I've been a fan girl of Chimamanda right from the moment I read Purple Hibiscus. I fell in love with her writing style, vivid description, and sublime storytelling. Her books are unapologetically Nigerian which makes them so familiar. Since purple hibiscus, I've read all of her other books. In 2019, I read Americanah but it didn't stick. So I decided to read it again and I'm so glad about that decision I made. Now I know that this wouldn't be the last time I would read it. I'll probably make it a yearly ritual because Chimamanda did what needed to be done with this book, she delivered.
Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria and reignite their passion—for each other and their homeland.
In Americanah, Chimamanda works us through the intricacies of race, which is a major theme in the novel. Upon Ifemelu's arrival in the US, the epiphany of being black hits her for the first time. It comes in the form of patients asking for a change of doctor upon the realization that Aunty Uju is their doctor. It comes in the form of surprise on the faces of people to see Curt, a white man dating Ifemelu. We see it when Kimberly uses beautiful to describe black every time. Race is very much present when Obinze goes to the UK and is mocked for being a "knee grow".
Chimamanda explores the topic of natural hair in black women. She asks questions like why black women hide their hair and talks about how we become slaves to our hair when we apply relaxers. When she went to the salon to get braids, the hair stylist keeps asking why her hair isn't relaxed. As a naturalista, I experience this every time I go to the salon and it makes me wonder why we hate our natural hair. She also shuns white people who use the fro as a Halloween costume.
During Ifemelu's first months, she encounters some cultural shocks. She's surprised that being called fat is a bad thing and not just a factual statement. It baffles her when a school administrator speaks really slowly to her so she can understand better because according to her, Africans don't speak or understand English.
We experience Africans' reactions to mental illnesses like depression. When Ifemelu suffers from depression and her friend points it out, she states that it's an American thing, the ability to turn everything into an illness and give it a name.
Love is a central theme throughout this book. Before America, there were Ifemelu and Obinze, two teenagers deeply in love. Chimamanda takes us through the start of the relationship, through the cute moments. After America & England, we meet them as adults still smitten by each other despite Obinze being married with a child.
Americanah is a name we call Nigerians who have stayed in America for some time. Upon their arrival, their accents change and they complain about roads, the environment, and restaurants. And as Nigerians, we often say, "Na Americanah be that".
Ifemelu's growth as a character is so obvious and I enjoyed reading it. She relaxes her hair, and starts talking with an American accent when she first arrives but with time, she becomes more comfortable with her originality. She gives her opinions, observations and critics through her blog and it's a part of the book I deeply enjoyed.
This book is a favorite because it addresses issues that should be talked about. It grips you right away into the plot and the flow from past to present, between countries and points of view is seamless and effortless. Chimamanda is a master storyteller with great opinions and this book is a showcase of her skill. The character development was awesome, each of them needed. There was also a great dose of humor.
I finished reading it and I felt complete and satisfied. I love everything about this book and I wish I could read it again for the first time. It's at the top of my recommendation list. A solid 5-star book.
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