Things Fall Apart

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Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

It's the most famous African novel there is, and I read it so long ago that I could no longer remember much of it, so I put Things Fall Apart on my Classics Club list.  I probably understood it quite a bit better this time around!

The story of Okonkwo, a strong but unthinking man caught in the inevitabilities of change, is one that gives us plenty to think about.  He is watching his traditions change and erode as white colonialists slowly take over the country.  But you don't need a plot synopsis from me.  It's hard to know what to say about books like this.

Things Fall Apart is such an extremely important book, and one that is very readable to boot; I would recommend that everyone read it.

Comments

  1. AartiSeptember 16, 2012 at 9:36 AM

    I always have this book at the back of my mind, though I have not read it. Will have to change that. Great review! Another excellent book that is readable about recent African history is What is the What.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ChinoiseriesSeptember 17, 2012 at 12:46 PM

    Just like Aarti, this book is regularly mentioned as an important and compelling one. Definitely will have to read it in the near future.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JeanSeptember 17, 2012 at 3:21 PM

    Aaaaa, you both must read it very soon! It's beautifully written, it's compelling, and you can read it in one day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 1:31 PM

    I read this in college - which means I got the gist of it, but probably didn't pay enough attention to it. I should give this another go... -Sarah

    ReplyDelete

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