thought about the message it sends to the readers and kept wondering why i havent heard of this book before. About us top 50 facts is an unofficial collection of facts for fans and readers alike, looking to conveniently discover more about the books they love.
Americanah is a deeply felt book, written with equal parts lyricism and erudition. Discussion questions for americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie these discussion questions were prepared by the national network to end domestic violence nnedv for the reader with a cause book club on goodreads. A searing new novel, at once sweeping and intimate, by the awardwinning author of half of a yellow sun. Americanah ebook by chimamanda ngozi adichie rakuten kobo. The angolans take care of all the documents, and a mysterious man named brown gives obinze his drivers license. Free delivery to your door on all orders over r450. The story of two nigerians making their way in the u.
Half of a yellow sun is by far my favorite of her books, although you really cant go wrong with any of them. Americanah book pima county public library bibliocommons. If you like americanah you might like similar books homegoing, half of a yellow sun, between the world and me, pachinko, exit west. I couldnt put this book down, it is so raw and intense and just absolute perfection. Buy a cheap copy of americanah book by chimamanda ngozi adichie. This book had such a powerful role in my life and has opened my eyes to the world around me. The real action of the novel begins and ends in ifemelus home country, nigeria, specifically in lagos, nigeria. Chimamanda ngozi adichie overdrive rakuten overdrive. This is a book about africa and the african diasporic experience in the usa and england, a backdrop for the love story between ifemelu and obinze, teenagers attending a nigerian university who have to leave. The term americanah is used for nigerians who have been changed by having lived in america.
Americanah chimamanda ngozi adichie paperback books. Americanah is that rare thing in contemporary literary fiction. Meanwhile obinze, a rich man living in nigeria, emails ifemelu and remembers his own past. Chimamanda ngozi adichies most powerful and astonishing novel yet. My only encounter of the author before reading this book was through a ted talk of. Purchase americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie on paperback online and enjoy having your favourite fiction books delivered to you in south africa. Jollof rice from americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie a second reading of adichies novel has kate young exploring new culinary territory and trying out this homely nigerian dish. Like those in the novels nigerpolitan club, they have become critical of their native land and culture.
From the namesake to americanah, check out these books that communicate specific, complicated narratives to the rest of the world. This study guide consists of approximately 96 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of americanah. Discussion questions for americanah by chimamanda ngozi. Get free delivery to all exclusive books stores nationwide.
146 1411 694 532 690 125 767 251 1027 1386 696 689 207 204 479 405 996 1462 207 379 1429 863 91 1121 895 839 974 1483 817 40 627 899 1029 336 1333 318