Aamna

Giving this 3 stars purely because the writing was decent. May be bitter men who still find love make for intriguing feel-good stories; that explains the popularity of this book. But having known a bitter man very closely I am confident that this is a fucking fairytale.

It has been a long time since I fell in love with a novel so hopelessly. Perhaps the last time was when I was 16 and had just started reading Shantaram. This time was different though, a more self-aware, less helpless and more willing kind of falling in love. Before I try to talk about the book, I need to mention that I listened to this book on my Audible trial. There is no doubt that listening to Adjoa Andoh's beautiful, beautiful narration of the book had a lot to do with just how much I adored this book though reading it would have been just as effective. Once I started listening to it I couldn't stop. When I got around to the last hour of the book I kept rewinding and re-listening to the same chapters, berating myself for having rushed through the book (I hadn't). It took me 2 days to finish the last hour (I had averaged 4 hours/day until then).

On a side note, the audio book definitely has everything to do with me wanting to buy the Audible subscription.

I picked Americanah up due to my friend Raylene's very compelling review of the book that you can read here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2586414536

I, too, couldn't help but draw parallels between Lahiri's work and Americanah. Though somehow, despite Lahiri's work being very likeable, it was never relatable due to the obvious gap in the experiences of the characters and those of my own. The gap exists with Americanah too; the story of two teenage Nigerians in love with each other, who immigrate (or try to) to the west amidst the economic upheaval in their home country. Adichie demonstrates how one doesn't need to share the experiences of her characters to be able to relate with them.

Americanah is first and foremost an honest novel. Much like the protagonist Ifemelu, unable to hold back, unafraid to offend. It may also be an unconventional love story (and I'm not talking about my one sided love for Obinze). All of this revolving around the central themes of race and gender.

Adichie's enchanting descriptive narrative immersed me in the lives of Ifemelu and Obinze. And I will never be the same.

Still reeling from it.

I thought I was too old to read this. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Also inadvertently picked this up now, given the current political and social context.

If you're reading this, and you haven't read the book, please read it. This precocious little girl has much to say and we need to hear it.

Makes you wonder, what could have been.

This was fun. I was surprised to get as many of the 80s references as I did.

What an incredibly useful book. Highly recommend if you're into building products.

Read this too late. Would have enjoyed this SO much more at 16. Very Jeffery Archer-esque.

It's a simple novel. Loved the narrative style.

Super engaging. Nothing good I can say about it that hasn't been said already.

Short and useful.

Good if you're a blank slate

This was such a good surprise. So well written and so much to take away even if you're not a hard core game designer. Will definitely be reading again at some point. Highly recommend.

This was a like a long extended dream. The kind you have at 4am. The kind that wake you up and wonder - how could it be so vivid and SO absurd? You remember parts of it like it really happened and other parts you just cannot recollect no matter how hard you try.

Yep, this was just a dream. And I'm sure it'll be different when I read it again. And that I will.

Raced through it as expected. I might be discovering Agatha Christie way too late but man am I enjoying it.

Nothing makes me more at home in this world than a terrifyingly real dystopian novel. So oddly satisfying.

Atwood is a literary genius.

One of those books that could have been a long article.

Troubling. Funny. Just how you'd expect Vonnegut to be.

Starts off slow but picks up. A bit much action for me though. For that, there's the movies.

Pitch for Israel

The Bible for interaction design. It's a bit academic but if you're really into this topic you won't regret picking it up one bit.

Had I known the movie was based on a book, and that too that it was just a shorter version of the book, with everything including the dialogues exactly the same...I would have totally read the book first.

Though both the book and the movie are fun.

Good read. Gave an interesting perspective to a challenge I have been facing - influencing change when you're neither entitled to, or directly responsible for it.

“life isn't short, we make it so.”

Should be made mandatory reading for everyone who calls for a meeting

I expected more. Disappointed.

couldn't get past 15%.