Half of a Yellow Sun

This book tells the harrowing story of the Nigerian civil war in the 1960s, or otherwise referred to as the Nigerian/Biafra conflict, through the eyes of a houseboy, two twin sisters, a professor and a British writer. This war is a seminal moment in African history that dwarfs in terms of scale when compared to other wars that the continent has endured in its post-colonial era. However, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, recently hailed by Salon as one of America's most promising young writers (20 under 40), brilliantly retold history that was richly infused with color, character and emotions, taking it out of the Western stereotypes of any African conflict. The story jumps back and forth between the period of the early sixties, which protrays Nigeria in the early days of its independence from British colonial rule, and the late sixties, during which the civil war took place. But inspite of the big socio-political backdrop, this book is more about the relationship of the different characters to each other and how that relationship is affected by the horrors of war than about history or politics. The characters really couldn't have been more different to each other, and their relationship to each other may well represent societal relationships in Nigeria at that time. The book started with Ugwu's story, a village boy employed as a houseboy in the home of an eccentric professor of Nsukka University, the first native university, which predominantly caters to the local Igbo majority. With Odenigbo as his master, Ugwu discovers books, proper use of English and refined tastes. There are the twin sisters Olanna and Kainene, who are offpsprings of a wealthy Igbo businessman, whose dealings with the government is anything but clean. The sisters, despite of their elitist upbringing, have extremely diverging views of life. That difference is also cemented in how little they resemble each other. Olanna is a radiant, full-figured beauty who is full of ideals and resents her parents' way of life, whereas Kainene, is the tall, thin and dark-skinned sister akin to Olanna's shadow, who, despite of her apathy to her father's dealings, is in charge of continue expanding his business. Their fateful choice of lovers, and subsequently, their individual relationships and relationship towards each other, is what drives the story: Olanna found a lover in Odenigbo and settles in remote Nsukka, while Kainene becomes involved with Richard Churchill, an aspiring British writer who travels the country in search of material and inspiration for his first book. Richard is sent to do his work in Nsukka university, in which he becomes witness to, and later, embroils himself fully in the declaration of an independent Biafra. The setting is complex and the story is intricately layered. The plot twists and turns unexpectedly; surprises lurk in every corner. The storytelling may seem ambitious as it jumps between characters and time periods. Yet Adichie couldn't have done a more brilliant job, her prose is simple and effortless but surprisingly it has not reduced or belittled the intensity and impact of the story. War breaks and make people, and this was very much so the case in the book. Relationships break apart and are mended in such strange ways; people change in ways unrecognizable to their loved ones. Adichie has captured the transformation each characters goes through remarkably well. Even though the characters may seem stereotypical at first (the naive houseboy, the eccentric professor, the beautiful idealist, etc), but their transformations is far from stereotypical. For instance, as it turns out, Olanna, despite living to her revolutionary ideals, misses her life in luxury, and Kainene, despite of her sheltered upbringing, proved herself to be a leader and survivor. Again, without revealing too much, this book also tells what people are capable of committing as well as enduring in times of war, and so many of the plot twists are shocking and heart wrenching. Finally, the simplicity of the prose is striking. In simplest way possible, Adichie captures the intricate details of the conflict, the complex social and political backdrop that British colonialism provided to it and the human sufferings compounded by it. Yet the exotic, African-ness quality has not eluded the storytelling; in fact, it grew stronger with every turn of the page. As a reader and a total stranger to Africa, let alone Nigeria and its rich history, Neither did I find myself buried in new terminologies on ethnicity and culture, nor have I become confused in historical details. Yet when I put down the book I felt as if I had experienced both the ancient land infused with mysticism and the modern postcolonial world, later shredded and charred by war. many of the passages were memorable, the characters will stay long with me after I have put the book down. I can't stress enough how good this book is. Highly recommended.

This is quite a book and the last 100 pages or so, are a rough ride. The book is based, largely I believe, on real life characters and follows each of them through the war/massacre/mass starvation that became known as either the Nigerian Civil War, or the lost war for Biafran Independence in the years 1967-1970. What I liked about this book is that the characters are well developed and flawed; therefore, they are believable and you feel empathy for them, even when they act destructively. The writer's prose is simple and straightforward. It is not overly descriptive or flowery. So, in many ways, she is purposely a better story teller than she is a story writer. But that's okay. This is a page turner and a humane telling of a conflict lost to the blind ambitions of the Big Powers and the ego-maniacs that rule the world. The author does not spare her scorn for the Brits and the Americans and their cynical backing of a corrupt Nigerian government. In the end, I felt her main message was a simple yet profound message. No one wins in war. Even, the so called "winners" sacrifice their humanity and their ideals. So, in a strange way it made me reflect on America's present wars. In the end, does anyone really win? I don't give five star ratings unless a book is one of the best I've read in the past several years; but this book comes close. It's easily a 4. Okay, let's give it a 4.5. It's a perfect selection for a book club as much discussion could be made of the various characters and what they represent. But if you buy this book, stick with it for the first, fairly slow, 100 pages as it does build up a story foundation as it progresses to its relatively sad ending. I highly recommend this book.

Half of a Yellow Sun is another one of those books that I had been meaning to read for years. I finally had a chance to experience it. What a great book! The novel takes place in mid-late 1960's Nigeria, during the time the Igbo people attempted to become the independent nation of Biafra. I heard about this civil war, but really did not know much about the horror which resulted. The story is told through the perspectives of (3) main characters (but there are other terrific characters as well). There is Ugwu, a 13 year old house boy for professor Odenigbo who teaches at the university in Nsukka. He is a very observant young boy who notices how well he is treated compared to other house boys. For example, he sleeps in a bed and is given his own books. He tries his best to do everything right, but sometimes he takes things a bit too far like when he ironed his Mr. O's socks and burned a hole in them. He provides much needed humor at just the right times. Ironically, Odenigbo seems nicer to his house boy than most other people he encounters. Olanna and Kainene are twin sisters who come from a wealthy family. Olanna is the beautiful sister, but lacks confidence. She becomes involved with Professor O and later moves into his home and the two eventually marry. At first Ugwu feels threatened by Olanna'a arrival, but then he becomes devoted to pleasing her. Richard is a shy Englishman, a man who is not comfortable in his own skin. He's always felt inferior whether at home or in Nigeria. Richard has come to Nigeria as a expat to write a book about Igbo art. He becomes involved with Kainene, the twin sister of Olanna. Kainene is not considered to be attractive. She's somewhat aloof, very intelligent and financially savvy, and her relationship with Richard is tumultuous at times. This story covers so many topics: war, genocide, relationships - infidelity, personal identity, loyalty, class struggles and more. It is a book that would make a great choice for book groups. It's beautifully written, the characters are fully explored and they are ones that will stick with you. The author knows how to write, and although this is a work of fiction, the information about the civil war was very informative. I found the graphic details of the war tough to read about at times, but because the writing had moments of humor and the characters were so interesting, it helped to take my mind off the horrors of war. READ IT!

There has never been a better time to read Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Not only because it has recently been hailed as, 'A benchmark for excellence in fiction writing,' by the Baileys prize judges as they crowned it the ‘best of the best’ of the past decade’s winners. Not only if – like this reader – you were woefully ignorant of the Biafran war, its causes and consequences and your own government’s underhand behaviour throughout the period covered by the novel. Instead, read it because it really is an enlightening tale, far from being a dry history lesson, instead packed with vivid, memorable characters who it is difficult to step away from every evening when it becomes time to put down the book. Twin sisters Olanna and Kainene couldn’t be more different in their approach to life after graduation: Kainene dryly amused by her work in their father’s businesses while Olanna heads off to an unfashionable university in a outlying town to be with her boyfriend Odenigbo (who Kainene dismisses as ‘the revolutionary’). Events leading up to the outbreak of war between Nigeria and Biafra conspire to drive the sisters apart and it is not immediately clear that they will be able to resolve their differences amid the chaos. The stories are also narrated in part by Richard, Kainene’s British boyfriend, who is attempting to write a novel inspired by Igbo-Ukwu art and Ugwu, Odenigbo’s houseboy, whose adolescence, education and journey to maturity are interrupted by the fighting. This is a novel of bold ambition, not only in telling the stories of the war, but in dealing with the themes that engaged and challenged people through the 1960s. Olanna and Odenigbo are both academics, hosting colleagues and visitors at their home each night for lively, wide-ranging and drunken debates on the future of post-colonial Africa. Kainene and Olanna are both modern girls, keen to have careers and not be as dependent on their men as their mother perhaps is. Meanwhile fine distinctions abound – between wealthy Olanna (who after fleeing finds herself missing her tablecloths) and her aunt’s more down-to-earth family, the differences between the sophisticated city dwellers and the superstitions of village life, Richard’s attempts to distinguish himself from the other Westerners – which are often missed when the ill-informed speak of ‘Africa’ as one mass. Although set on a different continent, there is a lot here to inform about current events in Europe and the Middle East. Olanna and Odenigbo's failure to get out of harm's way, not anticipating the need to leave until literally the moment that they can hear shelling. And then, a form of internal exile as they move from one place to another, trying to remain in contact with friends and family who are similarly scattered, while facing starvation and diseases as deadly as the fighting. Ambitious in scope, but that ambition is realised in this wonderful, challenging and vivid story.

This is a wonderful book about a time and a tragic war of which I knew almost nothing. I could not put it down. The story is deeply involving and the characters are achingly real. It is one of those books that make you feel as if you are watching the action unfold in an extraordinarily vivid way. I loved it. I thank the author for her wonderful gift to readers.

Une claque. Page turner saisissant autant que sensible et émouvant.

I love the book. Nicely organized to follow the story. This is my first read from Chimamanda and I will surely be reading Americanah. Thanks

This is one of my favourite books! I actually took it with me to the sauna and had to finish the last 100 pages without a book cover just pages flying around. I think it is immaculate and written in such a beautiful way. I will definitely read more of the author:)