A book I haven’t read. Doesn’t matter that I haven’t read it–I’ve read this writer’s short fiction (it’s moving, vivid, lyrical and original) in various literary magazines, and this most recent book, Half of a Yellow Sun, has been critically acclaimed. She just won the Orange Prize for it, and Chinua Achebe called her “a new writer endowed with the gift of ancient storytellers.” But also–and this is the part that will interest most of my friends (Aaryn)–not only is it an accurate and heartrending portrayal of the effects of war on ordinary people, it’s also got some amazing sex scenes in it. Seriously, it was what people wanted to talk about for at least half the time in the auditorium Monday night. Here’s the author, probably answering a question about a sex scene:
That’s Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Say it with me: Chima-maaaaaaaaanda Nn-gooooh-zee Adeeeeeee-chie. It’s like poetry, or music, and I defy you not to walk around for the next three days intoning, Chima-maaaaaaaanda, in your head. Sing it to yourself next time you’re in the bookstore, why don’t you?
9 Responses
April 9th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Yup - fantastic book, I’ve been recommending it as well.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I LOVED Half of a Yellow Sun! Best book I’ve read this year and possibly last year too. I think it’s bound to become a classic. The bizarre thing is, I don’t remember the sex scenes. I remember the war scenes, the family scenes, their struggles to survive, the horrendous scene in the bar at the end, but the sex scenes? No memory of them.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Thanks. I will check it out.
April 10th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Hey! How did you know I’m totally into accurate and heartrending portrayals of the effects of war on ordinary people?
I am so singing today.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Aah, reading books. I seem to remember doing that in another life. Despite being illiterate I do love her name though and she is very easy on the eyes.
April 29th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
You are so much more elevated than Bossy… she only recommends TV shows she hasn’t seen.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I’m so dissapointed. I keep checking back for new posts. You must be so busy. You must have a REAL life… Please post for the little people.
May 1st, 2008 at 1:59 am
I read this on your rec, and I really enjoyed it, so thank you for that. And those sex scenes? Yowza. Keep the recs coming. I like your taste. I get Tin House now because of you.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Jeez, woman; it’s like a ghost town around here.
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