Purple Hibiscus

The book is in best condition, the pages are good and so is the cover. It is a delightful read. She is a contemporary African writer and her stories are engaging and intriguing. This is her first novel, and the characters of her story are intimidating. If you are looking to delve into African literature. She is the perfect author you would want to begin with. Also, her other book "Half of a yellow sun" is quite a read. Both her books evolve beautiful around the raw set of Igbo and the African essence is well potrait. *EXTRA* : If you like her writing, you might as well want to read "To sir, with love" by ER Braithwaite.

Great book, broadened my perspective

Une histoire d'une force extraordinaire. Cette auteure a décidément un talent fou et je recommande chaleureusement ce livre.

Cuando me leí Purple Hibiscus ya era conocedora de el resto de obras de Chimamanda Ngozi, no obstante, esta me sorprendiendo especialmente por su capacidad de trasladarte a la vida de los personajes, y sentir su sufrimiento y sus sentimientos como propios. La historia te cautiva desde el principio y muestra una desgarradora realidad que nos es totalmente ajena. Me ha encantado la evolución de todos los personajes, especialmente el de la protagonista Kambili y su descubrimiento de la vida más allá de las murallas de su acomodada vida. Una vez más, Chimamanda ha sido capaz de llegarme al corazón con uno de sus libros. Lectura 100% recomendada.

It was so long ago that I read 'Purple Hibiscus' but it still remains one of my favourite reads of the decade. I felt to write this review since Adichie's follow up 'Half of a Yellow Sun' has garnered so much praise - which I feel is by and large unwarranted in comparison to 'Purple Hibiscus' - whilst her debut remains the strongest indicator of what a formidable writer Adichie can be. So subtle and understated this book is simply far too well written for it to be as easy as it seems. Kambili is at once irritatingly passive and completely sympathy-worthy. The issues addressed here - religion, hypocrisy, coming-of-age, domestic violence - would be derivative and clichéd in the hands of a lesser writer. Yet the author pulls it off - in fact so well that its precisely what makes her debut stand out. Unlike '...Yellow Sun' Adichie does not rely on sensationalist plot devices such as violence, sex and profanity to drive this story along. In fact not a lot happens in regards to plot but so much character development is going on. I found it a lot easier to care and engage with the characters in 'Purple Hibiscus' than the follow up and there seems to be a lot more freedom in the way Adichie writes it, devoid of the self-consciousness and what seemed too much like insincerity that marred 'Half of a Yellow Sun' for me. Purple Hibiscus was a pleasant surprise. Paced well, long enough to get the point across without overstaying its welcome, I highly recommend it. I bought it on a whim and having read it I was chagrined Adichie did not get more recognition for it. It's a prodigiously good debut and her only problem might be matching or surpassing it. I will read '..Hibiscus' again one day to ensure it has not lost its sparkle. The fact 'Hibiscus..' has been eclipsed by Adichie winning the Orange Prize for 'Half of a Yellow...' is a classic example of why people should not wait to be told what to read by the likes of Richard and Judy and the mainstream. In short, we shouldn't fall too often into the trap of literary populism, deciding to like a book based on its exposure regardless of its quality. I think to overlook '...Hibiscus' is to miss what is really special about Adichie as a writer.