Half Of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie

FRIDAY FAVE~WINNER OF WINNERS

“This was love: a string of coincidences that gathered significance and became miracles”.

Literature can be alchemy, pure magic. Years after reading Half of a Yellow Sun, if I so much as glance at the spine I am transported to Biafra. Declared by the @womensprize as the winner of winners from the 25 years of the prize (it won in 2007), this book is a modern classic and it’s impact continues to reverberate.

Set in 1960’s Nigeria, globally revered, award winning writer and advocate @chimamanda_adichie tells the story of Biafra’s struggle to break free from Nigeria and become an independent republic, through the lives of several characters as they navigate the challenges of war and its aftermath. 

It’s epic and expansive, travelling back and forth in time, weaving together personal and political narratives, illuminating the complexity of the conflict and its impact on ordinary people.

The characters are vivid and multi-dimensional, each with their own distinct voice. From the idealistic Olanna and her lover Odenigbo to the troubled and enigmatic Richard, I still feel invested in them. Adichie’s portrayal of their personal struggles and relationships brings the turmoil to your door, this could be any of us. 

Themes evoked range from colonialism, ethnic allegiances, class, race and female empowerment. 

Half of a Yellow Sun is a poignant and unforgettable novel that offers a powerful meditation on war, love, and the resilience of the human spirit. Don’t start it without hours to dive in because this book had me in a headlock. C