Helpful Score: 1
I have been told that Chinua Achebe's African Trilogy constitutes The Great African Novel. I can't and won't speak for that high praise. However, having read the first in the series, Things Fall Apart, I can state that I believe Mr. Achebe HAS succeeded in illustrating how times (with a big push from the colonial powers) altered tribal living in at least one part of Africa.
Articles and books have been written analyzing this work; I won't presume to add my analysis on top of those scholarly works. I WILL state that I was impressed by Mr. Achebe's narration; how he described events within and around the community without making it sound like he was explaining them to an outsider. He would casually mention something that OF COURSE we would all know about, like The Royal Python. Then, in the same breath, describe it and its significance in such a way that it felt as though it was just a continuation of the story rather than a sidebar explanation for us poor outsiders.
As someone who normally reads mysteries and thrillers, I can't say that Mr. Achebe grabbed me by the throat (or otherwise) and refused to let go. HOWEVER, he did succeed in holding my interest; something that many other highly praised works of literature fail to do. We all know of and sometimes ourselves feel like a man like Okonkwo, comfortable in the knowledge of how things were and how they still are, until facing the truth that those ways are changing, perhaps forever. It is because of that commonality that this novel can touch anyone, no matter their country or circumstances.
5 stars, Mr. Achebe. I only wish I'd gotten to this a few months earlier, so that you could have celebrated this rating with us before your passing.
Articles and books have been written analyzing this work; I won't presume to add my analysis on top of those scholarly works. I WILL state that I was impressed by Mr. Achebe's narration; how he described events within and around the community without making it sound like he was explaining them to an outsider. He would casually mention something that OF COURSE we would all know about, like The Royal Python. Then, in the same breath, describe it and its significance in such a way that it felt as though it was just a continuation of the story rather than a sidebar explanation for us poor outsiders.
As someone who normally reads mysteries and thrillers, I can't say that Mr. Achebe grabbed me by the throat (or otherwise) and refused to let go. HOWEVER, he did succeed in holding my interest; something that many other highly praised works of literature fail to do. We all know of and sometimes ourselves feel like a man like Okonkwo, comfortable in the knowledge of how things were and how they still are, until facing the truth that those ways are changing, perhaps forever. It is because of that commonality that this novel can touch anyone, no matter their country or circumstances.
5 stars, Mr. Achebe. I only wish I'd gotten to this a few months earlier, so that you could have celebrated this rating with us before your passing.
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