Author Study: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Curated by Angela Wang '19

Debut novel of the genius behind Half of a Yellow Sun, "Purple Hibiscus" follows the story of fifteen-year-old Kambili and her brother, Jaja. Born with a silver spoon in Nigeria, the family is seemingly perfect-- attending church every Sunday with children who both are top of their class... But within every family there are faults, some running deeper than others, and Kamibili's family is no exception. Unfortunately, as a mere child, nothing is peculiar nor bitter until the child sees the societal norm and tastes what is truly sweet. As civil war breaks out in Kambili's home in Enugu and her father is forced to send her off to his sister, Aunty Ifeoma. By living with her Aunt, Kambili is exposed to what true love is and begins to realize that her father's supposed "love" is anything but acceptable.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie returns with her second and most famous piece, sheding light upon one of the most significant events in modern African history: the civil war that followed the secession of Biafra during the 1960s. The story is weaved carefully by the perspectives of five distinct characters: Ugwu, a thirteen-year-old houseboy who works for Odenigbo, a university professor enticed by the revolution, the professor's mistress who left everything behind her for her love and Richard, a young Englishman who is infatuated with the professor's mistress' twin sister. Every perspective offers a story within itself, and motivations along with philosophy during the war slowly unravels itself with the aid of the 5 unique accounts. No war is simply just a "war."

A love story for Nigeria, rights, home and true romance. "Americanah" tells the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, who first meet in their home town Nigeria. As their Nigeria goes under a military dictatorship and civil war, people who can are beginning to leave the country. As Ifemelu immigrates for America to study, she experiences several feats and triumphs of a culture and country that is entirely different from her own. In America, she finds and loses relationships and friendships, while interacting with the unfamiliar issue of race. Obinze, on the other hand, wished to accompany Ifemelu in the United States, but post-9/11 America erased every hope for him to enter. Instead, he lives as an illegal immigrant in London. Years later, Obinze is a rich man in the young democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America, although always haunted by the ghost of his past lover who lives in Nigeria now. But when Ifemelu returns to her home in Nigeria, she meets Obinze again and the two immediately fall back in love... Except Ifemelu isn't exactly the only woman in his life and both of their lives are no longer the same as when they were just children who love each other.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie received a letter from a friend asking her how to raise her baby girl as a feminist. "Dear Ijeawele" is Adichie's letter of response. The piece consists of fifteen invaluable suggestions that are compelling, direct, humorous, and perceptive.
From encouraging the child to choose a helicopter, and not only a doll, as a toy if she so desires, to having open conversations with her about clothes, makeup, and sexuality. Adichie debunks the myth that women are somehow biologically arranged to be in the kitchen making dinner, and that men are the ones to "allow" women to have full careers. "Dear Ijeawele" goes right to the heart of gender politics in the twenty-first century and truly hits modern sex politics at its core.

A collection of short stories from award-winning Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that explores the connections that bind men and women, parents and children, Africa and the United States together. With imminent beauty, sorrow, and longing, the stories in this collection easily depict the overlapping and collision of the two cultures and the struggle to reconcile them.