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Americanah

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Americanah

By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
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About this listen

Shortlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction 2014.

From the award-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun, a powerful story of love, race and identity.

As teenagers in Lagos, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are fleeing the country if they can. The self-assured Ifemelu departs for America. There she suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Thirteen years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a blogger. But after so long apart and so many changes, will they find the courage to meet again, face to face?

Fearless, gripping, spanning three continents and numerous lives, the National Book Critics Circle Award-winning Americanah is a richly told story of love and expectation set in today’s globalised world.

©2013 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (P)2013 W F Howes Ltd African American Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political Women's Fiction Africa Thought-Provoking Heartfelt

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Critic reviews

“Actress Adjoa Andoh brings to life Adichie’s complex, beautifully wrought novel – which is both a love story and a nuanced analysis of political topics including systemic racism in America; immigration in the UK; and the class system in Nigeria.” (Vogue)

"One of the previous decade’s landmark novels [...] Andoh is a skilled, exciting narrator." (The Times)

"Andoh's rich voice and distinct characters and rhythm keep the listener engrossed.... Andoh has fun adopting a mocking lilt for Ifemelu's snarky blog entries.... [and] a more serious tone brings authenticity to the heartbreak of Obinze's London experience." ( AudioFile)

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This was well-near perfect. The narration was fantastic and had me speaking in a Nigerian accent to myself and saying the names to myself because the sounds that made them up were so beautiful. The story was powerful, authentic, moving and challenging. As a white person who grew up in South Africa during apartheid and then moved to England, I felt heartbroken at some of the experiences that are portrayed in this book. The author has written a sensitive, deeply moving story about what it means to be a black person in the modern world. Ifemelu is a wonderful heroine - she has her faults but she grows through the experiences that happen to her and we really come to love her as she comes to love and accept herself. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Half of a yellow sun was fantastic, but Americanah is faultless.

Life-changing

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A story of love that endures, but most of all about the dream of America, and the harsh reality of immigrant/ expat life. This story brought back memories of my high school year in the US, ages ago, and of Janet from Kenya and Elizabeth from Sierra Leone who befriended and overwhelmed me with their warm, open and slightly scary otherness. I found this story at times uncomfortable and slightly nauseating. Maybe the long stretches of description of adapting to life in the US were a little too efficient in conveying the feelings of the protagonist. At other times I felt the narrative was overly talkative and eager to convince, but preaching to the converted in my case. It may have been the audio book format that got to me, as it forces the listener to swallow every word, instead of being able to skim the less interesting bits. I enjoyed the parts of the narrative set in Nigeria, purely because it describes a different, and therefore interesting place, and the way of thinking, the difference, but also the sheer humanity of people living there. Though I could personally relate to the protagonist's critical attitude and feeling of superiority, she sometimes annoyed me. I felt that in fighting prejudice, the narrator did not always see her own prejudice.
All in all a book I am glad to have read.

Culture shock

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A wonderful and articulately observed insight into the personal experiences of immigrant and expat life and so much more. A great example of where the narration gives an experience of the book that I would not have had reading it. The various accents and versatility of the narrator is superbly matched to the imagination of the author.

An engaging and personal performance!

In short, if you are reading this review and wondering whether to listen to this book - go for it! (It is also a perfect gift for the traditionalist doubters who question the power of the audiobook experience.)

Worth every second!

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First, let's talk about the narrator. She was amazing. Gave real life to the characters in the book. Great performance. Well done Adjoa.

Now, to the book, the characters are definitely flawed but this in itself, is amazing character development. Chimamanda writes a superb novel. I really wished for a better ending and there are unanswered questions I still have.

However, I feel like I've been taken on an amazing journey. Thank you Chimamanda

I love this good so much

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As well as being a fascinating story with absorbing characters, this is beautifully and lyrically written, and the performance by Adjoa Andoh is amongst the best I’ve heard! Her narrative was compelling and well-modulated as well as being emotive, and the different characters’ voices were remarkably well-delineated. I very much enjoyed Adichie’s reflections on Nigerian and American culture and experience, and found this audiobook superb in every way!

Beautifully written and beautifully read

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I didn't want it to end! Engaging from start to finish. beautifully narrated and written. I would highly recommend! I would even listen a second time round!

beautifully narrated!!!!!

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This is so well told. Incredible narration- she is utterly remarkable. What an excellent book.

Amazing narration

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Chimamanda is simply a genius. Americanah is a must read. The narration by Adjoa Andoh was very impressive. My favorite narrator so far! Overall, highly recommended.

Highly recommended!!!

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Great story and the narrator is exceptional. She really brings to life the characters and has a gift for accents.

Amazing narration

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Rarely heard (or listened to) voice on Nigerian cosmopolitan life vs Anglo-American. Strong female narrator. Also covers illegal vs legal immigration. Strong dialogue. Will definitely seek out her other work.

Anglo-American life vs Nigerian

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