I finished reading "Americanah" few days ago. It was a long read. Americanah left me with
mixed feeling particularly with the ending,*Lolz* maybe because I began to dislike the lead character - Ifemelu. My dislike for her
crept in half way into the book and even more at the end. She started of as a sweet and intelligent girl along the line ended up being a
judgemental and selfish being. *sigh* She is truly an "Americanah", both strong and weak, both prickly and vulnerable. She is just different.This is honestly the first Nigerian love story i have ever read.
Though I ended the book not liking the turn out of events, its a suspense-filled page turner. It
shows the author's narrative, descriptive and captivating power to hold
the attention of its readers keeping them interested and entertained as they read
It also shows that one doesn't have to like the protagonist in a book to actually like the book. I love her style of writing.
Obiwon's "Obi Mu O" started and she sat still and silent as the words
filled the car. This is that feeling that I've never felt… and I'm not
gonna let it die. When the male and female voices sang in Igbo, Obinze
sang along with them, glancing away from the road to look at her, as
though he was telling her that this was really their conversation, he
calling her beautiful, she calling him beautiful, both calling each
other their true friends. Nwanyi oma, woke oma, omalicha nwa, ezigbo obi
m o. 'Americanah' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
That
happened in chapter 52 of the book. Reading about two people-Nigerian like myself for that matter - in love and singing along to Bracket's "Yori Yori" and Obiwon's "Obi Mu O" *smiles* what can i say "Soulmates". It was written with such detail that activates the imagination and allows one relate to reality.
While I
was reading I could actually feel the love there. After I finished with
the book I immediately YouTubed Obiwon's "Obi Mu O" and also downloaded
the audio version of the song and it has been on replay since then. What
is it about this song o! I have always loved the song but it had been
long since I
heard it. Very lovely song. Igbos representing. Powerful lyrics. Strong
beat. I was listening dance to it at work and my colleagues were also
feeling
the song with me too. Lolz.
It was a good story despite my "beef " with Ifemelu.