In a powerful new book, "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the struggles between cultures and countries, classes and race are so clearly defined and presented, that you, the reader, are drawn into these conflicts in an almost personal way. The main character, Ifemelu, is born and raised in Nigeria but leaves Africa for America in her early 20's, longing to live in a free country where she can go to college and become a success, no matter how vague that seems at the start. She is strong-willed and determined but is almost undermined by the clash of her culture of blackness and that of the black culture in America. It certainly isn't what she imagined.
There is an on-going discussion of what makes an "African-American" and an "American-African" and how they are so disparate. That a black person from Africa can feel so out of place as a black person in America isn't something I had ever thought about. But why would I? It isn't my experience. But through this book, through Adichie's incredible delineation of character, even a 60 + year old white woman can begin to see a tiny part of the struggle every black person must go through, whether from Africa or from America or from anywhere else.
This is a powerful book but it is also a compelling read. The story spans about 20 years and three continents but it is never slow or boring and is always challenging. The dialogue seems spot on, the relationships, even when very difficult, seem very real. Ifemelu is a person you would like to know, someone who would be a tough friend but a smart one. Her journey to the US and eventually back to Africa mirrors all of our journeys through life, small and large. But this doesn't mean her experiences are like ours. On the contrary.
This is a very, very good book, one of the best novels I have read in a long time. It feels incredibly real. I look forward to reading more of Adichie's writings very soon.
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