Tuesday, January 5, 2021

The Thing Around Your Neck - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

 


"She makes storytelling seem as easy as birdsong"

Someone said this about Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and I can't agree more.

She is a perfect 10. I fell head over heels in love with Americanah and

I finished this short story collection in Dec 2020. I read a lot of African literature last year and

Adichie stayed in my mind long after I started other books.  



The twelve stories have the central theme of cultural change, caused by moving,

immigrating in hope of a better life and the ensuing disappointment after the bright lights get dimmed. Set in two countries -Nigeria and USA, all the stories have a woman protagonist who speak about or display the emotional abuse caused by the various changes of life i.e marriage,change in place etc.


They speak of the years and years of discrimination, the loneliness in a big wide country,the stifling atmosphere at home as well as workplace - the stifling thing around one's neck.



The political turmoil of Nigeria and the inherent racism in the States is also well written by Adichie who is popular for her 'emotional wisdom'.




P.S- I love short stories and I usually read them between big novels. I like how you can quickly move  on to another story without staying put. It's like quick refreshers! 😊😊


Which short story collection have you liked?










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