Americanah

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.