WINNER 2013 - National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction FINALIST 2014 - Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction FINALIST 2014 - Andrew Carnegie Medal for Fiction LONGLISTED 2015 - International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award A searing new novel, at once sweeping and intimate, by the award-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun a story of love and race centered around a man and woman from Nigeria who seemed destined to be together--until the choices they are forced to make tear them apart. Ifemelu--beautiful, self ...
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WINNER 2013 - National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction FINALIST 2014 - Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction FINALIST 2014 - Andrew Carnegie Medal for Fiction LONGLISTED 2015 - International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award A searing new novel, at once sweeping and intimate, by the award-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun a story of love and race centered around a man and woman from Nigeria who seemed destined to be together--until the choices they are forced to make tear them apart. Ifemelu--beautiful, self-assured--left Nigeria 15 years ago, and now studies in Princeton as a Graduate Fellow. She seems to have fulfilled every immigrant's dream: Ivy League education; success as a writer of a wildly popular political blog; money for the things she needs. But what came before is more like a nightmare: wrenching departure from family; humiliating jobs under a false name. She feels for the first time the weight of something she didn't think about back home: race. Obinze--handsome and kind-hearted--was Ifemelu's teenage love; he'd hoped to join her in America, but post 9/11 America wouldn't let him in. Obinze's journey leads him to back alleys of illegal employment in London; to a fake marriage for the sake of a work card, and finally, to a set of handcuffs as he is exposed and deported. Years later, when they reunite in Nigeria, neither is the same person who left home. Obinze is the kind of successful "Big Man" he'd scorned in his youth, and Ifemelu has become an "Americanah"--a different version of her former self, one with a new accent and attitude. As they revisit their shared passion--for their homeland and for each other--they must face the largest challenges of their lives. Spanning three continents, entering the lives of a richly drawn cast of characters across numerous divides, Americanah is a riveting story of love and expectation set in today's globalized world.
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Add this copy of Americanah to cart. $3.24, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Knopf Canada.
Add this copy of Americanah to cart. $3.24, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Knopf Canada.
Add this copy of Americanah to cart. $3.24, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Knopf Canada.
Add this copy of Americanah to cart. $3.24, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Knopf Canada.
Add this copy of Americanah to cart. $5.49, fair condition, Sold by St. Vinnie's Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eugene, OR, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Knopf Canada.
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Seller's Description:
Acceptable. NO DUST JACKET. Hardcover No Dust Jacket The item is fairly worn but still readable. Signs of wear include aesthetic issues such as scratches, worn covers, damaged binding. The item may have identifying markings on it or show other signs of previous use. May have page creases, creased spine, bent cover or markings inside. Packed with care, shipped promptly.
Add this copy of Americanah to cart. $7.00, good condition, Sold by Friends Walnut Creek Library rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Walnut Creek, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Knopf Canada.
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Seller's Description:
Good in good dust jacket. Book is unmarked. Dust jacket shows edge wear and small tear on spine. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 496 p. Audience: General/trade.
In her latest novel, Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie touches on racial tensions, the issues of being an immigrant, and the struggle to maintain nice hair. Set in both the United States and Africa, Americanah follows the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, two lovers that had to separate for many years due to the unpredictability of life. At the start of the novel, Ifemelu has been living in the United States for a number of years, has formed a romantic relationship with a man named Blaine, and has also started a blog that has become very popular. She makes the decision to move back to Africa and contacts Obinze, now married with children, for the first time in many years. The novel consists of many flashbacks that detail the origin of Ifemelu and Obinze's relationship, and how they got to their particular points in life.
Ultimately, Americanah is an excellent read, especially for a classroom setting. My experience with English class for all four years of high school was either stories about blacks in prison (the lovely short stories of William Faulkner) or blacks in chains (The list goes on and on, I couldn't even fit them all in this review if I wanted to). Because of this I had my doubts about Americanah, but it was refreshing in that it offered a more positive look on the black experience by making the main characters upper class while still managing to touch on greater issues. Students should have more African-American writing in English/Literature classes that uplift blacks, rather than them being taught about slavery every single year.
Americanah finds its main strength in its relatability to the reader. Even people that are not minorities can understand the struggles associated with being a minority by reading it. Ifemelu's main struggle throughout the novel is associated with race and her identity. She has trouble finding her place in the United States, having to travel miles to an immigrant-run hair salon for hair care because her own town (a predominantly white one) has no such salons available. The struggle to find one's place is something anyone can relate to, which is why the reader is able to feel empathy for Ifemelu and understand her struggles to a certain extent. In addition, it keeps the reader compelled to read more through its intriguing love story.
The greatest weakness of the novel is found in its overwhelming length, clocking in at nearly six-hundred pages. At times, the story seems very drawn out and dry. A reader should never have moments where he or she just wants the novel to get to the point, and end. Everything that Americanah accomplished could have been done in half the length the novel actually was. This is where Americanah falls short when compared to some of Adichie's short stories; an example of one of these is "The Headstrong Historian". In this short story, Adichie was able to give background, have a plot and allow the story to reach a resolution and come full circle all in less than twenty pages.
All in all, Americanah is a must read. Though it is long and feels drawn out at times,it is a necessary book for young men and women, especially in our world of growing racial tensions and immigration issues. What Americanah teaches is what the next generation needs to learn about if the world is going to change. It's really interesting to read as well, because of the interesting dynamic of Ifemelu and Obinze. If you're into cheesy love stories, once you reach the end of the novel you'll find that the conclusion was worth the long wait.
Elaine H
Apr 15, 2016
Really sharp. This is a treasure.
AND part of it takes place in Philadelphia, places I lived. African Nigerian girl comes to America with a critical cultural eye, then goes home and scrutinizes her own culture. Watch her TED talk
emma17
Jan 1, 2016
well worth reading
Well written, with the important topic of race woven into an engaging story. An excellent read. Highly recommended for book group discussions.
tsunami
Apr 26, 2015
great story, wonderful insights
This profound book is disguised as a gripping story. Anyone interested in race relations, immigration issues, and women's issues would probably like this book. It is well written and challenged me in many ways.
koalalala
Feb 11, 2014
A friendly, refreshing narrator
I found myself enjoying this book from the first page. It felt like hearing the interesting twists and cutting observations of a dear friend's lifestory.
The first two thirds of the book flew by. But I found the later part dragged. Falling back on the marriage plot and/or search for love as a resolution seemed staid, and old-fashioned compared to the freshness of the main character's perspective. I also thought that the events of the latter section were told with less of the immediacy and rich details that so enthralled me in the beginning and middle.
Despite the flat ending, I highly recommend this.
To paraphrase the sentiments of the main character, there's more to this book than mere plot points.
