Book Review : Half of a Yellow Sun
By Tichaona Chinyelu
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres - as I frequently
approach history through literature. So it was with excitement
that I opened Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie. I
knew next to nothing about the backdrop to the novel, the
Biafra war. I definitely didn't know that it was Igbo-based.
However, understanding my lack of knowledge, I took what
Ama Ata Aidoo wrote in Our Sister Killjoy to be true; that
Nigeria "not only has all the characteristics which nearly every
African country has but also possesses these characteristics
in bolder outline".
I have to admit I was a bit thrown for a loop when the Biafran
characters would talk about Nigeria and Nigerians as The
Other. Then I remembered a discussion I had with someone
about Watch for Me on the Mountain by Forrest Carter. In that
book, a fictional rendering of Geronimo's life, Mexicans were
consistently referred to in the negative. I didn't get that either
until I was made to understand that Mexico, as a country, was
imposed on Indigenous people from without. Once I
understood that, the negative perception of Mexico made a
whole lot of sense. It was the same with Nigerian and
Nigerians. I have to admit, though, to a little discomfort in
understanding (and potentially agreeing with) the Biafran
struggle for Independence from Nigeria. After all, one of the
giants of African Independence, Kwame Nkrumah, believed
strongly in a United States of Africa. Half of a Yellow sun
raised questions such as should such a structure be based on
the 1885 carving up of Africa?
Originally, I had planned to write an intricate review. However,
I must admit, that reading the book soon became a chore. It
wasn't due to book being well over 500 pages. Even though
the story was very interesting, the writing itself was unable to
hold my interest for a sustained amount of time. Considering
all the publicity Adichie has received, I expected a literary
masterpiece.Now, don't get me wrong. It is definitely worth
reading; especially for folks like me who look at literature as
more than just a good story. It just dragged at several points
during the read.
Tichaona Chinyelu
Writer. Mother. Me
Author of In the Whirlwind,
Still Living on my Feet &
Contraband Marriage
[http://www.tichaonachinyelu.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?
expert=Tichaona_Chinyelu
0 Comments | Leave a Comment
Submitted On February 06, 2011
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres - as I frequently
approach history through literature. So it was with excitement
that I opened Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie. I
knew next to nothing about the backdrop to the novel, the
Biafra war. I definitely didn't know that it was Igbo-based.
However, understanding my lack of knowledge, I took what
Ama Ata Aidoo wrote in Our Sister Killjoy to be true; that
Nigeria "not only has all the characteristics which nearly every
African country has but also possesses these characteristics
in bolder outline".
I have to admit I was a bit thrown for a loop when the Biafran
characters would talk about Nigeria and Nigerians as The
Other. Then I remembered a discussion I had with someone
about Watch for Me on the Mountain by Forrest Carter. In that
book, a fictional rendering of Geronimo's life, Mexicans were
consistently referred to in the negative. I didn't get that either
until I was made to understand that Mexico, as a country, was
imposed on Indigenous people from without. Once I
understood that, the negative perception of Mexico made a
whole lot of sense. It was the same with Nigerian and
Nigerians. I have to admit, though, to a little discomfort in
understanding (and potentially agreeing with) the Biafran
struggle for Independence from Nigeria. After all, one of the
giants of African Independence, Kwame Nkrumah, believed
strongly in a United States of Africa. Half of a Yellow sun
raised questions such as should such a structure be based on
the 1885 carving up of Africa?
Originally, I had planned to write an intricate review. However,
I must admit, that reading the book soon became a chore. It
wasn't due to book being well over 500 pages. Even though
the story was very interesting, the writing itself was unable to
hold my interest for a sustained amount of time. Considering
all the publicity Adichie has received, I expected a literary
masterpiece.Now, don't get me wrong. It is definitely worth
reading; especially for folks like me who look at literature as
more than just a good story. It just dragged at several points
during the read.
Tichaona Chinyelu
Writer. Mother. Me
Author of In the Whirlwind,
Still Living on my Feet &
Contraband Marriage
[http://www.tichaonachinyelu.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?
expert=Tichaona_Chinyelu
0 Comments | Leave a Comment
Submitted On February 06, 2011
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