Welcome to Litsy!

Achebe titled his book from a line in Yeats‘ poem, The Second Coming, which imagines what he apparently saw as the Christian “epoch” coming to an end. It‘s an ironic title as, ultimately, Christianity, in the form of missionaries, “slouches” towards Africa, and things start to “fall apart” for the people of Umuofia. From history, we know what‘s coming but we get a poignant story of life‘s fragility on a smaller scale with our protagonist Okonkwo.

My favorite teacher in high school introduced me to this book my senior year. It had such an impact on me.

#springskies #fallintitle

This was a difficult choice between completely different classics but despite all the good feelings I have about GE, TFA just blew me away. #2023readingbracket #fiction

This historical fiction novel is told from a third person omniscient view without judgement or moralizing. Part 1 gives us a sense of pre-colonial Nigerian village life and of imperfect warrior hero, Okonkwo. In part 2 the European missionaries arrive, upending the Ibo community. Achebe‘s writing is magical. I‘d compare this with a Shakespearean tragedy. So far it‘s my favorite novel this year. #AugustBookSpin @TheAromaofBooks

#ArthorSharesYrInitials
#BookBinge
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#BookBinge
#DebutByIndigenousAuthor
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

THINGS FALL APART, a story depicting the life of the Igbo people in pre-colonial Africa was the debut novel (1958) and magnum opus of Chinua Achebe and is still one of the most widely read, studied, and translated African novels in the world. It's also one of my faves.

Is it weird that I didn‘t have many thoughts about this? Not much plot, and I didn‘t feel as if I knew the characters well. That said, it was very interesting as a glimpse into Nigerian Igbo way of life just before and just after the white colonialists began to force their ways upon them. Interestingly, Achebe doesn‘t obviously judge the Ibo or the Christians, only notes how easy it is for culture to fall apart when pressed. Soft pick. #bookspin

I was deeply humbled after reading this novel. I am also ashamed for everything white people have done to other people of color and different cultures throughout history. At the end of the day, are we white vs. black or are we all earthlings, rolling around this 3rd rock from the sun? Okonkwo is a flawed hero, and as much as his patriarchal warrior manliness perturbed me, I liked him because he was fighting for the life of his people.

Written in 1959, this classic stands the test of time. Understanding the tragic transition from traditional culture in the Igbo tribe to rampant colonialism is vital. We learn through the eyes of flawed warrior Okonkwo and his family as missionaries and other less benign Europeans start causing havoc. A bit of a slow build, but fierce in the end.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2022
#authorborninafrica #booked2022

Copying another great post by Flea 🌶 on Instagram.

#aestheticallymatched

The picture on the left reminds me of colonialism which is a large theme in this book. The picture on the right represents many of the toxic ways of living that many turn a blind eye too within the book.

@Clwojick

I quite enjoyed this book even though I had to give it some time as it built itself up. Definitely a book I'd recommend sticking with to the end as it really all comes together as you read further along. Getting to learn about the Igbo culture from the perspective of Igbo people made for a great read. So many different topics covered in this book: culture, colonialism and masculinity to just name a few.

Finally finding some time to dig into this book while drinking an iced coffee way too late in the day 🙃. Hoping to put a good dent into it tonight!

#ReadingAfrica2022 #IcedCoffee #BookAndCoffee #CurrentlyReading

I ended 2021 with #ReadingAsia2021 and I'm going to start 2022 with #ReadingAfrica2022. It will be nice to kick of 2022 with a shorter book.

#lastfirst @BookNAround

Here‘s the plan for #Booked2022 Winter….at least for now. 😂 All on my owned TBR.

This was a tough one. It has been on my tbr for years, so I'm glad #LMPBC got me to finally read it. I'm struggling to review it, though. I have many conflicting emotions about the story that I will need to sort through.
This is my last read in round 12. Thanks @Mynameisacolour @LiteraryinLawrence and @Hestapleton for a some great, diverse choices! I can't wait to get mine back and read your thoughts! Heather, the package is going out tomorrow 🙂

Day two of #litsysummercamp was a success! Finished up one of the two books for this week. The weather was gorgeous but I had to work the late shift and forgot to snap a pic until on the way out. I am still trying to process the tagged book but definitely a pick.
@ImperfectCJ

Diving into this one tonight. Loving it already.
#lmpbc

This is my third time though this one, while the original review still stands this time I read it with a view of a culture about to be radically altered.
Original: A story of a less than sympathetic man who struggles and fails, of the Igbo people and the arrival of the white man and christianity, and a story of gender roles and expectations. While many other books discuss all these topics, this one does it very clearly, concisely and powerfully.

🎧 next up

Re-read number ✌ this year. It's hard to find a good spot to take book photos in my mom's house. Enjoy this semi-chaotic book photo. 😂

Ok, I LOVED this book but it took some time to get into the story line. Looking back I understand the slow build and appreciate the story telling. The end truly took my breath away. I loved learning about Okonkwo‘s culture and dealing with wh*te supremacy. Stick with this book, I promise it‘s worth it. #ReadABookWithKara

#AxeTheStacks April is a wonderful opportunity to dive into this little classic that has been on my TBR since grad school. Has anyone read the full trilogy? Would you recommend books 2 & 3? Am I looking for an excuse to pay my bookstore a visit? 😉

Okonkwo hopes to be prosperous with many wives and fields.

I‘m sorry but either this book was quite boring or the narrator‘s monotone voice made it quite boring. Also, the MC is not a great person and I just could not like this book at all.

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 128
#BooksToRead #TBRPile #TBRMountain

first book i‘ve read for school since summer reading. quick and easy read but kinda boring

#nigeria #chinuaachevbe #thingsfallapart #integrateyourshelf #classics #worldliterature

if we interpret auto-buy as ‘buy whenever I see a book at an affordable price or in a library without even reading the blurb‘ to include some dead authors then James Baldwin, Chinua Achebe, Elif Batuman, Xiaolu Guo, Jung Chang, Maya Angelou, Ted Chiang, VS Naipaul. I‘ve only read the one book by Candice Carty-Williams but I‘ll read whatever she comes out with next even if it‘s a grocery receipt! @ChasingOm #integrateyourshelf

Hello! I‘m new here... This year I decided to read 1 book a week so I downloaded this app to keep up with my resolution. If you have any recommendations please feel free to share them with me! My goal is to read a variety of genres such as Classics, Romantic Novels, Dystopian, Non fiction, etc. I would very much appreciate any suggestions 💕

#chinuaachebe
#nigeria
#biafra
#classics

#chinuaachebe
#thingsfallapart
#classics
#nigeria

The older I get, the more this book resonates. It's title has become like a mantra to me; I'm amazed at how its simple truth is proven day after day as I look at the world around me.

Sarah Jessica Parker named this among her favorites on PBS‘ #greatamericanread And with good reason. It‘s fantastic. I wish the fall semester had waited a little longer, because I wanted to read the rest of the trilogy immediately. This is now among one of my favorites as well, SJP! 😊 187/1,001 #1001Books

#3books #WrittenByPOC (a day late!)

Beautiful and sad story of tribes in lower Niger, leading their lives deeply rooted in local traditions and rituals, whose universe is torn apart in just a few years by the colonization process in the 19th century. The title translation to Romanian is "A World Falls Apart", which I find more suitable to illustrate the tragic impact of the transformation suffered by these people

Okonkwo remembered that tragic year with a cold shiver throughout the rest of his life. It always surprised him when he thought of it later that he did not sink under the load of despair. He knew that he was a fierce fighter, but that year had been enough to break the heart of a lion.

"Since I survived that year," he always said, "I shall survive anything."

#2020 #endoftheworld #strength

Love this cover. I have this book but this is tempting.

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don't judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 4

#bookstoread #tbrpile

What an interesting read! So many details and so many names and words that were hard to keep track of. I generally have a hard time reading books with such unlikable main characters, but this one was ok. I wish I had regular WiFi so I could read more about the time this book took place in

This is definitely a worthwhile read, even if it's just to be exposed to a culture that is diametrically opposed to our own. It takes place in Nigeria and centers around the life of Okonkwo, a tribal leader. Although the book is very well-written, it is emotionally difficult to read. It breaks your heart.
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“There is nothing to fear from someone who shouts. Those men of Abame were fools.”

Procrastinating homework and cleaning is easy with a good book.

This book has been one of the slowest but finest reads. I haven't seen any other protagonist being so flawed yet I was rooting for him.

I picked this book up from Goodwill...and the notes in here are priceless. Poll: do you write in books? What are your thoughts on yams?

This is my biggest #libraryhaul ever and I owe it all to you amazing Littens. Two of them (Baby Teeth and Spinning Silver) are directly inspired by Litsy. Thank you. 🙇‍♀️

My reading in November

Okonkwo's life as a traditional man working his way up in Umuofia society and how he comes to grief at the beginning of colonial expansion into the lower Niger.

It's a fascinating warts and all portrayal of a way of life, though I'm not sure how representative Okonkwo is meant to be. There doesn't seem to be an audiobook version, which is a pity as it reads more like spoken language.