Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Do you know that Nigeria had a Civil War? I suspect many people do not. Adichie's fictional dramatization of this conflict reminds us that "war is hell." The story is centered around a couple -- Olanna and Odinegbo-- and their servant, Ugwu. The couple, members of the post-colonial African intelligentsia, have studied abroad and adopted many accouterments of Western society. When war comes they join the secessionists who name their would-be republic Biafra. Socio-economic status does not shield Olanna and Odinegbo from the hardships of war. And the toll it takes on their relationship may be irreparable.
My favorite part of this book is how the author uses Ugwu's (the servant) point of view to tell much of the story. He is from the rural area; his perceptions of the couple act to alert the reader to the stark contrasts between the rural poor and urban elite. At times it seems that his indignation with Olanna and Odiegbo's deprivations during the war, is greater than their own.
I give this book 4 stars. As usual Adichie pulls the reader into this story with precise descriptions and relatable story lines.
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