Americanah
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| Author | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie |
|---|---|
| Country | Nigeria |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
Publication date | May 2013 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| ISBN | 978-0-307-96212-6 |
Americanah is a novel by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Published in 2013 by Alfred A. Knopf, it tells the story of a young Nigerian woman who emigrates to the United States for a university education and stays for work.
The book was selected as one of the 10 Best Books of 2013 by the editors of the New York Times Book Review.[1] It won the 2013 National Book Critics Circle Award (Fiction),[2] and was shortlisted for the 2014 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction[3] of the United Kingdom.
Plot
As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fell in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are leaving the country if they can. Ifemelu departs for the United States to study. Through her experiences in relationships and studies, she struggles with the experience of racism in American culture, and the many varieties of racial distinctions. Obinze, son of a professor, had hoped to join her in the US but he is refused a visa after 9/11. He goes to London, entering illegally, and enters an undocumented life.[4][5]
Years later, Obinze has returned to Nigeria and become a wealthy man as a property developer in the newly democratic country. Ifemelu gained success staying in the United States, where she became known for her blog about race in America, entitled “Raceteenth or Various Observations About American Blacks (Those Formerly Known as Negroes) by a Non-American Black”.[5] When Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, the two have to make tough decisions after reviving their relationship.
Reception
The book was well received by critics, who especially noted its range across different societies and reflection of global tensions. The New York Times said, "'Americanah' examines blackness in America, Nigeria and Britain, but it’s also a steady-handed dissection of the universal human experience — a platitude made fresh by the accuracy of Adichie’s observations."[5] The reviewer concludes, “'Americanah' is witheringly trenchant and hugely empathetic, both worldly and geographically precise, a novel that holds the discomfiting realities of our times fearlessly before us. It never feels false." [5]
Awards
- It was selected as one of the 10 Best Books of 2013 by the editors of the New York Times Book Review.[6]
- It won the 2013 National Book Critics Circle Award (Fiction).[2]
- It was shortlisted for the 2014 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction[3] of the United Kingdom.
References
- ↑ New York Times (December 4, 2013). "The 10 Best Books of 2013". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- 1 2 "National Book Critics Circle Announces Award Winners for Publishing Year 2013". National Book Critics Circle. March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
- 1 2 Mark Brown (7 April 2014). "Donna Tartt heads Baileys women's prize for fiction 2014 shortlist". The Guardian. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
- ↑ Navaratnam, Subashini (9 August 2013). "Race-in-America Is a Central Character in 'Americanah'". PopMatters.
- 1 2 3 4 Peed, Mike (June 7, 2013). "Realities of Race ‘Americanah,’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie". The New York Times.
- ↑ New York Times (December 4, 2013). "The 10 Best Books of 2013". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 December 2013.