Things Fall Apart: A Novel
 

Things Fall Apart: A Novel

by Chinua Achebe

One of Chinua Achebe's many achievements in his acclaimed first novel, Things Fall Apart, is his relentlessly unsentimental rendering of Nigerian tribal life before and after the coming of colonialism. First published in 1958, just two years before Nigeria declared independence from Great Britain, the book eschews the obvious temptation of depicting pre-colonial life as a kind of Eden. Instead,... (read more)

Top tags: fictionafricacolonialismclassicafrican literature (all tags)

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jeannes
  • Rated 5 stars

After some reflection, what impresses me most about this book is the way that Achebe lays out this story. Obi Okonkwo watches his community splinter, loses his dignity at the hands of the pompous colonialists, and flounders in a world he no longer understands. Yet, he also treats others callously. As I read, I gyrated between detesting him for his actions, and then sympathizing with him knowing what lay beneath. In the end he is beaten by the same power he once wielded. If great books are...

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Community:
  • Rated 3.797872 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4 stars
 

Newest Comments

  • Thandiwe U

    thandiwe u said:

    Western influences also created self-hate and oppression that is continuing to destroy most groups of people on this earth. The barbaric influences of westerners have created more undermining situations than any listed in this book.

    posted 10 days ago ( | view 3 replies )
  • eblue

    eblue said:

    the following comment is a reply to dig d's comment posted 3weeks ago.

    posted 2 weeks ago
  • Elizabeth a

    elizabeth a said:

    Great African novel a classic to say the least. Not surprised that some people would want to gorge or gauge their eyes out... you have to open your mind to the experience of a different culture to appreciate it if you are not weaned on "coco yam and cola nut". The book is about the inevitability of change... the lone tale of a man who struggled so hard to make a name in the old order only to find that a new reality was in place of his cherished traditions. I agree with brandy c that there is no white guilt here at all only African truth and reality... if you take every line at face value you could miss the point in the novel and the use of poetry, African imagery and proverbs (the sun shines on those who stand under it before it shines on those who kneel under it’) robs many a reader of the chance to appreciate the story - but again that’s the beauty of it all... Chinua Achebe captures the African experience like only a few can.... no fast cars and the neon lights we are all so familiar with. Nice read and I would recommend it any time.

    posted 2 weeks ago
  • Janine C

    janine c said:

    I didn't get into this book until about 100 pages in. One of the characters started talking about African folk tales and I just loved that part. From there the main character began to develop more so I enjoyed the book. Overall, the ending just made the book worth reading.

    posted 2 weeks ago
  • Wooliferkins

    wooliferkins said:

    Read this after reading a review in the Jordanian English language paper and recommendations from here. Loved it, not a comfortable read but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Actually chuckled previously having read Poisonwood Bible. Soldier on Mark h, it's fiction it doesn't need to be draped on points in history. Would you need to know which war a press ganged sailor was at to appraise his feelings? I think it's worth the effort but we're allowed to be different. That's possibly another reason to finish it.

    posted Tuesday, June 24 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
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