Book review by Kalanie Prabhakar, year 10

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Anyone who has watched the TED talk “We should all be feminists” will already have an understanding of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s humour and wit, iconic analysis of today’s society and her varied perspectives on the Western world. Americanah (2014) is a story which describes Ifemelu, a young Nigerian woman, and her immigration to America. The novel talks about her life in America and Nigeria, as well as her love for her high school classmate, Obinze.

Adichie weaves a tale which immediately enraptures you; in barely a few pages, I couldn’t put it down. I found it really interesting to read about different societies; often it is difficult to find non-American or British books. Learning about cultural aspects in Nigeria was something I loved (e.g. all the conversations about hair and Ifemelu’s opinions regarding it – I can’t relate, but found it funny and interesting nonetheless). Adichie also highlights the importance of family, by Ifemelu’s quirky interations with her mother and aunt.

Ifemelu is sweet and funny and has a deep urge to learn more about the world. She develops as a character, and is very likeable, yet still intriguing. Obinze’s character also develops and has a contrasting perspective of life initially as an illegal immigrant in England, and his return to Nigeria. I enjoyed following her and Obinze’s love story throughout different times in their life.

Americanah centres around women in Nigeria, whose rights and attitudes are different than in Australia. The role of women and differences between America and Nigeria are shown by Ifemelu’s awe of America, yet other issues show a differing perspective of America as well, highlighting Adichie’s deep understanding of both countries. I particularly found her comments on race in America vs Nigeria fascinating.

A highlight was definitely Ifemelu’s blog: Various Observations About American Blacks by a Non-American Black. It was simply hilarious, especially the ones about Barack Obama and women (read the book to understand!). I laughed out loud every time!

I completely recommend this book for advanced readers, who enjoy high quality writing and are interested in observations about America and Nigeria. There are mature themes and scenes, so older high school students will understand it and enjoy it more.

Adichie wrote such a fantastic book. Her commentary on America, English, and Nigerian culture was just amazing. I find her writing some of the best I’ve ever read. Her themes and witty ideas were innovative and fascinating. Read it!