Americanah

I really enjoyed reading this book, but when I came to the end I was unsatisfied. When all was said and done, it seemed that the two main characters, Ifemelu and Obinze, had just taken a years long and ocean-spanning detour, only to end up where they meant to be all along. The detour involved a lot of interesting observations about race and racism in America and England, descriptions of hairstyling for kinky hair, and some fascinating but underdeveloped characters (Ifemelu's boyfriends, mostly, but what was the deal with Blaine's sister, Shan?), but did it involve any growth? I learned some things about a non-American black woman's experiences of America, but what did Ifemelu and Obinze learn?

Some other Goodreads reviewers have said that they found Ifemelu unlikeable. She certainly is outspoken, somewhat demanding, brutally honest at times when maybe a lighter touch would make things go more smoothly. I actually had no complaint with this–it made me like her, root for her to succeed, in fact. My question at the end was whether coming back to Nigeria and rekindling her love with Obinze was enough of a success. My heart says no.