Things Fall Apart
Registered by Unbalanced of Hampton, Victoria Australia on 7/1/2005
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
2 journalers for this copy...
Front cover differs to that shown here.
From a publihser of this book ...
Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe's first novel, was published in 1958. Worldwide, there are eight million copies in print in fifty different languages. This stunning work, which John Updike calls "a great book, that bespeaks a great, brave, kind human spirit," is often compared to the great Greek tragedies. It concerns itself with the classic struggle between rigid traditionalism and the winds of change. Specifically, it is about the effects of British colonialism on a small Nigerian village at the turn of the century. A simple story of a "strong man" whose life is dominated by fear and anger, it is written with remarkable economy and subtle irony. Uniquely and richly African, at the same time it reveals Achebe's keen awareness of the human qualities common to men of all times and places
This book was kindly sent to me by Cariodeb with another book, The Slave Girl by Buchi Emecheta. I have registered it myself on her behalf.
The Unbalanced Review
To quote Carideb "it's one of the most powerful books I read when I was a teenager", - I agree as well, this is a powerful book - a tragedy in fact. And what is more offensive is that you know that it stills happens today.
To quote from the book "The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceable with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act as one. He has put a knife on the things that hold us together and we have fallen apart."
I like how Achebe shows us the life of the people of the town called Umuofia. We see how they judged, what they feared, how they lived, how they died, what they valued, what they despised. OK, there are some things which are brutal to our western eyes - like how twins were sent to death, or how men trewated their wives and children, - but then all societies are not perfect.
There was one matter in this book I would have liked more addressed, which was what happened between Ezinma and the priestess Chielo? It just remains (for me anyway) a mystery.
This confrontational book should be studied in schools because it addresses so much the senseless destruction white society has done to tribal races. But I guess this wish will not be, because we pathetically put our heads in the sand and hold ourselves as blameless. So sad.
From a publihser of this book ...
Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe's first novel, was published in 1958. Worldwide, there are eight million copies in print in fifty different languages. This stunning work, which John Updike calls "a great book, that bespeaks a great, brave, kind human spirit," is often compared to the great Greek tragedies. It concerns itself with the classic struggle between rigid traditionalism and the winds of change. Specifically, it is about the effects of British colonialism on a small Nigerian village at the turn of the century. A simple story of a "strong man" whose life is dominated by fear and anger, it is written with remarkable economy and subtle irony. Uniquely and richly African, at the same time it reveals Achebe's keen awareness of the human qualities common to men of all times and places
This book was kindly sent to me by Cariodeb with another book, The Slave Girl by Buchi Emecheta. I have registered it myself on her behalf.
The Unbalanced Review
To quote Carideb "it's one of the most powerful books I read when I was a teenager", - I agree as well, this is a powerful book - a tragedy in fact. And what is more offensive is that you know that it stills happens today.
To quote from the book "The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceable with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act as one. He has put a knife on the things that hold us together and we have fallen apart."
I like how Achebe shows us the life of the people of the town called Umuofia. We see how they judged, what they feared, how they lived, how they died, what they valued, what they despised. OK, there are some things which are brutal to our western eyes - like how twins were sent to death, or how men trewated their wives and children, - but then all societies are not perfect.
There was one matter in this book I would have liked more addressed, which was what happened between Ezinma and the priestess Chielo? It just remains (for me anyway) a mystery.
This confrontational book should be studied in schools because it addresses so much the senseless destruction white society has done to tribal races. But I guess this wish will not be, because we pathetically put our heads in the sand and hold ourselves as blameless. So sad.
Journal Entry 2 by AussieNisi from Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, July 22, 2005
Picked up at our Booklette today, as part of a pair on Unbalanced's recommendation (other one is The Slave Girl by Buchi Emecheta). I haven't read any Nigerian fiction before, and am always ready to expand my horizons.
Journal Entry 3 by AussieNisi from Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Saturday, August 19, 2006
I have to declutter my house, which includes my huge BookCrossing book pile too - so I'm setting this one free to find new readers!
Journal Entry 4 by AussieNisi at Starbucks in Civic, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Saturday, August 19, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (8/19/2006 UTC) at Starbucks in Civic, Australian Capital Territory Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
For our Crossing Zone bookshelf
For our Crossing Zone bookshelf
