lovmelovmycats reviewed Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Review of 'Americanah' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I'm usually very invested in point of view characters. (so I hate antihero stories.) Though I liked Ifemelu, I was disappointed with her romantic relationships. I like her blogging and her sense of humor and her compassion. Though her compassion fails, pretty regularly, that just makes her more human. I love Obinze and his mother through Ifem's eyes. And Obinze's POV in London was so sympathetic and wrenching.
SO - who is this utter asshole named Obinze when we meet him back in Lagos? And HOW DID HE GET WEALTHY? It seems he's now corrupt (and criminal in a powerful, crushing the poor way, rather than a desperate visa-dodging way), and - does he marry Kosi because he hates himself now? There's no resolution. Well -
SPOILER ALERT
Yeah in the end our lovebirds get back together, but who cares, now that Obinze sucks?
He says he wants the best …
I'm usually very invested in point of view characters. (so I hate antihero stories.) Though I liked Ifemelu, I was disappointed with her romantic relationships. I like her blogging and her sense of humor and her compassion. Though her compassion fails, pretty regularly, that just makes her more human. I love Obinze and his mother through Ifem's eyes. And Obinze's POV in London was so sympathetic and wrenching.
SO - who is this utter asshole named Obinze when we meet him back in Lagos? And HOW DID HE GET WEALTHY? It seems he's now corrupt (and criminal in a powerful, crushing the poor way, rather than a desperate visa-dodging way), and - does he marry Kosi because he hates himself now? There's no resolution. Well -
SPOILER ALERT
Yeah in the end our lovebirds get back together, but who cares, now that Obinze sucks?
He says he wants the best for his daughter, but he's never spoken a word to Kosi about her spiritual beliefs, and he doesn't think that bullshit Christo-magical "words have spiritual power" beliefs are bad for kids? Fuck you, dad, that is bad for kids and you didn't stand up for me. ... Ok, those are my personal issues projected onto the story, but still it's true.
My favorite relationships in the story are Ifemelu and Aunty Ujo and Dike. I think Ifem should move back to the US and live with them.
... Meanwhile, Obinze stays in Lagos and tries to be a decent father and tries to use his power in decent ways and not be an asshole.
There, I fixed the book.
