Marvelous Eye-Opening Depiction of African Tribe [70][T]

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	• Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe Demco Media, 1994 - 209 pages average customer review:based on 530 reviews
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highly recommended

Classic

I don't even feel worthy enough to write a review for this novel. It is the greatest work of literature to have come out of Nigeria and perhaps even the entire African continent and one of the most brilliant pieces of fiction in the world. It has somehow become staple reading English literature for all levels of Nigerian education and the unattainable standard by which subsequent indigenous literature is judged by.

The plot revolves around Okonkwo; a physically and materially powerful member of his village, his family, the entire village as a whole and how Okonkwo (representative of Iboland as a whole) reacts when forcibly faced with colonization.

This book deliciously tells the tale of a lost world and the way Chinua Achebe handles the psychological aspects of his tale is pure genius especially that breaking moment in time when the old is violently juxtaposed against the new and a mad, sad confusion sets in.

I like that this book affords me the opportunity of interacting with a culture I should be acclimated with but I am unfortunately too removed from.

A must read for any person who indulges in [socio-political] classic literature (Dickens, Orwell, Shakespeare etc) . Chinua Achebe is an undisputed master at this game.

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A Masterpiece!!!!

A book loaded with memorable characters, conflicts, and dialogues. Okonkwo, with his tragic persona, remains a character anybody, irrespective of culture, can identify with. Chinua Achebe has really set the standards for the modern African novel with this book. The Igbo culture and the impact of Christianity in African are some of the elements that coalesce in making this book one of the best novels of the twentieth century. Thought-provoking, captivating,and informative. Simply brilliant!! Only a gifted storyteller can pen such a work of creative imagination.
--Dike Okoro
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
USA

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Things Fall Apart.

I was taken back how Things Fall Apart detailed the life of Igbo people. Usually a fiction book doesn't paint such a historically vivid picture. I think that's what makes the book so special. Besides the intriguing plot, there's so much one can learn about the African culture just by reading this book. However there's a learning curve. Achebe utilizes the diction of the Igbo people in order to make the story less `fictional'. Things Fall Apart is divided into three parts. The first part sets up the backdrop of the story (the customs, people, main characters, etc). The second part center's around Okonkwo's life outside the tribe. And the Three part deals with the coming of the Christian missionaries (white man), and the `conversion' of the Igbo peoples to Christianity.

This book fills in some of the missing history of the colonization of Africa.

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Marvelous Eye-Opening Depiction of African Tribe [70][T]

This book merges the African spirit of Alexander McCall Smith ("Lady's Detective Agency" series)with the prophetic rhapsody of Paolo Coelho ("The Alchemist") or Yann Martel("Life of Pi"). But, unlike the other books, this twists and turns you through a tangled web of the seemingly simple African natives (and their beliefs) and the white man's interpretation and treatment of the same when confronted by "progress."

Okonkwo, the main character -- whose manliness would be a leader in a hunter/gatherer world, or in the world of his farming land for annual survival -- is someone you admire and dislike. His strength is his weakness. He physicality conquers all challenges delivered to him. But, coming with his masculine heroics is a personality which commonly beats his spouse(s) and children.

His "heathen culture's" worshipping of many gods and honoring men with polygamist rewards may appear unforgivable to some - especially conservative Christian moralists. But, as this book succinctly and proficiently explains in narrative fashion how these people honor and worship their social mores, an anthropological analysis compels us to understand that these people hold the basic Judeo-Christian ethic, and have a strong justiciable system which actually surpasses many of those in our own "civilized" society.

The "golden rule" is the glue in which the village controls the behavior and morals of the inhabitants. The greatest example is the accidental death of a boy caused by the protagonist. Trial? No need. Blame? Not really. Penalty? Absolutely. Seven years of exile from the tribal clan - even though all understand he was not at fault. While gone, friends tilled his land and delivered his land's profits to he and tenant farmers. Amount of time for this application of justice: two days. And, we have always been taught that our civilized society depicts justiciable efficiency. In contrast, a British judicial ceremony involves the protagonist being heisted and hoodwinked by surreptitious deceit.

This book awakened an understanding of the tribe better than any other novel that I have read. The ending, which I will not covey as to do so would ruin the novel's effect, ties it all together.

I loved the style of writing. Short, choppy, and full of prophecies. African prophecy often reminds me of American Indian prophecy. Awkward in syntax, their prophecies poignantly and poetically describe solutions to what we perceive to be new issues. But, the appropriate application of a tribally carried prophecy for hundreds of years only tells us that the issue is not new and that resolution of the same is well known.

I can see why this book is highly regarded and can further understand why many colleges or universities require this novel for reading.

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, page 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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