This is the one book by an african writer that has spoken to me more than any other. The novel traces ifemelus life in both countries, threaded by her love story with high school classmate obinze. This book is a 20 novel about the journey of two young nigerians in love, and their pursuit to navigate to and through america. Unlock the more straightforward side of americanah with this concise and insightful summary and analysis. We read every chapter, summarize and analyze it for your convenience. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie book analysis e. Need help with chapter 1 in chimamanda ngozi adichies americanah. 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. The novel begins as she takes the train from princeton, new jersey, the. Get all the key plot points of chimamanda ngozi adichies americanah on one page.
From the awardwinning author of half of a yellow sun, a dazzling new novel. 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. Ifemelu, a nigerian woman living in america, gets her hair braided at an african salon. But more than anything else, americanah is a book about life and hope. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis.
The chapters are also scattered with posts from ifemelus blog about race in america. 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. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. 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. 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. Americanah study guide contains a biography of chimamanda ngozi adichie, literature. Americanah 20 centres on the romantic and existential struggles of a young nigerian woman studying and blogging about race in the united states. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Americanah tells the story of a young nigerian woman, ifemelu, who immigrates to the united states to attend university.
In addition to providing information on the book s plot, instaread also analyzes the characters relationships as well as the book. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie plot summary litcharts. Apr 15, 20 americanah is a deeply felt book, written with equal parts lyricism and erudition. Ifemelu, a young nigerian woman living in princeton, new jersey, decides to move back to nigeria and reconnects with her first. More than that, it is an important book and yet one that never lets its importance weigh down the need to. Meanwhile obinze, a rich man living in nigeria, emails ifemelu and remembers his own past. Its a story of relocation, farflung love and life as an outsider. The book remains with you after you finish reading, begging you to read again. Meanwhile obinze is hurt by ifemelus sudden silence. This short summary of americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie includes. I was able to read this book in about 2o minutes, and i was able to get a good grasp on what the book. 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 is a book that speaks truths profound and witty. Ifemelu, a young nigerian woman living in princeton, new jersey, decides to.
Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie reading guidebook. The novel traces ifemelus life in both countries, threaded by her love. Americanah ebook by chimamanda ngozi adichie rakuten kobo. She interacts with the women there and remembers her past. Americanah is a 20 novel by the nigerian author chimamanda ngozi adichie, for which. Explore a character analysis of ifemelu, plot summary, and important quotes. Beautiful, selfassured ifemelu heads for america, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it. Summary and analysis of americanah by worth books overdrive. She has broken up with her boyfriend, blaine, closed her popular blog about race, and uprooted her life because she feels weighed down.
He conducts a business negotiation with edusco, a selfmade man who wants to buy land from obinze. 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. 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. The novel explores the life of a young nigerian woman who moves to america and experiences racism. The term americanah is used for nigerians who have been changed by having lived in america. He wonders what ifemelu would make of the soulless 560 city, and second guesses his decision to rescind his invitation. Chimamanda adichies americanah is about a young nigerian woman who moves to the u. May 14, 20 the bestselling novel from the awardwinning author of we should all be feminists and dear ijeawele. Americanah is a remarkable book, a thoughtful book, a book filled with truth. The main characters in americanah are ifemelu and obinze ifemelu is the novels protagonist. There, she starts a popular blog known for its snarky but insightful posts about the experiences of nonamerican blacks in america. He stays with friends but cant find a good job, and his visa expires.
Americanah chimamanda ngozi adichie, 20 knopf doubleday 588 pp. And maybe, ifemelu notes, the original owner was one of those. 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, by chimamanda ngozi adichie, is the story of young lovers ifemelu and obinze who meet as teenagers. Ifemelu is a young nigerian woman who has left her countrys military dictatorship to pursue her studies in the united states. Like those in the novels nigerpolitan club, they have become critical of their native land and culture. 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.
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. Crafted and edited with care, worth books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a wellinformed reader. Americanization is one of the biggest themes in americanah. Chimamanda ngozi adichies americanah is a book that manages to do. 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. Ultimately it all comes together, but for now we are thrown into the middle of ifemelus busy life. He makes friends with a boss and coworker, but then is turned in as an illegal immigrant.
Born in lagos, nigeria, ifemelu moves to america as a young woman to attend. 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. 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. Americanah is a book of great impact and importance. Reading guide for americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie. Americanah book pima county public library bibliocommons. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie, 9780307455925, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Adichie tells the novels story in a complex way, framing memories within back stories and scattering scenes from different times throughout the narrative. Buy a cheap copy of americanah book by chimamanda ngozi adichie. As teenagers in a lagos secondary school, ifemelu and obinze. Americanah study guide contains a biography of chimamanda ngozi adichie, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
With instaread, you can get the summary and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. This first major separation is ifemelus breakup with blaine. They were sanctified, the returnees, back home with an extra gleaming layer. Jul 29, 2017 americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie. Americanah is the latest novel from renowned nigerian author chimamanda ngozi adichie. 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. This lesson provides a summary and analysis of chimamanda ngozi adichies 20 novel, americanah. The bestselling novel from the awardwinning author of we should all be feminists and dear ijeawele. Now she has decided to return to nigeria, where obinze, the boyfriend she left behind, has become a wealthy property magnate. 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. 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. They barter for a while, but obinze is distracted by.
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