As a person who lives their life as a normal citizen and participant of the world (rather than spending their life under a rock), you've most likely heard of the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. You've probably also heard that it is a highly acclaimed African classic, and maybe that was enough for you to dump it in the list of notable books you should read sometime soon that's piling up in your head. Let's refresh our memories.
Well, it's about time for you to start the book THIS INSTANCE or at least move it to the very top priority of your never-ending list of books to read.
*It's barely over 200 pages: It is not like I'm asking you to read some 500 paged novel. For those of you speed readers, it will take you less than a day.
*The title is not misleading: Do you remember that novel where the title made you think the book was about unicorns, but it ended up being about dragons with one unicorn added in at the end? Well, don't worry. There's no trickery in this title. Things will definitely fall apart.
*It is highly quotable: There are so many great quotes and proverbs in this novel that you can just take your pick. So next time you are trying to look impressively educated around your peers, just whip out a sophisticated quote from this book and you are set. Apart from that, these important quotes and proverbs teach great lessons about culture, honor, and general life.
*The book is memorable and stands out: For most of you reading this post, the last book you read was probably set in North America or Europe (me included). Some of you might have never even read a book set in Africa, and trust me, this book has no issues when stacked up against books like The Great Gatsby or Pride and Prejudice. It is not one of those books you read and forget next week. It will stay with you for a long time.
*Every character feels authentic: The main character especially feels very authentic because he is flawed, yet still very lovable. You really have to read the novel in order to fully understand what I mean, but I'm sure we all have read books where the character feels very conjured up (for a lack of a better description), but in this book, all the characters feel natural. It is almost as if they were actually picked up in real life and put into a fictional story that holds a lot of truth and history in it.
And for these reason (as well as many others that I did not mention), you should read Things Fall Apart in the very near future. Even as this might sound cliche, it WILL change your life.
If you want a little more motivation to help you start this book or people to have meaningful discussions about the book with, then be sure to join the African Literature Book Club on Goodreads. It is open to everyone. We will start reading the book Things Fall Apart as a group on Monday 27th, 2016. Hope to see you there!
The book looks something like this:
Series: The African Trilogy #1
Publication Date: September 1, 1994
Genre: African Classic
Page Count: 209
THINGS FALL APART tells two overlapping, intertwining stories, both of which center around Okonkwo, a “strong man” of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first of these stories traces Okonkwo's fall from grace with the tribal world in which he lives, and in its classical purity of line and economical beauty it provides us with a powerful fable about the immemorial conflict between the individual and society.The second story, which is as modern as the first is ancient, and which elevates the book to a tragic plane, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world through the arrival of aggressive, proselytizing European missionaries. These twin dramas are perfectly harmonized, and they are modulated by an awareness capable of encompassing at once the life of nature, human history, and the mysterious compulsions of the soul. THINGS FALL APART is the most illuminating and permanent monument we have to the modern African experience as seen from within.
Oh yeah right, that one!
Well, it's about time for you to start the book THIS INSTANCE or at least move it to the very top priority of your never-ending list of books to read.
And here's why:
*It's barely over 200 pages: It is not like I'm asking you to read some 500 paged novel. For those of you speed readers, it will take you less than a day.
*The title is not misleading: Do you remember that novel where the title made you think the book was about unicorns, but it ended up being about dragons with one unicorn added in at the end? Well, don't worry. There's no trickery in this title. Things will definitely fall apart.
*It is highly quotable: There are so many great quotes and proverbs in this novel that you can just take your pick. So next time you are trying to look impressively educated around your peers, just whip out a sophisticated quote from this book and you are set. Apart from that, these important quotes and proverbs teach great lessons about culture, honor, and general life.
*The book is memorable and stands out: For most of you reading this post, the last book you read was probably set in North America or Europe (me included). Some of you might have never even read a book set in Africa, and trust me, this book has no issues when stacked up against books like The Great Gatsby or Pride and Prejudice. It is not one of those books you read and forget next week. It will stay with you for a long time.
*Every character feels authentic: The main character especially feels very authentic because he is flawed, yet still very lovable. You really have to read the novel in order to fully understand what I mean, but I'm sure we all have read books where the character feels very conjured up (for a lack of a better description), but in this book, all the characters feel natural. It is almost as if they were actually picked up in real life and put into a fictional story that holds a lot of truth and history in it.
And for these reason (as well as many others that I did not mention), you should read Things Fall Apart in the very near future. Even as this might sound cliche, it WILL change your life.
As you would guess I rate this book
If you want a little more motivation to help you start this book or people to have meaningful discussions about the book with, then be sure to join the African Literature Book Club on Goodreads. It is open to everyone. We will start reading the book Things Fall Apart as a group on Monday 27th, 2016. Hope to see you there!
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21 members This group is meant to promote African Literature or books based on genuine African culture and w...
21 members This group is meant to promote African Literature or books based on genuine African culture and w...
