Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

'Americanah,' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, was shortlisted for this year's Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction. It tells the story of Ifemelu and her boyfriend Obinze, who fall in love as teenagers in Lagos. Ifemelu leaves Nigeria during university strikes to pursue postgraduate studies in the United States. Meanwhile, Obinze has moved to England after graduating and is working under a false identity in Essex while attempting to obtain a visa through an arranged marriage. The plot follows their separate journeys across continents before they are reunited in Lagos many years later. 

In an interview with Goodreads, Adichie stated, "In Nigeria, race is not a conscious and present means of self-identification." Ethnicity is a factor. Religion exists. However, not race." When Ifemelu moves to the United States, she arrives at a similar conclusion. She begins writing about her experiences in an anonymous blog called Raceteenth or Various Observations About American Blacks. By a Non-American Black. Ifemelu, on the other hand, does not just experience culture shock in a foreign country; her eventual return to Nigeria is equally disorienting for her, and Adichie paints an intriguing portrait of Lagos through the eyes of a former resident who has been away for a long time.

XEM THÊM : 

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The in-depth and intricate explorations of contemporary race and identity politics were thoughtfully written, despite the fact that the blogging aspect of the story was occasionally long-winded. It is easy to be confrontational when discussing such topics, but Adichie approaches them in an honest and engaging manner that is not heavy-handed. Furthermore, the story does not become bogged down in detailed social commentary. The characters, particularly Ifemelu, have real depth, and Adichie's storytelling is consistently assured and perceptive.

'Americanah' is a novel about identity, immigration, race, and love that is impressive, complex, and brilliantly observed. While Jhumpa Lahiri's 'The Lowland' and Hannah Kent's 'Burial Rites' are both beautifully written and strong contenders for this year's Women's Prize for Fiction, I believe 'Americanah' and 'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt are the books on the shortlist that I have enjoyed reading the most. Adichie was awarded the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2007 for her second novel, 'Half of a Yellow Sun,' and she could win it again for 'Americanah.'






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