From the awardwinning author of half of a yellow sun, a dazzling new novel. Chimamanda ngozi adichies americanah is a book that manages to do. Americanah is chimamanda ngozi adichies awardwinning novel about a young nigerian woman, ifemelu, who immigrates to the united states where she struggles with racism, relationships, and identity. Meanwhile obinze is hurt by ifemelus sudden silence. This 56page guide for americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 55 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. A young woman from nigeria leaves behind her home and her first love to starta new life in america, only to find her dreams are not all she expected. Apr 15, 20 americanah is a deeply felt book, written with equal parts lyricism and erudition. Ifemelu is a young nigerian woman who has left her countrys military dictatorship to pursue her studies in the united states. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie, 9780307455925, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Get all the key plot points of chimamanda ngozi adichies americanah on one page.
This is the one book by an african writer that has spoken to me more than any other. Americanah is a 20 novel by the nigerian author chimamanda ngozi adichie, for which. Americanah, by chimamanda ngozi adichie, is the story of young lovers ifemelu and obinze who meet as teenagers. Americanah tells the story of a young nigerian woman, ifemelu, who immigrates to the united states to attend university.
This summary and analysis of americanah is great for those who are interested in reading the original, but dont have the time to spend hours reading. I was able to read this book in about 2o minutes, and i was able to get a good grasp on what the book is about. The novel explores the life of a young nigerian woman who moves to america and experiences racism. Americanah study guide contains a biography of chimamanda ngozi adichie, literature. Americanah is a 20 novel by the nigerian author chimamanda ngozi adichie, for which adichie won the 20 national book critics circle fiction award. Americanah study guide contains a biography of chimamanda ngozi adichie, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. This is a book about africa and the african diasporic experience in the usa and england, a backdrop for the love story between ifemelu and obinze, teenagers attending a nigerian university who have to leave. Jul 29, 2017 americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie. The main characters in americanah are ifemelu and obinze ifemelu is the novels protagonist. Americanah book pima county public library bibliocommons.
Adichie tells the novels story in a complex way, framing memories within back stories and scattering scenes from different times throughout the narrative. The term americanah is used for nigerians who have been changed by having lived in america. The novel traces ifemelus life in both countries, threaded by her love story with high school classmate obinze. She has broken up with her boyfriend, blaine, closed her popular blog about race, and uprooted her life because she feels weighed down. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie plot summary litcharts. She interacts with the women there and remembers her past. May 18, 2016 americanah manages to not only be a critical darling and a scholars dream, but is also a novel you want to recommend to your best friend or your book club. Beautiful, selfassured ifemelu heads for america, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it. This lesson provides a summary and analysis of chimamanda ngozi adichies 20 novel, americanah.
Unlock the more straightforward side of americanah with this concise and insightful summary and analysis. Americanah is a book of great impact and importance. Ifemelu, a young nigerian woman living in princeton, new jersey, decides to move back to nigeria and reconnects with her first. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie book analysis e. The novel traces ifemelus life in both countries, threaded by her love. There, she starts a popular blog known for its snarky but insightful posts about the experiences of nonamerican blacks in america. We read every chapter, summarize and analyze it for your convenience.
But more than anything else, americanah is a book about life and hope. Its a story of relocation, farflung love and life as an outsider. More than that, it is an important book and yet one that never lets its importance weigh down the need to. Readers guide the questions, discussion topics, and other material that follow are intended to enhance your groups conversation about americanah, chimamanda ngozi acichies powerful, moving story of a young man and woman from nigeria who trace the difficult paths of migration, exile, and homecoming in a rapidly changing, globalized world. This study guide consists of approximately 96 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of americanah.
Americanah is chimamanda ngozi adichies awardwinning novel about a young. Chimamanda adichies americanah is about a young nigerian woman who moves to the u. I was able to read this book in about 2o minutes, and i was able to get a good grasp on what the book. Like those in the novels nigerpolitan club, they have become critical of their native land and culture.
Ifemelu, a young nigerian woman living in princeton, new jersey, decides to. Reading guide for americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie. The real action of the novel begins and ends in ifemelus home country, nigeria, specifically in lagos, nigeria. The story of two nigerians making their way in the u. Americanah ebook by chimamanda ngozi adichie rakuten kobo. Need help with chapter 1 in chimamanda ngozi adichies americanah. Americanization is one of the biggest themes in americanah. Americanah is the latest novel from renowned nigerian author chimamanda ngozi adichie. Meanwhile obinze, a rich man living in nigeria, emails ifemelu and remembers his own past. Summary and analysis of americanah by worth books overdrive. In addition to providing information on the book s plot, instaread also analyzes the characters relationships as well as the book. If you like americanah you might like similar books homegoing, half of a yellow sun, between the world and me, pachinko, exit west. Ifemelu and obinze are young and in love when they depart militaryruled nigeria for the west.
This book is a 20 novel about the journey of two young nigerians in love, and their pursuit to navigate to and through america. Ultimately it all comes together, but for now we are thrown into the middle of ifemelus busy life. Americanah 20 centres on the romantic and existential struggles of a young nigerian woman studying and blogging about race in the united states. Buy a cheap copy of americanah book by chimamanda ngozi adichie. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Bowen a level 2 american robin scholar chapter analysis of americanah want a professional summary of the entire book, complete with character and theme analysis. The book alternates between their two stories, as well as in the past and present, but the writing is so perfect this all works seamlessly. It follows two nigerians, one who came to the us, and one who tried and failed to get into the us and their relationships ups and downs as they return to their native nigeria. He wonders what ifemelu would make of the soulless 560 city, and second guesses his decision to rescind his invitation.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. A powerful, tender story of race and identity by chimamanda ngozi adichie, the awardwinning author of half of a yellow sun. With instaread, you can get the summary and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. The book remains with you after you finish reading, begging you to read again.
Ifemelu, a nigerian woman living in america, gets her hair braided at an african salon. This short summary of americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie includes. Born in lagos, nigeria, ifemelu moves to america as a young woman to attend. Sep 11, 20 americanah sustains the readers interest because it is many stories, feelingly told and woven into one story in an unpretentious and daring book full of vivid metaphor and colourful imagery.
Americanah provides adichie with a fictional vehicle for pithy, sharply sensible commentary on race and cultureand us with a symphonic, polyphonic, fullimmersion opportunity to think outside the american box and commune with the wholly global sensibility of adichie, an author who truly contains multitudes. As teenagers in a lagos secondary school, ifemelu and obinze. Americanah is a remarkable book, a thoughtful book, a book filled with truth. May 14, 20 the bestselling novel from the awardwinning author of we should all be feminists and dear ijeawele. He stays with friends but cant find a good job, and his visa expires.
This brief overview of americanah tells you what you need to know before or after you read chimamanda ngozi adichies book. Explore a character analysis of ifemelu, plot summary, and important quotes. Americanah by chimananda ngozi adichie the new book from nigerian writer chimamanda ngozi adichie is a knockout of a novel about immigration that transcends genre. The chapters are also scattered with posts from ifemelus blog about race in america. Summary plot overview ifemelu, a nigerian woman who lives in princeton, new jersey, gets her hair braided in preparation for her upcoming return to nigeria. Americanah chimamanda ngozi adichie, 20 knopf doubleday 588 pp. They were sanctified, the returnees, back home with an extra gleaming layer. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. A tale of enduring love set over three continents, it is an articulate and outspoken novel that addresses the many layers and implications of race and racism. Summary of book introduction to the important people in the book analysis of the themes and authors style. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie reading guidebook. The novel begins as she takes the train from princeton, new jersey, the.
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