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Purple Hibiscus, Nigerian-born writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's debut, begins like many novels set in regions considered exotic by the western reader: the politics, climate, social customs, and, above all, food of Nigeria (balls of fufu rolled between the fingers, okpa bought from roadside vendors) unfold like the purple hibiscus of the title, rare and fascinating. But within a few pages, these details, however vividly rendered, melt into the background of a larger, more compelling story of a joyless family. Fifteen-year-old Kambili is the dutiful and self-effacing daughter of a rich man, a religious fanatic and domestic tyrant whose public image is of a politically courageous newspaper publisher and philanthropist. No one in Papa's ancestral village, where he is titled "Omelora" (One Who Does For the Community), knows why Kambili¹s brother cannot move one of his fingers, nor why her mother keeps losing her pregnancies. When a widowed aunt takes an interest in Kambili, her family begins to unravel and re-form itself in unpredictable ways.--Regina Marler
Electrifying read Purple Hibiscus is a beautiful story. The plot is based on a 14 year-old who grew up under the stifling patronage of a stern father. Her domineering father frequently physically abused his family alongside her, creating terror at home and stunting the psychological growth of his children. Against the backdrop of the deterioration of the socio-economic and political life of Nigeria as it undergoes a military coup, the life Kambili knows is shattered and she has to seek for refuge in the home of her aunt. Kambili the sheltered but highly restricted child, who never thought of herself as lucky and who had earlier been absconded by her peers and cousin because of her supposedly privileges, learns to assert herself and becomes a beloved character, a character who easily understood the plight of those around her.. Kambili at first came to terms with her father as someone who regarded himself as a pillar of the community and someone she genuinely loved. Even the emotional and physical pains he inflicted are seen only as a gesture of love for her own good, but later she comes to consider his actions as abnormal. They brought to mind memories of settings in TRIPLE AGENT DOUBLE CROSS , and GRACELAND. With its vivid portrayal of Nigerian life, and brilliant dissection of the characters , this novel moves at a pace which is electrifying.
Not just searing my feet It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I did I was hooked. I could babble on and on about the exotic nature of the Nigerian setting, which I did enjoy, but this novel transcends its culture while at the same time honoring it. A story of child and spousal abuse (read the novel for an explanation of my review's title), this is also a tale of a young girl's maturation and self-actualization. Kambili represents the pull between tradition and modernization, but she also resonates as a survivor and ultimate victor over the traumas of childhood. This is a very sad novel, but at the same time it is a remarkable tale of the resilience and affirming strength of life itself.Sweetest and most endearing book in years I began this book while traveling and found it in the bedroom of a friend. She had good taste. Upon returning home I bought the book, and finished it in record time. In the end, to sum it up, it was the sweetest and most endearing book I've read in years. I plan to send it to my 14 year old and my 31 year old sisters. The characters are complex, dimensional, realistic and cunning; the plot is ironic, keen and engrossing; the writing is phenomenal. I'd recommend it to anyone.
