Things Fall Apart (Macmillan Reader) by Chinua Achebe, John Davey Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Things Fall Apart (Macmillan Reader)
Book Review: Historically significant but mediocre...
Summary: 2 Stars
This is, when all is said and done, not an especially good book. I understand (having read the blurb) that it has a significant place as the first major international success of an African author, writing about Africans with an authentic voice. But historical importance is not the same as merit - Logie Baird's first television was a moment of history, but you wouldn't want to swap your LCD flatscreen for it, would you?
This novel is short, and crisp, and gives an insight into the life, and demise, of a tribe in the African bush. Beyond this view of another culture, it has little to recommend it. Once I understood how the basic rules of the society worked, and then how the white men were taking over, the book had nothing left to give.
To give an idea, if you imagine this book written about a culture you already know, you would find it simplistic, almost childish, and shallow. The characters are feeble and rarely are they portrayed in any more than one dimension. There is no plot, really, and the confusion and anger of the tribe as their lives change, is not shown with sufficient emotional depth to gain your empathy.
Had I not been reading this for a book club, I would probably not have picked it up. And that wouldn't have been a great loss in my life. I'm sure there are great books written about the culture clashes in Africa and the arrogance of white domination, but this isn't one of them.
Book Review: Enthralling Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Native of Nigeria, Africa, Chinua Achebe wrote his own masterpiece fictional novel entitled "Things Fall Apart," which took place in his own country during the 19th century. Achebe has used his own background of an African village to create an interesting story that gives unique perspective of the African life and culture. The book is broken into three parts which describe the main character, Okonkwo, and the lifestyle in his village, the arrival of the missionaries and their actions toward the villagers, and the last year of Okonkwo's life.
The first part of "Things Fall Apart" expresses the lifestyle of the African culture in the village of Umuofia where the main character, Okonkwo, had lived. This first part consists of thirteen chapters that reveal the life in Umuofia, the wives and children of Okonkwo, the life and death of Ikemefuna, and the beginning of Okonkwo's exile. The second part of this book focuses on the life of the exile in Mbanta, the village of Okonkwo's mother. It consists of six chapters which reveal Okonkwo and his family living with his mother's kinsmen in Mbanta, the visits from Obierika, the arrival of the missionaries, the conversion of Okonkwo's son, Nwoye, and the last year of Okonkwo's exile. The final part of the novel expresses the actions of the missionaries, the return of Okonkwo to Umuofia, and the death of Okonkwo. It consists of six chapters that reveal Okonkwo's attempts to urge the villagers to fight against the missionaries after his return, Mr. James' attempt to change the belief of the villagers, and a certain death of the villager.
There is great deal of symbolism and meanings being expressed from this unique novel, and it also expresses a fascinating perspective about African life and the impact of cultural imperialism.
The novel is quite enjoyable to read and gives one a food for thought.
Book Review: Have Not Been Able To Put It Down - For 20 Years
Summary: 5 Stars
Growing up, as I did in Nigeria, we read Chinua Achebe's books as part of our literature lessons in elementary and high schools. Even though I have read Things Fall Apart no less than 8 times in my life, I am still amazed by the ease with which Chinua Achebe conveys one simple message: the breakdown of his traditional Igbo society with European colonisation.
This message is deftly told through the life of Okonkwo. He was a "self-made" man in a village in pre-colonial (modern-day) Nigeria. The son of a poor, lazy but good-hearted farmer, Okonkwo rose to fame by defeating the wrestling champion, Amalinze the Cat, in a wrestling bout. Thereafter, he becomes a well-respected and influential member of the Village Council. A
Against his better judgment and that of his close friend, Obierika, he kills his adopted son, Ikemefuna as demanded by a blood-vendetta. Okonkwo's life takes a turn for the worse after he is exiled, returns and discovers that his world has changed: The white man has come to town. To add salt to the injury, his son has become a member of the white man's religion. Unable to adapt to the new order, he kills a man and then forced to commit suicide to evade capture. Being a suicide, his corpse is s buried outside the village, in the "evil forest". What an end to a once great man.
The beauty of this book, first published in 1959, is the simplicity of the language. There is no undue verbal contortions or verbosity. It is crisp, fresh, clear and powerful. This is one of my favourite books in the world. If you want first-class prose from, in my opinion, the greatest African English language writer on the face of the planet, then this is a book for you. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Book Review: A treasure of a tale
Summary: 5 Stars
Written by "the founding father of the African novel in English". First published in 1958, this novel has sold over ten million copies in 45 different languages. It is separated into three parts centering around main character Oknokwo. He is a proud man who has established his own wealth after his father died in debt. He has also proven his worth as a warrior too by famously throwing the Cat during a wrestling match. The first part is filled with lots of mini-stories and folk tales letting the reader into the daily life in Umuofia. I really enjoyed this section as it captured life wonderfully, I especially liked Oknokwo's daughter Ezinma by his second wife Ekwefi.
Sadly at the end of the first part Oknokwo accidentally kills another clan member which means he has to leave the clan and be exiled for 7 years. He returns to the land of his mother's people where the white man has arrived and is spreading his religion. They are gathering converts from the villagers including Nwoye, Oknokwo's son. Things are slowing changing in Africa and Oknokwo is against it. Finally in the third part he gets to return to his clan after his exile period is up and take his family back with him. Sadly things are much changed and the white man has arrived there too. Oknokwo witnesses the end of his clan as he knew it.
This was a really powerful tale which I really enjoyed whilst thinking towards the end why do the white people have to always conquer and push their religion on the locals. There were some great stories and parables with the tale and the quote "there is no story that is not true" which I liked. The whole tale seemed to echo one of the initial ones about Oknokwo trying to grow his first yam crop. Strongly recommended, I am so glad I found this treasure.
Book Review: An acknowledged classic.
Summary: 5 Stars
For once the hype is deserved. This is a very rich book, the characters leaping out of the prose and connecting with the reader on a one-to-one basis. Fundamentally the book is about the clash of cultures and the dangers that this brings. An important message, given the current climate. Readers who enjoyed this book will also like: One Love Two Colours: The unlikely marriage of a Punk Rocker & his African Queen, by Margaret Oshindele. Another book that looks at culture clash, but from the modern perspectives of a Yoruba woman and an Englishman.