PURPLE HIBISCUS by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I've been wanting to read this book for awhile and had the opportunity to select my own book for my final project in my Gender and Text course. Purple Hibiscus is one of the most emotionally powerful novels I've read. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie creates characters that feel incredibly real, and I found myself deeply invested in Kambili's journey. Watching her slowly find her voice after living in fear was both heartbreaking and inspiring. More than anything, this book made me feel for Kambili and her mother. Their experiences stayed with me long after I put the book down. There were so many moments that made me sad for them, and by the end of the novel, I was in tears. Adichie writes with such honesty and compassion that it's impossible not to become emotionally attached to these characters. One aspect I found myself thinking about was Kambili's relationship with Father Amadi. At times, I wasn't sure where Adichie intended their relationship to go. There were moments that made me wonder whether Kambili's feelings were simply part of her coming-of-age journey and first experience with a crush, or whether Father Amadi's kindness was meant to show the genuine, platonic care of a trusted mentor. I actually appreciated that the novel left room for readers to interpret those moments differently, and it made me reflect on them even after I finished the book. The novel also explores family, religion, identity, and political unrest with remarkable depth. The symbolism is beautifully woven throughout the story, adding even more meaning without taking away from the emotional impact. As a graduate student studying literature, I appreciated how much there was to analyze, but what I'll remember most is how this book made me feel. It's beautifully written, thought-provoking, and unforgettable. I highly recommend Purple Hibiscus to anyone who enjoys literary fiction that leaves a lasting emotional impact.

This book was beautifully crafted and thoroughly unlike anything I had ever read. The plot was incredibly interesting and followed a unique writing style. The novel follows fifteen-year-old Kambili through the tense occurrences that happen in her hyper-religious home. Kambili's father, Eugene, puts an immense amount of pressure on his children to be the "temples of God" that he has raised them to be, and often uses violence to enforce these expectations. When Kambili and her brother Jaja visit their aunt on their first trip away from home, they start to realize what it feels like have freedom in a way that they have never been allowed to have in their home. Adiche writes with purpose, and the plot unfolds in a way that thoroughly amazes me, with a blend of events and the description of Nigeria. When I was reading, I felt that the book was very descriptive and hard to put down, but when I did put it down, it was harder to get back into the story because of the very dense details. Rereading this novel for the second time showed me the beauty in these details, however, readers should know that the beauty of this novel is the description and creation of the incredibly tense household Kambili and her older brother Jaja live in. Readers should also be aware that the plot is somewhat slow at the beginning in order to properly set up the plot, but later picks up the speed, which increases readability.

Oh my gosh, I am simply gobsmacked by this amazing debut novel! Many of us may be familiar with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie from her TED talk about feminism (Why Everyone Should be a Feminist) as well as her success as a novelist. I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read her work. As you read this (and please read this) keep reminding yourself that this is a debut novel. A DEBUT NOVEL. Ms. Adichie is winning awards for a reason. Purple Hibiscus is so many things. It is a story about family and the lengths we will go to protect our family. It is a story about Nigeria, political unrest, and freedom. It is also a story about love, faith, and religious fanaticism. But mostly it is a coming of age story. Kambili, our 16 year old heroine, lives with her older brother Jaja and her parents. Her father is a great and wealthy man in their village. He owns several factories and a newspaper that promotes a democratic government. He is also very powerful within the local Catholic Church and openly opposes more traditional "pagan" religions. He even shuns his own father. Though he is admired and revered in the community, he is a tyrant at home. Due to some threats against his newspaper, he reluctantly allows his children to spend some time with their Aunty Ifeoma and her three children. There, Kambili and Jaja experience a very different family life where children can speak their minds and have opinions. It is here that Kambili finds her voice and falls in love for the first time. She falls in love with a local priest who is a friend of Aunty's family. This is not creepy love with a pedophile priest, but the innocent first love of a teenage girl for a man who cares for her and encourages her independence but not her romantic notions. Kambili and Jaja love being with their aunt but a tragedy forces them home. As a result, the siblings become adults almost overnight. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book. I would like to buy 500 copies to hand out to strangers. The story is interesting and gripping. It is also beautiful and horrific at the same time. You will want to read it quickly for the story and then slowly to savor the words. Ms. Adichie's writing is nothing short of amazing. Not a word is wasted or unnecessary. Her descriptions are poetic and touch all your senses. It would take me a month to write even one sentence as good. Yet the book reads like the writing was effortless. I loved this book so much that I could reread it right now. I will certainly be reading her other work.

The book Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is about a 15-year-old girl named Kambili who is raised in Nigeria under the strict control of her father. The story is told from Kambili’s point of view as she questions her father's religious rules based on the freedom she gains from visiting her Aunt Ifeoma. The book is filled with symbolism and imagery. Adichie uses the purple hibiscus flower to symbolize change and the possibility of freedom from her home. The purple hibiscus in Aunt Ifeoma’s garden creates contrast to Kambili’s house where fear rules, and everything is under control. The flower acts as a reminder that even with her father, Eugene’s strict rules and abusive actions, there is still hope. Adichie also shows the contrast between different situations with imagery. Kambili’s home is described as cold and silent, where even laughing feels like a crime. While Aunty Ifeoma’s home is full of laughter and chatter, showing the contrast between captivity and freedom. This contrast highlights the family theme and the way different styles of parenting affect kids. Eugene thinks that by being aggressive and cruel, he is protecting his kids, but in reality it just makes them afraid. At the same time, Aunty Ifeoma’s more relaxed style of parenting teaches her kids to be confident and independent. Another literary device Adichie uses is foreshadowing. In the very beginning of the book, “Palm Sunday,” Jaja refuses to take communion at church, which foreshadows his rebellion against his father. The violence in the book is also foreshadowed through little details, like when Kambili counted how long her mother's beating would last, or when her brother told Aunty Ifeoma about the real cause of his injured finger. These little things show that throughout the book, Eugene slowly escalates from his strict rules to straight abuse. Adichie uses first person narration to allow the readers to experience Kambili’s perspective. At first, Kambili never questions her father’s rules or abuse because she is convinced that his parenting is justified and that he is always right. But, as she spends time with Aunty Ifeoma and her cousins, the more she realizes how different life could be. The way her character develops and the way her thoughts change over time makes her growth more genuine and realistic. Overall, I really enjoyed Purple Hibiscus and I do recommend it to anyone who enjoys a rich story and great character development. Adichie uses symbolism, foreshadowing, and first person narration, but she best uses her imagery skills to paint a picture to her readers. Although the pacing can be slow it’s a unique and impactful coming of age story that shows the effects of childhood abuse.

I suppose, like I, most readers are comfortable sticking to novels with characters and settings that match their home countries. But oh, when we branch out. I have learned from and felt the hearts of authors from Indonesia, India, Japan, various European countries, Trinidad and Canada as well as my fellow American authors. And thus, I am so glad I discovered Nigeria’s Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I had never heard of her until I picked up a slim volume of an essay she wrote about feminism. That was an eye opener, so I looked for other writings of hers, and I discovered Purple Hibiscus. Her novel is set in her native Nigeria, features a main character who has embraced—rabidly—the Catholic teaching of missionaries, and tells the tale from the viewpoint of this man’s daughter. This father, whom she seems to love dearly, is a very rich man who—no doubt in honor of his religion—does multiple humanitarian deeds, feeding, clothing, and supporting people. But to his own family, he is brutal, all in the name of clinging to this religion and demanding they reject the religion of the Nigerian people, labeling it idolatrous, barbarian, and dangerous to their eternal lives. Adichie paints a portrait of a young girl on the cusp of womanhood who blossoms through the help of a very unusual Nigerian-born priest, a free-thinking aunt, a courageous brother, and a brow-beaten mother. The book is spellbinding, and, in a world where I typically read just before bedtime, I found myself devouring this book in three days, picking it up several times during the day. It has won very deserved awards, and its greatest achievement for readers is that, even though it is couched in the beliefs, traditions, and daily life of Nigeria, it is relatable to all Many of us have had fathers, mothers, close relatives whom we love and yet do not understand how they can both love us and negatively act the way they do. Purple Hibiscus is a window into that, a lesson for our souls and hearts.

The writing is beautiful. I felt like I could really see everything she described. She’s obviously a talented writer, and it was lovely to see something so different. But I had a hard time identifying with the characters. They all seemed so weak in the face of this abusive, awful man, and I didn’t find it believable that everyone would be so afraid to stand up to him that they’d submit to actual torture. It was a really sad story and although I think it was intended to end with hope, it didn’t feel hopeful to me. If the mom could let her son go to prison for a crime she committed, I have very little hope for this family.

Not my favorite Adichie tome, but anything she writes is worth reading. She sure paints wonderfully picturesque scenes of Nigeria.

I read this book for my senior year summer reading I personally liked it I thought the storyline was good even though I was upset with the ending would recommend only thing is the book did have an odd smell to it at first but over time it went away

I love, love the book. I can’t put it down

Great book, broadened my perspective

I had read 'Americanah' 1st and the 'Half of a Yellow Sun' a few years ago. However, this particular novel affected me in so many different ways. C. Adichie shows how appearances are often so deceptive. The mundane manner in which it starts is deceptive, as the more you read, the further you immerse yourself into wishing something to happen to break up what is happening right before your eyes. All I can say is that I really didn't expect the 3rd part of the novel. I was left hoping for a sequel, as I really want to know what next happens to Kamili, her brother and all the other characters that had me enthralled. This is novel about love; whether it be nurturing or deadly, whilst the outside world carries on with its chaos & upheaval. What a fantastic 1st novel!!

This is the second book I've read by Adichie, having recently read Half of a Yellow Sun, and this one is just as amazing. A story that takes you into the lives of individuals, and at the same time sweeps you up in the drama of a changing Nigeria. Highly recommended, for the evocative style of writing, the insight, the breadth of the story, and the extraordinary lives of ordinary people.

Une histoire d'une force extraordinaire. Cette auteure a décidément un talent fou et je recommande chaleureusement ce livre.