From the award-winning, bestselling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists—a haunting story of love and war Recipient of the Women’s Prize for Fiction “Winner of Winners” awardWith effortless grace, celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie illuminates a seminal moment in modern African history: Biafra’s impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in southeastern … independent republic in southeastern Nigeria during the late 1960s. We experience this tumultuous decade alongside five unforgettable characters: Ugwu, a thirteen-year-old houseboy who works for Odenigbo, a university professor full of revolutionary zeal; Olanna, the professor’s beautiful young mistress who has abandoned her life in Lagos for a dusty town and her lover’s charm; and Richard, a shy young Englishman infatuated with Olanna’s willful twin sister Kainene.
Half of a Yellow Sun is a tremendously evocative novel of the promise, hope, and disappointment of the Biafran war.
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This book takes place in southern Nigeria in the 1960s. There are 5 main characters: Ugwu – a house boy who works for Odenigbo (a professor). His life changes when Olana, Odenigbo’s mistress, moves in. Ugwu is very loyal to his employers. Olanna has a twin sister, Kainene who runs their father’s company. She falls in love with Richard, who is an Englishman that came to Nigeria to explore Igbo-Ukwu Art.
4 years pass, and trouble starts between the Hausa and Igbo people and hundreds of people die, including Ilanna and Kainene’s aunt and uncle. A new republic, called Biafra, is created by the Igbo. Olanna, Odenigbo and their infant daughter (whom they only ever call “baby”) are forced to flee and end up in a refugee town called Umuahia where they suffer from lack of food, and air raids. Baby’s hair starts to fall out and she develops the tale tell signs of starvation.
In a flash back we find out that the baby was not Olanna’s daughter, but the daughter of Odenigbo’s mistress. Odenigbo slept with a village girl named Alana and she got pregnant. Olanna is furious, but in the end, forgives Odenigbo. Alana doesn’t want to keep the baby, so Olanna agrees to take her in.
As the war goes on, Olanna, Odenigbo, the baby, an Ugwu end up living with Richard and Kainene (who are running the refugee camp). The situation becomes dire and Kainene decides to cross enemy lines to trade, but she doesn’t return. The book ends with us not knowif if Kainene is alive or dea.
This was a good book. I liked all of the characters and I thought that their enterwining flowed really well. You learn a lot about the history of the area and what it was like during the war. It covers a wide variety of subjects: genocide, war, relationships, infidelity, identity, loyalty, struggle between classes, etc.
Check this book out. You won’t be disappointed.
The birthing of a South African nation lives through the teachers, house help, wealthy and poor people of Biafra and includes all that is brutal about civil war and all that is glorious about human will to survive.
Had read a sample and was looking forward to reading this, but am a little disappointed in the writing. I’m interested in learning more about African cultures, but the characters seem a little thin / flat. It’s a long book and I wasn’t sure I wanted to invest the time. I’m taking a break, but will probably get back to it
I am fond of African literature. Not only are we able to learn about their cultures but also about some unknown facts about its history. Also, I Nigerian authors have a style of their own which is really witty. Adiche presents part of her history in an utterly honest way through the eyes of three different characters with a similar destiny. I was able to travel into a different time into another Nigeria which i utterly different from the one I use to encounter in Achebe’s narratives. But the story is one of love for one’s freedom and belongings to a nation and how relationships are affected with this fight for freedom.
But waiting on Kainene’s return though… JSYK!