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The Thing Around Your Neck
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'Her writing is clear-eyed and fresh, her characters simply drawn…Adichie writes with a cool detachment that allows her to plunder grief and stereotype to brilliant effect.' Times
'Adichie is a skilled storyteller with a fluid, straightforward style and while some of the stories feel constrained by their length, the majority are perfectly balanced.' Observer
Chosen as a Book of the Year by The Sunday Times
'Casts a sympathetic eye on the plight of Nigerians who dream of living abroad, and those adjusting to the immigrant's life' Financial Times, Books of the Year
Product Description
From Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Orange Prize-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun, come twelve dazzling stories in which she turns her penetrating eye on the ties that bind men and women, parents and children, Nigeria and the West.
In 'A Private Experience,' a medical student hides from a violent riot with a poor Muslim woman whose dignity and faith force her to confront the realities and fears she's been pushing away. In 'Tomorrow Is Too Far,' a woman unlocks the devastating secret that surrounds her brother's death. The young mother at the center of 'Imitation' finds her comfortable life threatened when she learns that her husband back in Lagos has moved his mistress into their home. And the title story depicts the choking loneliness of a Nigerian girl who moves to an America that turns out to be nothing like the country she expected; though falling in love brings her desires nearly within reach, a death in her homeland forces her to re-examine them.
Searing and profound, suffused with beauty, sorrow and longing, this collection is a resounding confirmation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's prodigious storytelling powers.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the best selection of short stories I have ever read. Chimamanda's ability to draw you into each of the characters in such a small space of time is phenomenal. The short stories are focused upon Nigerian life, but many of them are based in other countries. The balance between tragedy and happiness is perfect, leading to a book which does not dwell on hardship, but shows vivid glimpses of it, making the messages come across far more powerfully than continual horrific scenes.
Each story is unique, and although they all contain Nigerian characters, none have the same atmosphere or feel like repetitions of the same idea. The book is very easy to read, and is the perfect introduction to her writing style, as Half of a Yellow Sun, although amazing, is very long.
The only flaw in this book is that I was left yearning to know more about each character. I could easily have read whole novels based on each short story, in fact I'd be happy to read a book written by her once a month for the rest of my life! Sorry for gushing, but talent like this needs to be read by everyone!
Highly recommended to everyone!!
Each story is unique, and although they all contain Nigerian characters, none have the same atmosphere or feel like repetitions of the same idea. The book is very easy to read, and is the perfect introduction to her writing style, as Half of a Yellow Sun, although amazing, is very long.
The only flaw in this book is that I was left yearning to know more about each character. I could easily have read whole novels based on each short story, in fact I'd be happy to read a book written by her once a month for the rest of my life! Sorry for gushing, but talent like this needs to be read by everyone!
Highly recommended to everyone!!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
My idea of a perfect short story is a tale of about 25 pages that doesn't attempt to resolve or explain everything in that space, but instead leaves the reader wanting to read the finished novel - should it ever be written!
When it's done well, a collection of these stories would potentially leave you demanding that the author write full novels for each of them, just so you can see how it ends up. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie can expect to see my letter in the post, because I want to read the completed stories for all of her tales collected here.
Essentially, she's being a big tease!
The writing style is fluid and not wasteful of language, and although some of the themes are similar (well read Nigerians ending up at the bottom of the ladder when they get to America), the characters are distinct enough, and their stories are also different enough. Absolutely perfect to dip in and out of, or even better to sit and read in one hit. Recommended!
When it's done well, a collection of these stories would potentially leave you demanding that the author write full novels for each of them, just so you can see how it ends up. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie can expect to see my letter in the post, because I want to read the completed stories for all of her tales collected here.
Essentially, she's being a big tease!
The writing style is fluid and not wasteful of language, and although some of the themes are similar (well read Nigerians ending up at the bottom of the ladder when they get to America), the characters are distinct enough, and their stories are also different enough. Absolutely perfect to dip in and out of, or even better to sit and read in one hit. Recommended!
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
After reading and enjoying Adichie's debut "Purple Hibiscus" and the follow up "Half of a Yellow Sun," I was eagerly anticipating this collection of twelve short stories from the Nigerian author and it doesn't disappoint.
"The Thing Around Your Neck" is similar to her previous work in that the stories focus on Nigerian culture and issues, however I found the stories easier to read. I think this is perhaps because they had a more contemporary and somewhat Westernised feel compared to her 2 novels set in the 60's. Many of the short stories are also influenced by the time Adichie now spends in America.
I would recommend Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and all her works highly and look forward to reading more from her in the future.
"The Thing Around Your Neck" is similar to her previous work in that the stories focus on Nigerian culture and issues, however I found the stories easier to read. I think this is perhaps because they had a more contemporary and somewhat Westernised feel compared to her 2 novels set in the 60's. Many of the short stories are also influenced by the time Adichie now spends in America.
I would recommend Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and all her works highly and look forward to reading more from her in the future.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The thing around your neck
Chimamanda is an amazing writer. Her vivid description make it so easy for a reader to place themselves in the scenario especially if you are of African origin. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Sua
Absolutely beautiful!
Adichie never fails to impress. Having read 'Purple Hibiscus' along with similar Post-colonial literature, I was gripped. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nargis
Good book
This is a must read. Loved every single short story especially the one called imitation. Loved it!!
I have encouraged most of my friends to read this book. Read more
I have encouraged most of my friends to read this book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bukyjay
A truly wonderful book
This was an amazing book and has a special place in my heart! I have never read a collection of short stories and loved every single one. This was an exception! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Missmye
short, memorable stories
An enjoyable collection of 12 short stories, by the author of the excellent Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus (P.S.). Read more
Published 4 months ago by markr
Nice Read
I'm not so fond of reading, but this book was definitely a good decision. For the quick readers you will probably finish this in half a day. Read more
Published 8 months ago by newbiereader
Book is good, but not what I expected
I loved her book Half of a Yellow Sun and was looking forward to read her newest book. I was dissapointed to find it was a collection of short stories and not a full novel as I had... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Nill
Fab!
I really enjoyed reading this book and I couldn't put it down. I actually found some of the stories too short and wished they would continue. Chimamanda did not dissappoint!
Published 9 months ago by Olanike
Beautifully written and evocative stories
This is a superb collection of stories which brilliantly fuses the personal and the political. The writing is spare but instantly evocative of time and place. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Jeff Markham
good
having read other books by adichie i was excited to read this. i was however disappointed. found the short stories too short ironic i know but just felt they ended very quickly. Read more
Published 12 months ago by noelle o riordan
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