AMERICANAH || BOOK REVIEW

Finally!
After long months away from my books and the struggle to even read through this, I finally am done. I guess that a number of you remember reading that semi-rant, I have lost my penchant for writing just a while back. Anyways, I'm here to inform you that I made it through that read and fast, too. Phew! I feel super glad. And, thanks for your advices and contributions, they were helpful.

Moving on, I promised that I would give a review once I was done reading, and here it is.

Americanah- a work of fiction by Chimamanda was first published in April, 2013.

It was too much sadness in one book. Maybe arising from the choice of words or from relativity.
The setting of the book cuts across different continents.
Ifemelu, the heroine of this book is a strong character, dver sure of her words and opinions. She never backed down on whatever decision she decides to take. A brutally honest woman without the lack of originality.

The story is centered on two lovers, ifemelu and obinze. It highlighted the ups and downs associated with a romantic relationship. It highlighted the struggles of finding a footing outside the fatherland(Nigeria).

I loved Obinze, he was perfect match for Ifemelu; He was a gentleman, smart too.
He went for what he wanted.
He chose happiness over every other thibg.
I mean,what's the essence of living if you weren't happy?

Obinze's mother is the adult every teemager/child deserves to have.
She isn't the typical African parent, she is understanding and rational. She didn't hesitate to speak to Ifemelu about involving sex in the relationship with her son. She spoke about sex like a casual thing.

Aunty Uju was the fun aunt of Ifemelu. She played the role of Ifemelu's mother more than ifemelu's mother herself.
I likened her to Obinze's mother only that she is, you know,more youthful.
I remember the hilarious line at the end of chapter three when ifemelu told aunty Uju that she had met the love of her life(Obinze).

Image is a screenshot from the e-book

There was more...
A lot happened in course of the story which you'd learn of if you read the book.
I learnt and understood lots of things. I'm not even leaving out the satire intended in this great book. It's terrific!

The ending left me furious. Well, that's typical of Chimamanda to leave you hanging, to leave you with burning questions.

I think of Kosi, learning and knowing what game her husband was up to and still staying put and quiet, because family is everything, as admirable yet cowardice.
I had a myriad of emotions reading this. I was in suspense most of the time. I laughed too...at the subtle sarcasm. It was more of sadness though but I kept reading. I couldn't put it down.

The part about Obama was one I loved very much and when Dike said, "I can't believe it. My president is black like me," I too read it with tears filling up my eyes.

This might be a beautiful book but I did not like it as much as I did her other works.
Why?
It lacked poetic justice.
I get it, I get that a story must not have poetic justice. Cause, in real life, things rarely have happy endings and life is rarely fair.
But Americanah's ending would definitely get you pissed or, at the very least, make you raise an eyebrow.
And somehow I believe Chimamanda did it intentionally to make a point only she knows.

Ifemelu may be the protagonist of the story but she's also the villian.She was cruel.
Chimamanda made me fall in over with Ifemelu that even when she messed up, I was tempted to support her too.

The last line of the book though,