Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieAn extraordinary coming-of-age story. Kambili, her brother and their mother have all the luxuries their successful and influential father can provide. In the community he is seen as pious, generous and a voice of the people, but at home he is an explosive, dominant figure who demands complete submission and obedience. Kambili's fear and trauma is palpable. Throughout the text I held my breath, felt her choking. I desperately wished something would give Kambili the courage to stop trying to justify the abuse. The repression and lack of self-worth is disturbing. The dysfunction of the family is so real; it is frightening. This doesn't feel like fiction, it feels something many of us have known. Stylistically, the writing is stellar. Adichie does get everything right: tone, pacing, characterization and language.
"The novel received the Commonwealth Writers Prize. The “Washington Post Book World” called it, “a breathtaking debut.... .[Adichie] is very much the 21st-century daughter of that other great Igbo novelist, Chinua Achebe.” The “Boston Globe” said, “Adichie’s understanding of a young girl’s heart is so acute that her story ultimately rises above its setting and makes her little part of Nigeria seem as close and vivid as Eudora Welty’s Mississippi.”
What have you read lately?
3 comments:
I recently read Adichie's other book Half of a Yellow Sun, which I enjoyed. Most recently I read The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia which is weird, beautiful and profound. Wonderful book.
Hi CGP, Her second novel is on my tbr list. Currently reading non-fiction, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.
You are so right. A great book, totally idetifiable theme and characters. The book had me totally gripped me and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
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