Book Review: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Once I put down my copy of “Americanah” by Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie I didn’t waste anytime reaching for her other best seller now turned into a movie “Half of a Yellow Sun”. I expected nothing less of a novel than Americanah and I was happy, a few days of nesting and not putting the novel down later, to find that Half of a Yellow Sun had exceeded my expectations. 

Half of a Yellow Sun is set in the sixties, right after the independence of Nigeria and just before a part of Nigeria had become the Republic of Biafra, something I’ve never known or heard of before. You start the story by following the arrival of a houseboy, Ugwu, in the house of a revolutionary university professor who welcomes the young kid and treats him in the best way possible, even enrolling him in school so he could continue his education. The revolutionary professor is soon joined by his lover Olannah and soon together they will face the ups and downs, the pains and grief, brought on by a heart wrenching civil war in Nigeria.

The novel is gripping, you are amused by Ugwu’s introduction into the new world and moved by his loyalty and dedication, even though at one point I actually started to loathe him. You are touched by Olannah and Odinegbo’s love and want them to have their happily ever after so badly, I personally had a soft spot of the poet who would recite his poetry every night, but you will have to read the novel to know what I mean, and be warned that if you do you will find yourself laughing out loud at one moment then tearing at your hair and crying your eyes out at another, specifically at page 149.

Reading Half of a Yellow Sun is like watching a news broadcast of war, you are left with this deep sense of helplessness, you wonder how is it that history seems to teach us nothing and keeps repeating itself, its ugly wars and vicious inhumane acts, all over again. Why do humans keep fighting wars? This novel could very well describe the current state of the world, nothing has changed much I’m afraid. In any case, do pickup Half a Yellow Sun and you will be introduced to an entire new world, yet not so different humans.

P.S. Don’t bother with the movie, I rented it as soon as I put down the book and it was neither good nor that good of an adaptation, almost the entire ending of the book wasn’t there!

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