Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-15
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Observer
'This powerful, delicate, intimate novel focuses on individual's
thoughts and emotions...'

Independent
'This magnificent novel is a gripping portrayal of the horrors of
war...A major new African voice.'

The Times
'a powerfully convincing account of one of the bloodier episodes
of post-colonial history.'

Customer Reviews

Genuinely moving, a novel that touched my heart.
I decided to read 'Half of a Yellow Sun' after hearing great reviews about it, and I've always been interested in the work of African writers. I found this book both moving and enthralling. Adichie skilfully weaves the three stories together in a poetic and exciting way. At university I had my first taste of African writing when studying the amazing Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and now teaching the novel myself made me want to read more African Literature, and I wasn't disappointed here. Adichie herself says she admires Achebe, and I would agree that if you enjoy the imagery and figurative language you've come to expect from Achebe, you will find Adichie a delight too. I found myself unable to put the book down, instantly emotionally attached to the central characters, which made the ending very difficult to accept. This was a novel that made me look at the world differently, which is what all good novels should do. A genuinely moving, intense experience from beginning to end; as simple as that!

Not all it's craked up to be!
I bought this book because of the rave reviews and it won the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction 2007. That'll teach me. Like many other readers I thought Adichie took far too long setting the scene and introducing us to the characters. This may have been excusable if there had of been any depth, sadly there is not. The characters, in the main, are superfical. So much so that not only is it difficult to have sympathy for most of them and very difficult to see what they saw in each other. I spent most of the novel wondering what on earth Kainene saw in Richard.

However, There are some horrific descriptions of the violence of war, mans indifference and cruelty, at times truly harrowing. Ms Adichie also provides us with an insight into the Biafran war of the late sixties and I must admit the last few chapters raced along. Some judicious cuts and editing would improve this book no end.

Absolutely loved this book
Even better than Purple Hibiscus.
Fantastic combination of fictional family in real history.
I was quite young when the Biafra War occurred, so had not heard of it.
What a great way to learn about the recent past.