AMERICANAH

A short review

This is the third novel I've read from the author after, Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun but it thrilled me the more. I loved reading his book more than any work she has ever laid her hands on. The books discussed feminism, migration and psychological aspect of some trying to find themselves within themselves. There are a lot more sub themes in the book, like corruption, racism and the discovery of Nigerian English different from British and American variety of the same language.

Ifemelu as the central heroin was born and brought up in the southeast Nigeria by a proud parent. Her mother was so drunk in religion that she was moving from church to church to discover herself. Ifemelu started relationship like every adult right from senior secondary  school and admitted into the university with the same boy whose mother is a lecturer and adored them pretty well. During a long usual strike by the Nigerian universities, she applied for an overseas scholarship and got one in America by the help of her boyfriend, Obinze. She joined her aunt, Uju and her son Dike in America.

During her stay there, she discovered racism and was fascinated and bewildered about the whole idea. She ran into multiple relationships and was motivated to have a blog to discuss racism and other social issues. With the help of her American boyfriend, she obtained a green card in America and had her parent visited America for the first time. She bought a house. And later returned to settle in Nigeria. Within her fifteen years stay in America, she's seen a lot and went through so much and she ignored the love of her life, Obinze who was heartbroken. He moved on and got married and was blessed with one female child.

After her return to Nigeria, Ifemelu and Obinze met again and brought back their love to life and started seeing "ceiling" (mating) together. Her friends started calling her Americanah. 

Apart from how the author eloquently narrated her story in Nigeria, America and England, racism, relationships, migration, corruption, Lagos life etc. I still hate the fact that Ifemelu abandoned Obinze, the Zed after traveling to America even though he tirelessly tried to find out why and how and went to the point of finding a way to meet her there. Later was deported by the England immigration. Even though the novel ends, but there was still no conclusion about whether Obinze would divorce his wife as he wanted to marry Ifemelu or he would keep her as his mistress just the way many rich men are portrayed in Lagos.

"Ifem, I'm chasing you. I'm going to chase you until you give this a chance". He said.

"Ceiling," she said, finally. "Come in".

Thank you.